Soda Springs to Squaw Valley -- Allow at least 40 minutes. Take I-80 East (towards Reno), Exit 185, 89 South. Right at end of ramp. Continue on 89 South. Right on Squaw Valley Road to end of road.
Squaw Valley to Robinson Flat -- Allow at least 2½ hours. Take I-80 West. Exit at the Foresthill Exit (Foresthill/Auburn Ravine Rd - Exit 121). Turn left. (Raley's Supermarket is at the corner of Foresthill Road and Lincoln Way. Sierra Grill Dinner is across from Starbucks on Lincoln Way). Follow the Foresthill Highway approximately 17 miles into Foresthill. Continue on this same road approximately 34 more miles to Robinson Flat. A shuttle bus service is provided from the Sailor Flat parking area, approximately four miles south of Robinson Flat. As you drive from West on I-80 from Squaw Valley to Exit 121, the Western States trail goes along the mountains on your left. When you turn on Foresthill Highway, this road (thought it appears perpendicular to I-80) is really parallel to I-80 and you are going back towards Squaw Valley on it. Thus, when turn on Foresthill Highway, the Western States Trail will be on your right.Hope this gives you a sense of direction.
Squaw Valley to Duncan Canyon --Allow 3 hours. Take I-80 West. Exit at the Foresthill Exit (Foresthill/Auburn Ravine Rd). Turn left. Follow the Foresthill Highway approximately 16 miles. Turn right onto Mosquito Ridge Road. Go approximately 23.5 miles, and look for "Road N-44" sign (this is where you will turn on the way back from Duncan Canyon to go to Dusty Corners Aid Station- don't turn now, just keep going on Mosquito Ridge Road towards French Meadows Reservoir). Continue on Mosquito Ridge Road for approximately 9.8 miles. Aid station will be on your left. If you have reached French Meadows Reservoir, you have gone 0.5 miles too far. As you drive from West on I-80 from Squaw Valley to Exit 121, the Western States trail goes along the mountains on your left. When you turn on Foresthill Highway, this road (thought it appears perpendicular to I-80) is really parallel to I-80 and you are going back towards Squaw Valley on it. Thus, when turn on Foresthill Highway, the Western States Trail will be on your right. Mosquito Ridge Road and Foresthill Highway form a "V" and the trail runs between them. The vertex of the V is at Foresthill (where the trail crosses both roads). So, when you are past Foresthill, driving on Mosquito Ridge Road towards Duncan Canyon, the Western States Trail will be on your left. Again, the trail is on the right as you are driving on Foresthill Highway and on the left as you drive on Mosquito Ridge Road. Hope this gives you a sense of direction.
Duncan Canyon to Dusty Corners -- Allow 1 hour. Go back on Mosquito Ridge Road approximately 9.8 miles and look for "Road N-44" sign on your right. This is a VERY steep, winding road; so proceed with caution. Turn right onto Road N-44. This is a chip-seal road for 2 miles that becomes a dirt road. Total distance along N-44 is about 5 miles. Follow this road to the aid station. Do not take the road to Robinson Flat (closed to crews). You must park in designated off-road parking areas only!
Dusty Corners to Michigan Bluff -- Allow 2 hours. Drive back out to Mosquito Ridge Road. Turn right and return to Foresthill. Turn right at the Foresthill Highway. Go approximately 4.5 miles (you will pass Foresthill Elementary School and Bath Road on the right). Turn right on Michigan Bluff Road, and go approximately 3 miles. This is a very steep, winding road; so proceed with caution. Be prepared to park as far as a mile away from aid station. Shuttle service will be provided.
Robinson Flat to Michigan Bluff -- Allow 1¼ hours. Go back on the Foresthill Highway, approximately 30 miles. Turn left on Michigan Bluff Road and go approximately three miles. This is a very steep, winding road; so proceed with caution. Be prepared to park as far as a mile away from aid station. Shuttle service will be provided.
Michigan Bluff to Foresthill -- Allow 30-40 minutes. Return to the Foresthill Highway. Turn left. Go approximately 4 miles to Foresthill Elementary School on left (you will pass Bath Road on left about one mile prior to Foresthill Elementary School).
Foresthill to Bath Road -- Walk East on Foresthill Highway (towards Michigan Bluff Road) from the Foreshill Elementary School Aid Station. Bath Road is on your right in about 1 mile. Bottom of Bath Road is approximately a mile down.
Foresthill to Rucky Chucky (Far): -- Allow 2 hours. Go back on the Foresthill Highway towards I-80 (approximately 17 miles). Turn left at the signal light (Lincoln Way). Continue along Lincoln Way to the intersection of Highway 49. Turn east (left) onto Highway 49 South and proceed 2 miles down the steep, winding road. Turn right at the first bridge (You will notice No Hands Bridge, a narrow concrete bridge, 200 yards downriver on the right), cross the American River, and proceed uphill for 3.3 miles to Cool (before you get to Cool, you will see a Rock Quarry on the left and a green metal gate across the street from it. This is the Hwy 49 Crossing Aid Station). From the town of Cool continue south on Highway 49 for 2 more miles to Highway 193. Turn left and travel 6.1 miles to Sliger Mine Road (Lance's Place appears on the right side of the highway). Turn left onto Sliger Mine Road and travel 3.8 miles to where the paved road ends and the dirt road begins; you are not permitted to drive beyond this point. YOU SHOULD NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE GREY HOUSE ON THE RIGHT SIDE (facing out) OF THE ROAD. From there it is a 1¼ mile hike to the Green Gate aid station and an additional 2 miles to the river. The route is along a steep and uneven dirt road. Wear sensible shoes.
Rucky Chucky (Far Side) to Hwy 49 Crossing: -- Allow 2 hours. Go back to the town of Cool. Park in the lot on your left just past the Cool Firehouse (at Main Street Pizza and Grill). Shuttle service is provided and will transport crews and pacers to the Hwy 49 Crossing aid station beginning at 6:30 p.m. Absolutely no parking or stopping at the aid station is allowed. The highway and its shoulders are narrow and vehicles are moving very fast. The CHP will be monitoring the aid station; anyone parking or stopping on the shoulder of Hwy. 49 will be ticketed.
SHORT CUT FROM FORESTHILL TO RUCKY CHUCKY and HWY 49:
On the way from Foresthill towards I-80, look for Old Auburn Foresthill Road on the left (it's before the Foresthill Bridge and it may have a sign that says Cool). Take that left. It will twist and turn and take you over the American River and it will intersect Hwy 49. Make a left at Hwy 49 South, over a bridge and from here follow the directions to Rucky Chucky that say .... "cross the American River and proceed uphill for 3.3 miles to Cool...."
Highway 49 to Finish Line -- Allow 30 minutes. Return towards Auburn on Highway 49. Cross the bridge over the American River and make an immediate left. (You can stop here if you want to see me at No-Hands Bridge. It will take me about 40-50 minutes from Hwy 49 to No Hands Bridge). Follow the highway uphill for 2 miles. Continue straight on Highway 49. It will become High Street, heading west. Continue on High Street and turn left onto Agard Street, follow three blocks to Stadium Way and park on right. The Stadium is on your left.
Accommodations 23rd - 25th:
All - Home at Soda Springs, CA
Jose Eduardo: Holiday Inn, Auburn, 120 Grass Valley Highway (behind In and Out Burger)
Mauricio and Lori: Holiday Inn, Auburn, 120 Grass Valley Highway (behind In and Out Burger)
Joseph and Trish: Holiday Inn, Auburn, 120 Grass Valley Highway (behind In and Out Burger)
Ramiro and Daniel: Comfort Inn, Auburn, 1875 Auburn Ravine
Joe: Comfort Inn, Auburn, 1875 Auburn Ravine
How was the drive from Dusty Corners to Michigan Bluff? I'm crewing for a friend this summer and worried there might not be enough time between them.
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