White River 50 Mile

Saturday July 31st, 2021
Greenwater, WA 

2021 Results                    2021 Photos
Slideshow of some of the 2021 Pictures
Overview

​Set in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, this classic race offers spectacular views. Like "The Mountain" itself, though, the race stands as an ultimate test of mental character and physical endurance. Over the 50-mile distance the race course rises and falls a staggering 8,700 feet (total elevation change: 17,400 feet). The race features rolling terrain, ridge tops, northwest forest, mostly single track trail, and two big climbs and descents.  For decades runners, including many of the best, have come here to push themselves and run in a spectacular place!
Registration and Past Results

Registration is now closed.
  • $145 (plus applicable fees) 
  • Be sure to check out our Cancellation Policies
  • NO REFUNDS for Entry Fees and NO BIB TRANSFERS
  • Refunds for other purchased items such as merchandise is possible if we have not already had to pay for those items. Please inquire about these when you email us to cancel your race.​

Past Results (2019-1993) can be found here 
COVID Plans Updated for Summer 2021

Now that Washington State has eased many restrictions we have adjusted our COVID safety plans to be more relaxed but still somewhat cautious:
  • Physically distanced bib/merch pickup
  • Wave starts​
  • For unvaccinated folks masks are required at parking lot, start/finish, aid stations & and whenever within 6ft of others
  • For vaccinated folks masks are recommended only whenever within 6ft of folks outside of your household
  • Volunteers that are actively doing food/drink handling will wear gloves and masks
  • Increased sanitary procedures
  • Limited post-race party, we'll provide some food and drinks and folks will be encouraged to not hang out more than ~30 mins after finishing
  • We recommend that crew/friend/family members ideally be limited to one per runner but there is flexibility especially for those from the same household.​
We're taking an intentionally conservative approach with this race with the goal to do our best to prevent further spread of the virus as there are still folks who are unvaccinated and it is possible to still get COVID even if you are vaccinated. It is our hope that we can return to do many of the things we used to do in the coming months and next year but for now we're going to play it safe. Runners will get emails leading up to the race with more specific information and instructions tailored specifically for this year's race. 
Race Weekend Timeline

Friday July 30th
  • We encourage folks to come and camp out with us at the start/finish for the whole weekend, this area has been super popular lately with the general public so we recommend arriving early to get your spot. 
  • At this time we are not planning on doing the traditional pre-race meeting/dinner

Saturday July 31st
  • 5:00 to 6:45am: Bib & shirt pickup/check-in at Buck Creek Campground*
    *EVERYONE NEEDS TO SHOW PHOTO ID TO PICK UP THEIR BIB
  • 5:45am to 7:00 am: Wave starts  
  • 10:30 am: Cut off at Noble Knob mile 12.3
  • 12:30 pm: Cut off at Noble Knob mile 20.3
  • 1:30 pm: Cut off at Buck Creek, mile 27.2
  • 3:00 pm: Cut off at Fawn Ridge, mile 31.7
  • 5:00 pm: Cut off at Sun Top, mile 37.0
  • 6:30 pm: Cut off at Skookum Flats, mile 43.4
  • 8:00 pm: Course cut-off**
    ​**Even though the cut off is technically at 8:00PM any runner who makes it out of the last aid station by the cutoff there and then completes the course will get an official finish even if they arrive after 8pm.
Course Info
Download the .gpx file and load it into your favorite GPS app or watch.
White River 50M GPX File
File Size: 81 kb
File Type: gpx
Download File
(Ignore the distance on this profile it's just a rough estimate -- the course is 50 miles)
Aid Stations & Drop Bags

There are 7 full service aid stations, drop bags are OK at all of them and crew access is allowed at 5 aid stations (although at two crew is not recommended). Each aid station will be stocked with water, Nuun electrolyte drink, a variety of soft drinks, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, fresh fruit, chips, pickles, and assorted cookies or candy. We will have a variety of GU gels, but we do ask that you only use those to supplement what you are providing for yourself.  There will also be first aid supplies, sunscreen, bug spray, and menstrual hygiene products for issues that arise on the course.  

Our volunteers are tracking all runners at the aid stations, so please wear your bib visibly on the front of your body.  

  • AID STATION #1: CAMP SHEPPARD
    • Mile 3.7
    • Drop Bags: NO
    • Crew: OK
    • Cut off: N/A
    • Terrain: Start to Camp Sheppard--Dirt road, wide trail and single track trail. This leg starts out with approximately 2 miles of open dirt road running around the airstrip, followed by a short section of wide trail. After crossing Hwy. 410, there are approximately 2 miles of rolling single-track trail.

  • AID STATION #2: NOBLE KNOB
    • Mile 12.3
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: OK, but not recommended
    • Cut off: 10:30
    • Terrain: Camp Sheppard to Noble Knob--Single track trail. This leg starts with 1.6 miles of flat then get ready for the first major climb in the race. The course will climb nearly 2900 feet over the next 6 miles.

  • AID STATION #3: NOBLE KNOB
    • Mile: 20.3
    • Drop Bags OK
    • Crew: OK, but not recommended
    • Cut off: 12:30
    • Terrain: Noble Knob to Corral Pass to Noble Knob--Single track trail. The beginning of this leg finishes off the last 2 miles of the first major climb of the race with 400 more feet of elevation gain, topping out at 5600 feet. The next 4 miles of beautiful, rolling, ridge-line running borders the Norse Peak Wilderness area. This will be your chance to see how the competition is shaping up as this is an out n back section with a little loop at the far end(Corral Pass area). Everyone should be cautious on this out and back section but slower runners please yield to the faster traffic whenever possible. You will finish this section off with the first 2 miles of a 6.8-mile descent.

  • AID STATION #4: BUCK CREEK
    • Mile: 27.2
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: OK
    • Cut off: 1:30PM
    • Terrain: Noble Knob to Buck Creek--.Single track trail. The first 0.6 miles of this section is the last part of the out and back section. At the intersection of the Palisades Trail and the Ranger Creek Trail turn left to head down Ranger Creek Tr. This 4.8-mile section of downhill running is a blast. Be careful not to burn all your downhill speed before the 2nd half of the course. There are often lots of runners taking falls on this section, be careful. And at the bottom of the hill there's a major road crossing(HWY 410) so please pay attention to the crossing guard.

  • AID STATION #5: FAWN RIDGE 
    • Mile: 31.7
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: NO
    • Cut off: 3:00PM
    • Terrain: Buck Creek to Fawn Ridge--Single track trail. After a nice flat 2-mile cruise through the woods you will start climbing up the second and last major climb in the race. Don't worry, it will only last 8.5 miles. Be patient on the first few miles of this climb because the sun can get hot on the switchbacks through the clear cut. After climbing about 2.5 miles and nearly 1800 feet, you will arrive at the aid station.

  • AID STATION #6: SUN TOP​
    • Mile: 37.0
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: NO
    • Cut off: 5:00PM
    • Terrain: Fawn Ridge to Sun Top-- Single track trail. The trail continues to climb another 1000 feet during the next 3 miles. The false summit provides a great view of Mt. Rainier on a clear day. After a brief downhill, you will cross the Sun Top Road. Get ready for the last mile of climb to Sun Top. It is steep and hot, but the view is worth the effort. Take a minute to look at the unobstructed view of Mt. Rainier. You will forget the agony of the climb. NO CREW ACCESS ON SUN TOP ROAD. This is a public road with a lot of weekend car traffic. The road is very dry and dusty. The dust from the car traffic is tough to deal with for the runners. Please resist the temptation to drive up this road for the good of all runners on the course. Bike access is allowed for viewing only. No crewing allowed.

  • AID STATION #7: SKOOKUM FLATS
    • ​Mile 43.4
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: OK
    • Cut off: 6:30PM
    • Terrain: Sun Top to Skookum Flats--Dirt road. This section is pretty much all downhill. If you have legs that aren't trashed yet, you will want to take advantage of it, unless of course if you want to have legs for the next section. Make sure you have plenty of drink for the exposure to the afternoon sun and dust that kicks up from the occasional car. Stay on Rd. #7315 for about 5.7 miles and then right hand turn onto Road #73. Just before the bridge crossing the White River, turn right onto the Skookum Flats trail. The aid station is just inside the trees in the shade.

  • FINISH: BUCK CREEK
    • Mile 50.0
    • Drop Bags: OK
    • Crew: OK
    • Cut off: 8:00PM**    **Even though the cut off is technically at 8:00PM any runner who makes it out of the last aid station by the cutoff there and then completes the course will get an official finish even if they arrive after 8pm.
    • Terrain: Skookum to Finish--Single track trail with the last 0.3 on dirt road. This 6.6-mile section of shaded trail meanders through a beautiful section of NW old growth forest. The footing can be quite challenging due to the abundance of rocks and roots. The terrain is particularly tough to get through if your legs are spent. If you're feeling good, this section is more fun to run than any part of the course, due to the technical nature of the terrain, but who feels good at the end of a 50 miler, haha! After the trail pops up onto Buck Creek Road, turn right and then left to get to the finishline. 
Wave Starts & Cutoff Times at the Aid Stations

We have chosen to use wave starts of 25-50 runners instead of one mass start of ~300 runners to spread everyone out (in the parking area, in the check-in line, in the starting corral, on the trail, in the aid stations and at the finish line). This is not just safer for COVID reasons but will also results in shorter lines for things like checking in and using the bathrooms and less congestion on the trail and at the aid stations. In general our waves will will proceed with the fastest runners going first and the slowest runners going last. But there is one exception the very slowest runners, those expecting to take 13 hours or more to finish, will be given a head start to make sure they have as much time as possible to beat the cut off times and finish the race. 

Cut off times at the aid stations are used to keep our race on schedule and within the time limits of our permits.  If you are not leaving the aid station by that aid station's cut off time, you will not be allowed to continue running in the race, either officially or unofficially on your own. You will be given a ride back to the finish area by staff or volunteers.  Here are the cut off times for each aid station:
  • 10:30am: Noble Knob, mile 12.3
  • 12:30pm: Noble Knob, mile 20.3
  • 1:30pm: Buck Creek, mile 27.2
  • 3:00pm: Fawn Creek, mile 31.7
  • 5:00pm: Sun Top, mile 37.0
  • 6:30pm: Skookum Flats, mile 43.4
  • 8:00pm: Finish, mile 50.0  **Even though the cutoff is technically at 8:00PM any runner who makes it out of the Skookum Flats Aid Station by the cutoff there(6:30pm) and then completes the course will get an official finish even if they cross the finish line after 8pm. But we do ask that folks do the best they can to finish by 8pm.   

Although these are public trails, you are participating on them as a registered participant of our event and by signing up for the race, you agree to follow our rules and conditions for completing (or not completing) the race.  Our sweeps will be leaving right at cut off time, taking down course markings with them.  If you refuse to quit running and abandon your run after not making a cut off at an aid station you are risking your health and safety as well as the health and safety of anyone who would have to rescue you. And our permitting agency could look at that as negligence on our end by allowing runners on the course with no course markings or after the time we agreed to stop people.  We take this rule seriously and as it puts our permits in jeopardy and risks people's safety, if any runner violates this rule, they may be subject to a ban from future races. 
Cancellation Policies

We understand things may come up and you may not be able to make it to the race.  We do not offer refunds, but you have three other choices when you cancel your race entry. We also have deferral options for pregnancy and military deployment. Click here for more info about cancellations, including when we have to cancel the race.​
Shirts

Due to the late approval of this race by the Forest Service we will not be offering newly registered runners the option to buy a race shirt as time is too short. Runners from the 2020 race who rolled over their race entry to 2021 and purchased a shirt already will still get their race shirts.
Volunteers

We have several volunteer jobs available at White River 50!  Volunteers earn all kinds of perks; they get to eat and drink for free, are eligible for raffle prizes from our sponsors, and earn credit towards a future Rainshadow race! Volunteer shifts range from just a couple hours in the morning to an all day aid station or something at the finish area.  We promise you will have fun! 

If you are interested in volunteering for the race, please click here. 
Post Race Party​

At this time the post-race party is planned to be somewhat limited out of the desire to still be cautious. There will be some food and drinks and folks will be encouraged to only stay for up to 30 mins after finishing. We also ask that runners keep 6ft or more from folks outside of their household. And to keep from having too large of a gathering we ask that runners keep the number of people who come to support them to a minimum ideally one person per runner but if more than one person but there is flexibility especially for those from the same household. 
Camping & Lodging 

There is plenty of free, primitive, forested camping at Buck Creek Campground, which is the start/finish area! It is all first come/first served and many of the sites have room for multiple vehicles.  There are bathrooms on site, but no showers. 

Additional non-primitive camping options nearby. You can make reservations online: Camping Reservations or call 877-444-6777.             

This year's official event hotel is Crystal Mountain Hotels (33818 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Crystal Mountain WA 98022; 888-754-6400; reservations@crystalhotels.com). Please call or email today and inquire about the special reduced rate offered for race participants.

Additional lodging options are shown below.               1-4 person accommodations (some larger rooms available). Specify that you are with WR50 to receive special rates!               Located in Enumclaw, approximately 30 miles from start.
Driving/Parking Directions
​
The closest airport is SeaTac (Seattle).  From SeaTac, it's about a 1 hour drive. Portland, OR is a 3.5 hour drive; Spokane, WA and Vancouver, BC is 4.5 hours away by car.  

You can click here for driving directions on Google Maps

From Seattle to Start/Finish/Camping Area at Buck Creek Campground/Ranger Creek Airstrip
Take I-5 South. Take the I-405 North exit, exit 154A, towards Renton. Merge onto I-405 North. Take exit 4 onto WA-169 and go to Enumclaw. In Enumclaw, take a left onto WA-164 (Griffin Avenue) and then a left onto WA-410 East (Roosevelt Avenue). Drive 30+ miles on WA-410 East, continuing for about 2.5 miles after you see Forest Service Road #7160 (Buck Creek Road), turn right onto Forest Service Road #7160 (Buck Creek Road) and go 0.2 mile and turn left. Follow the signs to parking at the start/finish/camping area. You can click here for driving directions on Google Maps

You will need a parking pass to park at the start/finish/campground area: either an annual NW Forest Pass, an annual America the Beautiful/Interagency Pass or a Forest Service day pass. The annual passes are available to buy online via the links above. 

The Washington State Discover Pass is not applicable as this is federal land not state land.  
Race Rules

  • Be nice: please be courteous of other trail users as well as fellow runners and volunteers.  If you come upon hikers or other day users, please alert them of your presence and give them a chance to move over before you pass  
  • Passing: please yield to faster runners.
  • One ear bud only: if you must wear headphones while running, they may only be in one ear and the volume must be low enough that you can hear others around you (we had an injury at one of our races due to someone not being able to hear while wearing both earbuds; so we take this rule seriously)
  • No continuing on past cut off: for liability and safety reasons we cannot let any runner continue on their own past cut off time.  We take this rule seriously.  Please treat our aid station and sweep volunteers with respect.  If you have an issue, find a race staff after the race and we are more than happy to have a conversation with you
  • No cheating/course cutting/bandits/anything deemed unsportsmanlike: this could result in a ban from Rainshadow races and we just do not want to do that
  • Dogs: well behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on the course and at the finish line
  • No drugs or other banned substances
  • Be on time: our sweeps go out shortly after the runners start and once they start, we cannot send out any runners after that
  • No Pacers
  • No crew access or crew support except at crew accessible aid stations(Camp Shepard, Noble Knob, Buck Creek, and Skookum Flats. No crews are allowed to drive on the roads to Sun Top(FS Road 73 and FS Road 7315) bikes are allowed but crews are only allowed to view their runners, no providing their runners anything other than cheers.  
  • No Littering
  • All local, state and federal laws must be followed as well as all instructions from race staff, aid station captains and road crossing volunteers(cars will not be stopped). ​​
Contact Us

The race director for this and all Rainshadow Running races is James Varner. Email us at info@rainshadowrunning.com

You can also find us on