Where's Waldo Training Runs

Trail/Snow Conditions Update

July, 21, 2007 The following trails have been cleared of blowdown:

Gold Lake Trail
Lemish Lake Trail
Clover Meadow Trail
Maiden Lake Trail
Leap of Faith Trail
Maiden Peak Trail
Skyline Trail (the new start)
PCT from Willamette Pass to Twins Trail
Fuji Mtn Trail
S Waldo Trail
Mt Ray Trail
Twins Trail

The course is in great shape as the trees have been cleared, the snow has melted, the mosquitoes are dying, and the recent rains have settled some of the dusty sections. Get up there and train!

If you go on a training run on the course and see downed trees or any other problems please send me a report with as many details as possible. Thanks.

Loop Runs - no shuttling required

Fuji Sandwich on Maiden Bread	elevation gain: ~8500	mileage: 40
description: This one was designed by Jeff Riley. Park at the Maiden Peak TH on Gold Lake Rd. Run up Maiden Peak Trail to the summit. Turnaround and run back down the same trail to your car. This is about 12 miles. Next, run north on Gold Lake Rd and follow the course up to the summit of Fuji, back down to S. Waldo Trail and then to Mt. Ray Trail. Cross Waldo Lake Rd and continue down to Gold Lake Trail. Take a right and continue through Gold Lake Campground to your car. This loop is about 16 miles. Refill your bottles and make another trip up to the summit of Maiden Peak and back down to your car for another 12 miles and 3000' of climbing and descending.

Fuji Mtn Loop
elevation gain: 2800'
mileage: 15.5

description: This loop takes you through some beautiful forests to the top of Fuji Mtn. with an outstanding view of Waldo Lake. Park at the Mt. Ray TH on Waldo Lake Rd. Go east about 1/2 mile to the Gold Lake Trail. Make a right and go south for a little over 2 miles to the Fuji Mtn. Trail. Cross Waldo Lake Rd and follow course up to the summit of Fuji. Climb is about 2500' in about 6 miles. Follow the course back down to S. Waldo Trail and Mt Ray Trail. When you hit Pothole Meadows, spot the sign in the middle of the meadow and go straight to the sign. If you veer either left or right you will likely get wet. It is completely dry if you stay on the direct line to the sign. From the sign, spot the blue ski diamond on the tree and go straight to it. Continue down the trail to the TH and your car.

Maiden Peak Loop
elevation gain: 3500'
mileage: 18

description: This loop will take you to the highest point on the Where's Waldo course and familiarize you with the start and finish of the course. Begin at Willamette Pass. From the gondola, head straight up the road to the east of the gondola. Follow this road (the ski run Perseverence) to Taits Ski Trail. &nbs; Follow Taits to the Maiden Peak Saddle (right near the PCT) and go left down the Skyline Trail to the base of the Peak 2 ski lift. Go under the lift and follow Skyline Trail down to the Maiden Peak Trail. Take a right and go up to the summit of Maiden Peak. Turn around and go back down a couple of minutes to a "Trail" sign on a tree. There is a big cairn and there should be some pink ribbons marking the turn to "The Leap of Faith Trail" that leads to Maiden Lake Trail. Follow that trail about 2 miles to the Maiden Lake Trail, take a right and go west to the PCT, then take a left on the PCT and follow it south to the ski area.

Twins Loop
elevation gain: 3000'
mileage: 17.5

description: This loop will help you become familiar with the northern end of the course. It takes you through some beautiful forests and summits the north Twin. From Charlton Lake follow the course on Lemish Lake Trail and then back across Rd 4290 up trail 19 to the summit of the Twins. When you get to the point where you can see the scree fields of the Twins, continue following the blue diamonds and the "Lost Ribbon Trail" 1/2 mile to the Twins Trail. [Please don't go up the scree field as suggested earlier]. Take a right on the Twins Trail and go to the summit of the North Twin (it is well worth the 10 minute climb). If you want, you could also continue to the summit of the South Twin but we are not doing that in the race, besides the views are best from the North Twin. From the summit turnaround and go southwest down to the PCT. In the race you'll be going south on the PCT, but to get back to your car take a right and go north on the PCT to Charlton Lake. Very easy running back to the lake.

Fuji Maiden Double
elevation gain: 6100' (or 7500')
mileage: 35 (or 40)

description: This loop summits two of the three mountains on the course. You should plan on dropping water/food off at the Mt. Ray TH before driving to the ski area. To keep the distance down to 35 miles begin your run at the nordic center, which is near the northwest end of the ski area parking lot. Stay left of the center and look for the free connector trail that leads to Gold Lake Rd. Once on Gold Lake Rd. take a right and follow the road and the regular course through Gold Lake campground, across Waldo Lake Rd, up Fuji Mtn, back down across S. Waldo and down Mt. Ray. If you left aid here, fill up your bottles and continue following the course across the road, up Gold Lake Trail to Bobby Lake Trail to the PCT. The course goes north at this point on the PCT. However, for this run you go south on the PCT and continue following the last part of the course over Maiden Peak and then back to the ski area. To make this a 40 miler begin your run following the PCT north and take the Maiden Peak Trail west to Gold Lake.

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Fuji Mtn Loop	elevation gain: 2800'	mileage: 15.5
description: This loop takes you through some beautiful forests to the top of Fuji Mtn. with an outstanding view of Waldo Lake. Park at the Mt. Ray TH on Waldo Lake Rd. Go east about 1/2 mile to the Gold Lake Trail. Make a right and go south for a little over 2 miles to the Fuji Mtn. Trail. Cross Waldo Lake Rd and follow course up to the summit of Fuji. Climb is about 2500' in about 6 miles. Follow the course back down to S. Waldo Trail and Mt Ray Trail. When you hit Pothole Meadows, spot the sign in the middle of the meadow and go straight to the sign. If you veer either left or right you will likely get wet. It is completely dry if you stay on the direct line to the sign. From the sign, spot the blue ski diamond on the tree and go straight to it. Continue down the trail to the TH and your car.

Maiden Peak Loop	elevation gain: 3500'	mileage: 18
description: This loop will take you to the highest point on the Where's Waldo course and familiarize you with the start and finish of the course. Begin at Willamette Pass. From the gondola, head straight up the road to the east of the gondola. Follow this road (the ski run Perseverence) to Taits Ski Trail. &nbs; Follow Taits to the Maiden Peak Saddle (right near the PCT) and go left down the Skyline Trail to the base of the Peak 2 ski lift. Go under the lift and follow Skyline Trail down to the Maiden Peak Trail. Take a right and go up to the summit of Maiden Peak. Turn around and go back down a couple of minutes to a "Trail" sign on a tree. There is a big cairn and there should be some pink ribbons marking the turn to "The Leap of Faith Trail" that leads to Maiden Lake Trail. Follow that trail about 2 miles to the Maiden Lake Trail, take a right and go west to the PCT, then take a left on the PCT and follow it south to the ski area.

Twins Loop	elevation gain: 3000'	mileage: 17.5
description: This loop will help you become familiar with the northern end of the course. It takes you through some beautiful forests and summits the north Twin. From Charlton Lake follow the course on Lemish Lake Trail and then back across Rd 4290 up trail 19 to the summit of the Twins. When you get to the point where you can see the scree fields of the Twins, continue following the blue diamonds and the "Lost Ribbon Trail" 1/2 mile to the Twins Trail. [Please don't go up the scree field as suggested earlier]. Take a right on the Twins Trail and go to the summit of the North Twin (it is well worth the 10 minute climb). If you want, you could also continue to the summit of the South Twin but we are not doing that in the race, besides the views are best from the North Twin. From the summit turnaround and go southwest down to the PCT. In the race you'll be going south on the PCT, but to get back to your car take a right and go north on the PCT to Charlton Lake. Very easy running back to the lake.

Fuji Maiden Double	elevation gain: 6100' (or 7500')	mileage: 35 (or 40)
description: This loop summits two of the three mountains on the course. You should plan on dropping water/food off at the Mt. Ray TH before driving to the ski area. To keep the distance down to 35 miles begin your run at the nordic center, which is near the northwest end of the ski area parking lot. Stay left of the center and look for the free connector trail that leads to Gold Lake Rd. Once on Gold Lake Rd. take a right and follow the road and the regular course through Gold Lake campground, across Waldo Lake Rd, up Fuji Mtn, back down across S. Waldo and down Mt. Ray. If you left aid here, fill up your bottles and continue following the course across the road, up Gold Lake Trail to Bobby Lake Trail to the PCT. The course goes north at this point on the PCT. However, for this run you go south on the PCT and continue following the last part of the course over Maiden Peak and then back to the ski area. To make this a 40 miler begin your run following the PCT north and take the Maiden Peak Trail west to Gold Lake.