As we approach our capacity of 300 runners, congestion along the narrow Alpine Gulch trail with its 7 creek crossings has become an issue.  In efforts to mitigate, we have extended the Williams Creek Cutoff to 10:15. In addition, we will be offering three options for the 3rd and 4th creek crossings in Alpine Gulch.  The first six crossings come in pairs, all fairly short with 3 and 4 being the shortest.  The first option is the regular route, crossing the creek with a short trail section and back across the creek, approximately 175 feet.  The second is along the creek on the righthand side, also about 175 feet.  The third is a steep scramble up just before the crossing, across the top and back down to the creek about 225 feet.  In a test run all options were within 9 seconds of each other.  All three will be marked.  

 

The purpose of this course alteration is to alleviate congestion when slow moving lines develop at creek crossings.  Front runners, and especially any of those gunning to beat a standing record, will not have lines to deal with and should take option #1, the standard course, just to be honest.  For later and mid pack runners 9 seconds is inconsequential.  This is an experiment.  Please zipper merge coming back on trail.