Sawtooth Ridge 50M: 2021 runner update #4 - RACE CANCELED

EVENT CANCELED DUE TO HEAT

Runners –

We’ll rip off the band-aid right away: We are canceling the 2021 Sawtooth Ridge 50M this weekend. Stated simply, it’s too hot.

The National Weather Service extended their excessive heat warning through 7:00pm PT on Sunday, and the forecast is still calling for triple-digit temperatures on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. As of this email, the high in Methow on Saturday is, depending on which website you visit, ranging from 103 to 107. 

Please know that we did not make this decision lightly. Throughout the weekend, we explored a variety of alternatives, including formally shortening the race to a 50K, adding two more aid stations, and starting at 10:00pm on Friday. Ultimately, we could not assemble a viable alternative that sufficiently controlled for the risks presented by the remote nature of the course. (Yes, we could have shifted the race to an out-and-back on fire road, but that wouldn’t have done justice to the challenge for which you signed up in the first place.)

We’re sorry. We know this likely comes as a monumentally large bummer. But we also know it’s the prudent thing to do. 

In the next few days, we’ll ask you via email if you’d like a (1) full refund or (2) rollover to 2022. We’re good either way.  

In the meantime, you might get a redundant email from us. To ensure everyone gets this message, we’ll be reaching out in a few different ways. We don’t want folks showing up on Saturday, expecting a race!

Thanks for your patience and understanding. We’ll see everyone in the Sawtooth Backcountry when the time is right.

Denis & Colin