2021 Wyoming Range 100: Runner update #2 (8/2)

Runners,

During our pre-race call, we talked about a fire that started last Wednesday and, at the time, was relatively small — about 40 acres. Since then, the "Soda Lake" fire has grown to approximately 100 acres, and the Forest Service has ordered a closure of the surrounding area for the month of August. The closure impacts three aid stations and about 20 miles of the course. Here is how we're thinking about the situation.

What's happening with the fire?

The Soda Lake fire started last Wednesday and had a strong and quick response from firefighting entities. You can catch the latest updates on InciWeb. There are numerous oil and gas installations east of the fire, so suppressing it has been a priority. As of this afternoon, the fire is 85% contained. 

What's being done with the race?

We have re-routed about 20 miles of the course and reconfigured four aid stations to avoid the closure. (Don’t worry, you’ll still get to the top of Wyoming Peak!) The Forest Service has not yet approved the re-route, but you can see what it looks like here. The red line is the original course, while the blue line is our proposed re-route.

Once we’ve finalized a new route with the Forest Service, we will publish a detailed “before and after” of the course with all the changes of locations, logistics, and metrics.

What happens if the closure is lifted?

Although we’re far from experts, it’s our general understanding the fire should be fully contained within a few days. After that, the Forest Service could adjust, or completely lift, the closure. For now, though, we’re putting all our energy into the re-route.

As soon as we’ve developed a clear path forward with the Forest Service, we’ll be in touch. Please be patient as we work through this. 

Will the race go on?

After the past year that we've all been through, this seems like a pretty easy hill to get over (puns intended). We’ll see you in Wyoming.

Stay tuned!

We'll have a “regular” pre-race update coming your way in the next few days. We wanted to get this update in front of you as quickly as possible. 

-Denis & Colin

PS — If you missed our first update, you can read it here.