Mandatory gear

For runners

All runners must carry the following gear on their person throughout the event:

  • Bear spray

  • GPS device (cell phone, Garmin InReach, etc.) with GPX loaded

  • Garmin GPS tracker (Mini, InReach, etc.)

  • Running pack

  • 32 oz. of fluids

  • Headlamp with spare batteries (or spare headlamp)

  • Emergency/”space“ blanket

  • Pants/tights

  • Waterproof jacket with hood

  • 600–1,000 calories

  • Emergency whistle

  • Hat

  • Gloves

  • Portable battery with cord to charge your Garmin and/or GPX device. This can be in your McDougal Gap drop bag, as long as you remember to take it with you!

For pacers

Pacers must carry the same gear, although they do not have to have a Garmin GPS tracker.

Gear checks

Race officials will perform random gear checks. Runners who do not furnish the appropriate gear will not be allowed to continue. If a runner’s pacer is missing gear, the pacer will be held back, but the runner may continue on their own.

No bear spray on planes!

If you’re flying to the race, bear in mind that you can’t take bear spray on a plane. Be sure to source a can locally!

Last-minute gear purchases

Jackson, Alpine, and Pinedale are outdoor meccas. There are several outdoor retailers in these towns that likely stock 90% of our required gear list. With that said, we highly encourage you to bring these items with you. As much as we want you to support local retailers — and you should — it’s better to consider them “plan B.” 

Drop bags

Aid stations 

Runners may leave one drop bag at each of the following aid stations:

  • Box Canyon

  • Roaring Fork Lakes

  • Menace Falls

  • McDougal Gap

  • Blind Bull

  • Deadman

  • Grizzly Basin

  • Strawberry Creek

When you arrive at the start, we will have bins marked for each aid station. Place your drop bag in the right one.  

Size and weight 

Please, limit your drop bags to the size of a small duffel bag. Two or three pounds would be terrific.

Packaging

While we will do our best to handle your drop bags carefully, please package them securely. Your drop bags will be exposed to sun, water, dust, hot air, cold air and some jostling in the bed of a pickup. Duct tape is never a bad thing. Please, do not put glass or other “breakables” in your drop bag. 

Labeling

Drop bags should be clearly labeled with (1) your name, (2) your bib number, and (3) the aid station.  If any of this information is missing, our ability to deliver your drop bag to you will be compromised.   

Content recommendations

Not sure what to put in a given drop bag? We recommend reviewing the ‘Estimated Arrival Times’ chart to guesstimate at what time you’ll be at an aid station. If you’re a middle-of-the-pack runner, for instance, you may want to put an extra layer in your Hunting Camp (mile 80) drop bag for that second night.

We believe in over-preparing. It’s better to have a few spare batteries in every drop bag and never use them.

Retrieval 

Race officials will return drop bags to the start once an aid station closes. For runners toward the front, this means you could be waiting for a drop bag for hours. We ask for your patience. If you decide to leave your drop bag at the finish, you’ll have two options:

  1. Kiss it goodbye. We’ll clean and donate your bag and its contents to a local running group

  2. Pay a ransom. We’ll clean and return your bag and its contents for $40 plus shipping. We’ll donate the $40 to our non-profit partners and pocket the shipping.  (Just so we’re clear, yes, this fee is a deterrent.)

To selection option 2, please email the RD within one week after the race.