Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I leave my “All Times – All disciplines” gear at any point?

NO. You must have the “All Times” mandatory gear with you at all times.

Q. Can I leave my bike or boat gear during a section?.

YES, Bike mandatory gear can be left with the bike or carried with the team. Paddling mandatory gear can be left with the boat or carried with the team.

Q. Can a teammate carry my backpack?

YES however each competitor must always wear their race bib and carry a whistle.

Q. Can I use a device to measure distance on a race map?

YES.

Q. Am I required to carry an additional base layer top or bottom if I am wearing them during the race?

NO.

Q. Does a cycle top and arm warmers meet the requirement for long sleeve top?

YES

Q. Can I use a headlamp (light mounted on a person’s head) as a bicycle front light?

YES

Q. Is this a USARA-sanctioned event?

YES. First place co-ed 3 or 4 person team in the 24-Hour race gets free entry into USARA Nationals and 3 and 4 person teams can gain points in the USARA series.

Q. Is this event part of ARWS North America series?

YES. We are part of the ARWS family and all eligible teams will get ranking points in the ARWS series. In addition, we will have products/samples from Squirt lube, an official ARWS sponsor.

Q. Where is the event based?

The event check in is at the Barrett Cove Recreation Area on Lake McClure near Coulterville, CA on Friday, July 26, 2024. The race course will take place in the Sierra Foothills of California ranging up to about 5000 feet in elevation. Race start and finish location will be announced at the pre race meeting.

The region of the event is a wonderful area to spend a few days before or after the race or to bring family and friends to stay and watch the race unfold.

Q. Where and when is check in?

Check in is at the main entrance to the campground at Barrett Cove Recreation Area on Friday afternoon, 2:30-5:30 pm; 6-Hour racers can check in Friday or Saturday starting at 5:30 am.

• Lodging

We suggest you camp at Barrett Cove Recreation Area on Friday evening. Stay over on Sunday night if you prefer a relaxed post race schedule and want to hang out. Motels and hotels are available in Coulterville about 15 minutes away. Book camping through the Lake McClure website.

• Facilities 

There are a few small stores and cafes within 20 minutes of the race location.

The town of Sonora is an hour away and has restaurants, hardware stores (Lowes,) auto parts, food stores (Safeway, Walmart,) a bike store (Sonora Cyclery) and an outdoor store (SNAC.) You can pass through the town of Sonora on your way to the event HQ and this will be your best last chance after Modesto or Oakdale for real shopping.

• Airports

The closest city is Sonora, California. The closest major airports with lots of flights are Sacramento (SMF), Oakland (OAK) or San Francisco (SFO) California. SMF is ~2 hours driving distance and OAK/SFO are ~4 hours driving distance.

Reno (RNO) or Los Angeles International (LAX) are other options; LAX has the best selection of flights but requires about 6 hours driving; RNO is ~3 hours driving.

• Altitude

This event will traverse terrain up to about 5,000 feet. This altitude is not enough to be noticed by most people. If you are able to spend a few days at a similar altitude prior to the event, it might be an advantage.

• Temperature

We expect the weather to be hot, given that it will be end of July and in the foothills. Be completely prepared to manage your hydration, electrolytes, sun protection and take steps to avoid heat exhaustion throughout the entire race (both 24-Hour and 6-Hour racers.) Make sure you bring enough water in your gear bins, on every stage of the race and a device to filter water as well. The temps for this area can range from 80-100 during the day and 60—80 during the night times — extended forecasts are currently calling for high 90s.

• Food

For our 24-Hour racers: We will offer a Friday evening pre race meal and Sunday post-race food after the finish, which is included in the cost of your entry fee; family and spectators can buy meal tickets of $25/person per meal to partake in the meals; please email goldrushadventureracing@gmail.com no later than 7/20 in order to purchase extra food tickets and indicate for which day. Please observe this rule as our costs and meal prep are based on those numbers. We don’t mean to be stingy and deny food to your family members without meal tickets, but we need to make sure we have food available for ALL our racers who have paid the entry fee, no matter what place they finish. 

For our 6-Hour racers: We’ll have snacks and fruits at the finish.

During the race, all racers must provide their own food — either carrying it in their packs or packed in their bins (as rules allow) to retrieve during transition areas. Racers may buy food from stores during the race. Racers are not allowed any outside assistance (food, water, manual help, directions) from anyone not involved in the race.

• Unsupported race

This race is  “unsupported” which means that racers must carry all of their gear.

If you have family members who would like to volunteer to be able to catch you along the race course or who would like to volunteer in order to earn race credits, please reach out to us at goldrushadventureracing@gmail.com

Supporters are encouraged and welcomed but they may not physically help or provide support to teams or else the team will receive a DQ — “no outside assistance” means you may only get assistance from other teams, not from spectators, the public or volunteers.

• Gear Bins

Teams will pack their gear and food for the event in gear bins. If you are traveling by air you may find it easier to travel with regular bags and duffels and purchase plastic bins once you arrive. If you are arriving in Sacramento, Oakland or LAX, you will be able to purchase boxes at Walmart or Costco or other hardware stores once you arrive.

You will be staging your own gear bins in the TA prior to the race start. We are allowing one gear bin per person (paddle bags are allowed) and one cooler per team. You will need to transport your gear bins yourself — we will be allowing one car per team to drive closer to the TA and unload before returning the cars to the Start/Finish parking area.

•  Bikes

While transporting bicycles via airline travel may be difficult and expensive, riding your own bike is a big advantage. Bicycle rentals are possible in the nearby town of Sonora but are expensive and result in a bicycle that you are not familiar with. We recommend bringing your own bike if at all possible.

You will be staging your own bicycles/bike gear in the TA prior to the race start.

•  Paddle Gear

Gold RUsh will be providing kayaks, paddles and PFDs. You may use your own PFD and paddle and stage them in the TA prior to the race start in a paddle bag. There will not be any portage sections. Kayaks are tandems or solos, sit-on-top kayaks. They are the same kayaks used at the 2022 USARA Nationals in Mammoth/Bishop. There will be short swim sections on both races; PFDs will be supplied to 6-Hour racers, 24-Hour racers will be required to bring PFDs for the mandatory CPs. These sections will not be long and will be good opportunties to cool off in the lake!

• Equipment

See the Mandatory Gear list (above.)

• Maps

Maps will be handed out before the race start and before each stage in the TA. For this race, we will allow teams to purchase one extra map per team if desired. The cost is $25/map and only one additional set of maps is allowed per team. Please email us at goldrushadventureracing.com if by 7/20 if you would like to purchase a second map.

• Full course/Mandatory Course/Short Course

Teams will have the opportunity to do the Full Course, collecting all pro and mandatory points or the mandatory course, collecting only the mandatory points — and teams are allowed the option to collect as many pro points as they can within the 24-hour time limit. Teams who miss the stage cutoffs will be short-coursed and moved ahead on the course, but will still be ranked as a short-coursed team.

• Team Ranking and Awards

Teams will be awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd place based on finishing time and number of points collected, regardless of team category. We will publish a ranked list of teams by category after the race.

• Wildlife

This rattlesnake country so racers need to be super aware of rattlesnakes as they are cross-countrying and on trails. In addition, you may encounter deer, bears or mountain lions. Make sure that you are carrying your bear bell with you during the trekking and biking sections of the race and checking your surroundings.

Q. Can I use any supplemental maps?

No. All supplemental maps are prohibited during the race. Racers found using any maps not provided by race management will be DQed.