Saturday, 8 March:

7 am: 100 km Bib pick-up (at McNeil Canyon Elementary School parking lot)

7:45 am: Mandatory 100 km pre-race meeting

8 am: Start of the 100 km race

8 am: 50 km Bib pick-up (at McNeil Canyon Elementary School parking lot)

8:45 am: Mandatory 50 km pre-race meeting

9 am: Start of the 50 km race

Sunday, 9 March:

9 am* 100 km race ends

10 am* 50 km race ends

*Daylight saving time begins Sunday, March 10th at 2 am

Both the 50 km and 100 km routes will start and end at the McNeil Canyon Elementary School. The 50 km route is a loop out to Caribou Lake and back. If weather conditions during race week allow, the 100 km route will include an additional out-and-back on the scenic North Fork Hills Trail deep in the Caribou Hills. More information on the routes is available here. Route and GPS info will be updated and made available before the race.

On registration form: List any winter and/or ultra races you’ve completed (like the Susitna 100, White Mountain 100, Sheep Mountain 150, Arrowhead 135, Ultra Sport, or other events). If you have not completed any winter ultra races, no worries! Then please list any cold weather human-powered long distance experience that shows you are capable of finishing this winter 50/100km event on snow machine trails over very hilly terrain (2,409 ft of elevation gain on 50 km route 6,284 ft / 100 km route) safely in under 24 hours.

NOTE: These are remote trails, many hours from help. If you break down during a snow storm you need to be self sufficient and safe and warm. These trails are not near town.

There are no refunds. However, should HCC need to cancel this event for any reason, registered participants shall be refunded 75% of their registration costs, with the remaining 25% going to event expenses. Any proceeds after expenses will support the good work of the Homer Cycling Club (including building singletrack at Diamond Creek State Recreation Area near Anchor Point and the “Homer Shares the Road” community awareness program).

-Headlamp (with new or fully charged batteries)

-Rear flashing light (must be on between 8 PM and 8 AM)

-Insulated water container(s) with capacity of at least one-quart (32 oz) or more

-Food (start with enough calories for you to complete the 50 or 100 k route within 24 hours)

-Navigation (provided course map and a compass or a GPS/cycling computer/smartphone with Epic route loaded and skills to use them)

-Hooded, insulated and windproof jacket layer(s) to fit over your racing layers

-Insulated or windproof pant layer(s) to fit over your racing layers

-Fire starter (matches or lighter)

-Helmet (for bikers)

-Kick wax and/or skinny climbing skins (for skiers in case conditions deteriorate)

-YakTrax or studded shoes (for runners in case of icy conditions or loose snow)

-Reflective clothing and reflective tape on equipment – so you can be seen by snow machines

-SPOT, InReach, or similar tracker (note: there is very little cell phone reception along the course)

-Mittens & ski goggles for extreme conditions

-Sleeping Bag and tarp/bivy if you think you need additional warmth besides the required gear to stay warm if stopped for hours on the trail due to emergency

-Extra top and bottom layers so you can remove sweaty race cloths if you need to stop

-Extra socks

-Extra neck-gator, hat, headband, gloves, and glove liners

-Sun glasses, sun screen

-3,000 – 5,000 calories of extra emergency food

-Chemical hand/foot warmers

-Tools/repair kit for your equipment, knife or micro leatherman

-First aid: Mole skin, vaseline or bodyglide (for body parts that rub), Ibuprofene

-Extra batteries for headlamp and rear flashing light

-Camera

-TP (portable toilets only at start/finish)

#1 Stay safe!

#2 Have fun!

-You must finish the race within 24 hours of starting. Cut-off times will be established for checkpoints and you may be removed from the race if you don’t meet cut-off times. See route description for cut-off times.

-No outside help. You will be disqualified if you receive any food, water, extra gear, or any help from a non-racer during the Homer Epic race outside of official checkpoints. You must carry everything you need from start to finish.

-You can receive whatever is being offered by checkpoints. No stashes of extra gear, water, or food. You must carry everything you need from start to finish. You will be disqualified if you dump any gear or trash along the trail or at a check point.

-You may receive some food, water, gear, or repair help from another racer if you are in dire straits and the other racer is willing and able to share and help.

-You may change your mode of travel (bike/ski/run) up until you pick up your bib, but must let race officials know. If you know for sure you want to change before race day, email us (see link below).

-Stay to the right side of trail, especially when climbing steep hills, and always yield to the snow machines. They can really fast and could be coming from any direction.

-Don’t let your MP3 player block the sound of oncoming snow machines.

-You need to be 18 or older (or approved by HCC and your parent/guardian — see email link below).

-Rear flashing light must be used between 8 pm and 8 am for your safety!

-HCC has the right to not allow an entrant to race if they show up without the required gear or do not appear self sufficient or prepared at the start of the race.

-You must report back to the start/finish to let race officials know you have finished or bailed from the race. You ‬have the option to quit and turn‪ back‬ on your own power‪ from any trailhead on the road system, where you can call a friend to pick you up. If you get picked up by a friend, you still need to call or report back to the finish to let us know you are OK. We do not want to go looking for you if you are safely on your way home.

-The course is marked, but navigation is your own responsibility.

-NO DOGS or other pets on the race course or at the start/finish.

-Sections of the race route cross private land only with permission from land owners. Please do not use this route other than on race day.

-No E-Bikes

-No bikes or foot travel on the groomed Kachemak Nordic Ski Club trails adjacent to the start/finish.