Superior Spring Trail Race Volunteer Communication 1 2021

Date: Friday May 1, 2021
Subject: Superior Spring Trail Race Volunteer Communication 1 2021

Hi All!

Just a quick note today to say THANK YOU for your willingness to volunteer at this year’s (modified) Superior Spring Trail Race!  I wanted to let you know that I have your information and I am working on volunteer assignments. I hope to have initial volunteer assignments out by next weekend.

A couple of notes.

1.) Normally for the Superior Spring Trail Race we have about 160+ volunteers and we NEVER turn anyone away.  This year we are trying to keep that number under 40 total, about 25 per day.  If you signed up to volunteer for just part of one day, we will likely have to pass on having you help (but please give me this week to figure all of that out) – this KILLS me to do, but we are trying to limit the number of contacts / interactions among volunteers.

2.)  Some of you that are getting this email were tentative, if you have any additional information on your availability, please let me know this week if you could!

3.) Due to the pandemic our normal communal lodging plan for volunteers that need assistance with lodging is not going to work as well.  We are generally going to try to do less communal lodging, will try to get some more individual rooms and will try to only put people together in the same townhome unit who are either a.) from the same household or social bubble, b.) are working the same volunteer assignments and are also vaccinated.  Caribou Highlands only has so much lodging available for us and we can only afford so much extra.  Another thing we might ask of some of you is that you find your own lodging or camping and we can provide a stipend to help cover or defer some of the costs.  There is a signup HERE that I need everyone who needs lodging please fill out. https://forms.gle/jogLod8HeHnK7FSm7

That is all I have for you today.  Again, thank you so much for your willingness to help with this year’s race.  Four days… gulp… I promise though, we will have some fun!

Thank You,

John Storkamp
Race Director
racedirector@superiortrailrace.com

Superior Spring Trail Race
50KM, 25KM & 12.5KM
Lutsen, Minnesota
Saturday May 16, 2020
• 50KM 7:00AM
• 25KM 8:00AM
• 12.5KM 9:00AM

Registration / Lottery:
Opens Wednesday January 1st, 2020 – 12:01AM CST
Closes Wednesday January 15th, 2020 – 11:59PM CST
* Due to high demand, registration for the Superior “Spring” Trail Race is held via a lottery, more details about the lottery can be found HERE

Directions to Race Start:
Caribou Highlands Resort / Lodge
371 Ski Hill Road
Lutsen, MN 55612
Google Maps Directions HERE
Approx Travel Times
1:15 North of Two Harbors, MN
1:45 North of Duluth, MN
4:00 North of Minneapolis, MN

Terrain / Course Description:
The Superior 12.5KM, 25KM and 50KM Trail Races are extremely hilly, rugged and technical out-and-back (100% trail) trail-races which traverses the Sawtooth Mountain Range on the Superior Hiking Trail in the far reaches northern Minnesota .  The course parallels Lake Superior, the greatest freshwater lake in the world, climbs to near 2000′ peaks with breath-taking vistas of the lake and inland forests and crosses whitewater rivers and serene streams while meandering through mystic Boreal forests.  The races start and finish at Caribou Highlands Resort in Lutsen Minnesota.

Superior 50KM
25KM Out & Back Course = 50KM (31MI)
Elevation Gain 4,200 FT
Elevation Loss 4,200 FT
NET Elevation Change 8,400 FT
4 Aid Stations
9 Hour Time Limit
Starts at 7:00AM Saturday
Compete 50KM Info HERE

Superior 25KM
12.5KM Out & Back Course = 25KM (15.1MI)
Elevation Gain 2,300 FT
Elevation Loss 2,300 FT
NET Elevation Change 4,600 FT
1 Aid Station
8 Hour Time Limit
Starts Saturday at 8:00AM
Complete 25KM Info HERE

Superior 12.5KM
12.5KM Point to Point Course. 12.5KM = 7.75MI
Elevation Gain  900 FT
Elevation Loss 1,050 FT
NET Elevation Change 1,950 FT
NO Aid Stations
7 Hour Time Limit
Starts Saturday at 9:00AM
Complete 12.5KM Info HERE

More About the Area:
The North Shore of Lake Superior runs from Duluth, Minnesota at the Southwestern end of the lake, to Thunder Bay and Nipigon, Ontario, Canada, in the North to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, in the east. The shore is characterized by alternating rocky cliffs and cobblestone beaches, with rolling hills and ridges covered in boreal forest inland from the lake, through which scenic rivers and waterfalls descend as they flow to Lake Superior. The shoreline between the city of Duluth to the international border at Grand Portage as the North Shore.  Lake Superior is considered the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It is the world’s third-largest freshwater lake by volume and the largest by volume in North America.  The Superior Hiking Trail, also known as the SHT, is a 310-mile long distance hiking single-track hiking trail in Northeastern Minnesota that follows the ridgeline overlooking Lake Superior for most of its length. The trail travels through forests of birch, aspen, pine, fir, and cedar. Hikers and runners enjoy views of boreal forests, the Sawtooth Mountains, babbling brooks, rushing waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. The lowest point on the trail is 602 feet above sea level and the highest point is 1,829 feet above sea level.