The Patrol Race

THE ROUTE and some history:

The race traverses nearly 20 miles of rugged terrain, primarily following the Pacific Crest Trail, gaining and losing over 4,500 feet of elevation linking Snoqualmie Pass, Windy Pass, Tinkham Pass, Yakima Pass, Dandy Pass, Stampede Pass  and finishing at Meany Lodge.  Hazards include avalanche terrain, tree wells, weather conditions, snow conditions and fatigue.  This race first ran in 1930 and was modeled after “military patrol races” common in Europe, but the first of its kind in America.

Course Map:

19.6 miles and approximately 4500ft of gain and descent.  Ignore the stat’s shown when you click on the track - they are wrong and we don’t know why.  You should be able to download the GPX file directly from this  link.

https://www.gaiagps.com/public/ecobh1ubr38N5byyYh19DWTq/?layer=openhikingmapHD

bailout and access routes:

The below link shows ways to exit or access the course by way of groomed snowmobile roads.  The GPX file should be downloadable. 

https://www.gaiagps.com/public/gCY5cAgwlNPTNAc850OdUcsv

THE SPIRIT:

This is a team race emphasizing safe and self-supported backcountry touring techniques.  Teams are encouraged to make risk assessments and evaluations of snowpack and terrain during the event as necessary.  To underscore that safety should never take a back seat to your race time, the rules allow for your team to deduct assessment time from your total race time. You are on your own.  Teams are expected to carry what they need to navigate and complete this 20 mile backcountry ski tour without help.   Unlike an individual or relay race, this event is first and foremost about group dynamics and camaraderie.  You must start, race, and finish together.

race date:

Saturday March 15, 2025.

REGISTRATION:

To secure a spot for your team in the 2025 Patrol Race please fill out the information required via this Team Information Form.  This gives us needed information about who is on your team and in what category you intend to race.  ADDITIONALLY, each member of your team must register and pay via the Mountaineers 2025 Patrol Race Registration page.  Once we achieve the maximum number of registered teams registration will close.  The race entry fee for  a member is $100 and for a guest member $110.  100% of the proceeds go towards Mountaineer programs and keeping the wheels turning at Meany Lodge - so thank you!

RACE CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS:

Rec Men’s and Coed:  Teams comprised of men or a combination of men and women participants.  All steel edged ski touring or splitboarding equipment allowed.  Teams in this division will set out by way of a staggered start between 6:00AM and 7:30AM.

Rec Women’s:  Teams comprised of all women participants.  All steel edged ski touring or splitboarding equipment allowed.  Teams in this division will set out by way of a staggered start between 6:00AM and 7:30AM.

Elite Women’s:  Teams comprised of all women participants using lightweight race equipment including skis narrower than 86mm underfoot.  Race times in this category typically range between 4.5-7hrs.  The later start makes this class prohibitive for teams unable to average this race pace to achieve the cutoff times.  This division will start in the mass-start at 8:30AM.

Elite Men's or Coed:  Teams comprised of men or combination of men and women participants using lightweight race equipment including skis narrower than 86mm underfoot.  Race times in this category typically range between 4.5-7hrs.  The later start makes this class prohibitive for teams unable to average this race pace to achieve the cutoff times. This division will start in the mass-start at 8:30AM.

The cutoff times at the checkpoints are the same for all categories: Checkpoint 1 - 1:00PM.  Checkpoint 2 - 4:00PM

In order to register for this event, each team member must complete the following:

All participants must have a profile on the Mountaineer website.  If do not have this already, become a Guest Member or Member of the Mountaineers

Your member profile must also be assigned a minimum of a “Level 1 Avalanche Badge”.  If you do not have this assigned to your profile please email proof of your training to info@mountaineers.org or call 206-521-6001 and request that they update your profile to reflect the Avalanche Level 1 badge.

AIARE Level 1 avalanche safety classes can be found here 

Once your Mountaineer profile shows the Avalanche Level 1 badge you will be able to register for the race at the Mountaineers 2025 Patrol Race Registration page

If your team needs to make a substitution or simply needs to drop out in advance of the race, please let us know as early as possible so we can sort out the change. 

Feel free to use this simple 2025 Free Agent List if you are looking to fill a spot on your team or looking for a team that has a vacancy.  This is a totally unofficial and unendorsed list so please use all the normal protocols and communication you would always use when selecting a touring partner.

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW:

This is a team race in which all three team members must start, race and finish together.

This is a true backcountry race where you and your team need to be fully competent in route finding and moving safely through avalanche terrain. Excellent snow safety skills, first aid skills, backcountry skiing skills, equipment and fitness are required on this challenging route.

Each team member must have completed an AIARE Level 1 training course or better prior to the race event.

There will be two staffed checkpoints, but there will be no aid stations along the way - your team is responsible for all of your food, water, clothing and well being for the duration of the race. There is no cell service on most of the route.  

Total on-course times are usually between 5 and 10 hours at a good race pace under good weather conditions. This can be significantly longer if weather or other complications arise. The cutoff times for race continuation are 1:00PM at Checkpoint 1 and 4:00PM at Checkpoint 2. Teams that fail to make the cutoff times will be taken to Meany Lodge from the checkpoints via snowmobile (riding or being towed).

Race volunteers will do their best to set a skin track on the route, but winter weather is unpredictable. Losing the skin track or having it become covered in blowing or falling snow is a very likely possibility. Therefore it is critical that your team is equipped and capable of doing your own route finding to the destination or exiting via a bailout route if necessary. There is no guarantee that you will be able to follow a marked trail or skin track. You must be responsible for your own navigation and route finding in the event that conditions make this necessary.

You will need to provide your own transportation departing from Crystal Springs Sno-Park (near Meany Lodge) at the conclusion of your race experience (vehicle Sno-Park passes are required).  It's about 10 miles on I90 from the Crystal Springs Sno-Park (exit 62: the Lake Kachess/Stampede Pass exit) back to Snoqualmie Summit. 

OFFICIAL RACE RULES (SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS NECESSARY):

The intent of this race is to follow the format of the original 1930’s era race as close as reasonably possible utilizing modern backcountry travel gear and safety equipment.

Each team must consist of 3 members. The team members must start, race, and finish together (within one minute of each other). Team members must stay within earshot of each other the entire time. Any deviation from this rule will result in a disqualification.  For safety reasons this rule must be followed.

Safety First:  At any time before or during the race, if you feel you need to withdraw from the race for safety reasons we will refund your race entry fees.  At any time along the route, if you feel the need to evaluate the snowpack or terrain, we will deduct this evaluation time from your total elapsed race time.  Simply take a photo of your group with an identifiable landmark in the background before and after the evaluation and present your findings to the race director at the conclusion of the race.  We will use the time stamp on your photos to deduct the appropriate amount of race time.

Teams that fail to arrive before 1:00PM on race day to Checkpoint 1 or 4:00PM to Checkpoint 2 will be taken to Meany Lodge via snow machine. Any allowances to this rule is at the sole discretion of the race director. These “cutoff times” are for the safety of the racers and the volunteers on the course.

Teams must not accept any assistance outside of their own team members.

Each team member must carry the required equipment:

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

• Steel-edged ski or snowboard touring gear (ski crampons may be recommended pending conditions)
• Headlamp/illumination
• Map of the route, compass, altimeter and/or GPS
• Avalanche beacon, probe and shovel
• Extra food and water. This is a self-supported race so each team must carry all hydration and nutrition needed to complete the race (there are usually some accessible creeks along the way).
• First Aid Kit (one per team)
• The 10 essentials
• Recommended: Personal Locator Beacon (Spot or Inreach or equivalent).

RACE DAY LOGISTICS

The 2025 Recreational Divisions (Men’s/Coed and Women’s) will set out form Summit West using a staggered start.  This race format is more true to the historical race format and with the large number of participants in these categories reduces the traffic jams at the beginning of the race.  The Elite categories will use a mass start format more standard in modern skimo race style events.  The start location will be the same as in years past at Summit West near the base of the Little Thunder chairlift https://goo.gl/maps/L4xgiTcti4z.

The Recreational Men's/Coed and Women's divisions will begin the staggered starting process at 6:00 AM

The Elite divisions mass start will be at 8:30 AM

We will have a location at the start to drop a clothing/gear bag that we will transport to the finish for you.  Just make sure your gear is fully contained and reasonably water resistant (snow/rain/etc...).

Race-Finish Information

There will be fires, seating, food, drinks, and fun at the finish line.  The parking lot is an additional 2.8 miles (mostly downhill) ski out to the Crystal Springs parking lot where you will have arranged your own transportation.  The lodge will be open for day use and overnight reservations.  We encourage you to stay overnight, enjoy a proper dinner and experience all that Meany Lodge has to offer including more rope tow skiing on Sunday!  Racers need to make a reservation only if they plan to stay overnight at the lodge.  All supporting friends/family need to make a reservation to visit the lodge for either day-use or overnight use.  Register using the links here  (LINK COMING SOON) for day-use guests & fans, overnight guests & fans, and overnight racers.

You are responsible for arranging your own vehicle transportation before, during, and after the race.  This includes your transportation home from the Crystal Springs parking lot near the finish.  You must have appropriate parking passes to park at Crystal Springs. See this link sno-park for permit info and note that you need the Groomed Trails sticker if you are going the parking-season-pass route.