The 52nd Mount Washington Road Race will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 9:00am.
The race is a 7.6-mile hillclimb to the summit of Mt. Washington via the Mt. Washington Auto Road, climbing more than 4,500′ en route.
Precautions: The weather on the mountain can be extremely dangerous, even in June. Plan to send warm clothing to the top (mittens, hats, winter jackets). BE PREPARED! It can be very cold at the top and during the sections above the tree line. You may wish to carry extra clothing with you when you run. There will be a weather update, including summit temperature and wind chill, posted on site prior to the race (also listen for P.A. broadcasts). BRING EXTRA CLOTHES.
Heet Sheets: We will again have “Heet Sheets” for those who want them upon finishing. These mylar wraps can assist you in staying warm until you get to your dry clothing. Please do your best to take these down with you. Please do not leave them anywhere on the summit. We all need to respect the alpine environment on top of Mt. Washington, so do not litter. Consider saving and reusing your Heet Sheet in your vehicle or another place as emergency blankets.
At The Summit: The Mount Washington State Park is a 59 acre New Hampshire State Park at the summit. We must abide by their regulations. Since 2005, there have been strict occupancy limits at the Sherman Adams Building where we had traditionally gathered in large numbers. Please read and follow the instructions in the following paragraph:
In addition to the race participants and support drivers, the building must support hikers and Cog Railway passengers. With a limit of 250, our 1000+ people cannot all be accommodated on race day. Also, no bags of runner’s clothing may be left inside or near the entrance to the building unattended. When the limit of 250 is reached, park staff will only allow people to enter as others leave. Race staff will be encouraging those inside the building to keep their stay as brief as possible so that others may have a chance. We will provide portable toilets, a water stop, mylar “space blankets”, and a medical team at the finish so that a trip inside should not be required. These changes will require all to plan ahead and be ready to retrieve their clothing and supplies (upon finishing) from their support drivers. On especially cold days, you may need to use the heater in your vehicles for added warmth.
The Course: The Mt. Washington Auto Road is 7.6 miles in length, has an average grade of 12% with extended sections of 18%, and the last 50 yards is a 22% “wall” to the finish. There are mile posts along the course, but these posts represent mileage from Route 16 . Mile one is thus actually 0.9 mi. from the start. And mile posts 2 – 7 are thus 1.9 – 6.9 miles. From milepost 7 to the finish is 0.7 mi. There will be a digital clock at the exact halfway point of the race (3.8 mi.). The course rises 4,650 vertical feet from start to finish. Relax, there’s Only One Hill!
Time Limit: Official timing ends at three hours and two minutes (3:02) into the race. Please do not enter if unable to complete the course in that time, without assistance. After 12:02 PM (3 hours and 2 minutes) all timing will stop and any runners still on the course will be asked to accept a ride down.
Baby Strollers: Absolutely no baby strollers of any kind will be allowed on the course.
Age Limit: The minimum age on race day for any runner is 14 years.
Facilities: Portable toilets at the base and summit. There will be NO dogs allowed PAST THE BRIDGE on the Auto Road. The bridge is located at the base of the Auto Road and must be crossed to reach the festival tent. Dogs are allowed on the summit and must be leashed at all times. Your dog must be in your summit vehicle in order to cross the bridge to proceed to the summit. This includes all forms of 4-legged creatures, creatures with wings and creatures that slither! So be kind – leave your pet at home.
The Start: 9:00 A.M. at the base of the Auto Road in Pinkham Notch on Rte. 16 between Jackson and Gorham, NH. Arrive early!
Traffic: Runners will encounter vehicles on the course and thus should be careful. Though the road is closed at the bottom from 8:30 until 12:30, there may already be cars on the road when the cannon fires. Also, Auto Road Stages, which serve as mobile communication links, will be traveling up and down during the race. Traffic near the top will be especially heavy once cars full of runners begin descending after noon. Drivers should exercise extreme caution at all times. Remember, please carpool to minimize unnecessary traffic.
Parking: When you arrive, please cooperate with the parking staff. If your vehicle will be going to the summit, you will get in line at the Tollhouse once ready to go up. Cars may start up at 6:30am. Note: The gate closes at 8:30 sharp. If your vehicle is not past the Tollhouse by 8:30, it must stay down until after the race is over and you will not have your ride or gear for a very long time. Your vehicle may go up the road if you have at least two runner’s AUTO PASSES (a tear-off tab on the race bib number) – you will pay the Tollhouse fees of $25.00 for driver/vehicle and $8 per adult passenger and $6 per child (age 5-12). Vehicle restrictions will apply. If your vehicle driver does not have at least two runner’s AUTO PASSES he/she will not be allowed to drive to the summit – REMEMBER to give your driver your pass. If you have three auto passes, and a car with only a driver in it, then you do not have to pay the toll. Your vehicle must also have space for the 3 runners without exceeding weight limits.
Water/Aid Stations: Four aid stations are stationed along the course at 1.25 miles, 2.75 miles, halfway and 6 miles. Aid stations will offer water. Sports drink will also be available at the halfway aid station. Water will also be available at the base and summit. Note, there is only one aid station between the halfway point and the finish stop due to the difficulty of transporting all that water up the mountain and unpredictable weather conditions. So, drink well at these two stops!
First Aid: Emergency medical services, provided by North Conway Ambulance Service, will be available at the base, halfway and the summit. The Medical Team is in communication with the aid stations via the Auto Road Stages which will check for problems, so stop if in need of assistance.
Refreshments – at the summit, post-race: Anyone wishing to purchase refreshments at the summit should bring money for that purpose, but don’t assume you’ll be getting into the building due to occupancy limits.
Refreshments – at the base, post race: Refreshments will be served at the base tent after the race. You will receive a ticket at check-in (tear-off portion on your race number). Don’t lose it. This year, the meal will be provided by Hart’s Turkey Farm. It’s Thanksgiving in June!
Massage: Post-race massage will again be provided by The New Hampshire AMTA Sports Massage Team. A small fee of $10 will be requested for a 15 minute massage. This helps offset the therapists’ travel expenses.
Race Photos: Leo Kenney is the official race photographer.
ChronoTrack Timing: The B-Tag from ChronoTrack will be used for timing the race this year. This is a disposable tag and comes on the back of each runner’s bib number. It is important that everyone follows the proper procedures in order to assure that their time is properly collected at the finish.
Teams: No “pick-up” teams please. RRCA or USATF clubs, established clubs, school teams, or business teams only. Score is by total time. Men’s teams score 5 while women’s teams score 3. Five open teams, three masters teams, and two seniors teams (men and women) will receive awards. The individuals who score for these 18 teams, may bypass next year’s lottery. Masters (40+) and Seniors (50+) runners automatically “score down” too. Each individual member must register for the team competition by including the team name when signing up for the race. No team lists will be accepted. Team rosters will be posted. All changes must be completed by 9:00 P.M. on the eve of the race.
About the Mt. Washington Auto Road: Opened in 1861, the Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s Oldest Manmade Tourist Attraction and an unmatched driving experience your family will always remember. From the first horse-drawn wagons to today’s modern vehicles, vacationers have been experiencing the wonders of Mt. Washington’s weather, scenery and history for 150 years. Located on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire, just north of the Mount Washington Valley and minutes south of Gorham, the Auto Road has a long and winding history, much like its 7.6 mile trip up to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast. From mid-May to mid-October, guests are invited to be part of that history by either driving their own vehicle or aboard a guided tour. Please visit our website for more information.
Attention Commercial Photographers: Commercial Photography on the Mt. Washington Auto Road and at Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center is strictly prohibited unless advance permission has been granted. Please contact Steven Caming or Mary Power for further information. This applies to all activities and events taking place on the property. Violators will be prosecuted.