Grand Viduta, Stg 2 Official

Race - Apr 25, 2020

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Cave · Fall Colors · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This is a sweeping course with opportunities to run fast, but also a few hefty sections of rocks. It is generally technical but 100% runnable. A main feature is the "Rocky Nightmare" following a shelf on the dropoff of the plateau.

There are a few treacherous downhills, but overall it's a much more relaxed course than the first or third stage. Wildflowers are common on this route in early April, and snakes can be a problem over the summer and early fall, particularly along Sinks Trail and Rocky Nightmare.

Start from inside the primitive campground at site #13. Loop around the campground before dropping down Cold Springs Trail rotating counterclockwise up to Red Gate then completing the lollipop back to the intersection with Closed Road (Bankhead). Cross Bankhead and follow Mountain Mist trail to it's southern terminus before coming around O'Shaughnessy Point and entering the Rocky Freaking Nightmare.

After the nightmare, turn up Rest Shelter (Arrowhead Trail) to South Plateau Loop, entering Bucca Family Trail to your left. Staying on the western side of the plateau exit Bucca Family Trail to Fire Tower Trail by moving directly straight. Reach the hiker's parking lot and cross the road to the biker's parking lot, dropping into the valley via Sinks Trail, moving counterclockwise around Logan's Point.

Climb Stone Cuts before dropping back into Sinks Trail and moving through the bottom of the valley. Note the caves on your right. Exit Sinks Trail to Mountain Mist and finally cross Bankhead Road and move uphill on Cold Springs Trail, entering the disc golf course at the trailhead beside the Ranger's station. Finish on the abandoned railroad bed.

The Saturday stage starts and finishes at the historic location of the Viduta Rail Station, the superior terminus of the Monte Sano Railway for which this event is named and themed.