Escarpment Trail Run 30K
Sunday, July 28, 2024 · Windham, NY

FOR MOUNTAIN GOATS ONLY! The Escarpment Trail is a very remote, rugged hiking trail in the Northern Catskill Mountains in New York State. This single track trail crosses no roads, has total elevation changes of nearly 10,000 feet, and requires all aid to be backpacked in by volunteers. This is not for your average runner but for the runner who trains 12 months a year, and has spent years building a base and gaining long distance experience. Therefore, qualifying standards are required to insure that all participants have experience with endurance events and have a reasonable chance of completing the course within 6 hours.

Race Info

30K TRAIL RACE ON THE ESCARPMENT TRAIL
Established in 1977 - MOUNTAIN GOATS ONLY.
There are qualification standards - see below for details.

THE TRAIL

is viewed by many as an exaggeration of the term.
It is extremely rocky and a runner must expect to navigate over boulders, downed trees, gullies and hidden roots the entire distance. Contestants must be prepared to deal with any of the forest's natural barriers, such as bees, slippery rocks, porcupines, black bears (not probable, but possible) and anything else that can be found in the forests of the Catskills. There are numerous places where runners must climb hand over fist to scale a rise, conversely, extremely steep downhill sections add not only challenge to the course, but also a high degree of unwelcome danger. There are sections of the course that travel along cliffs. If you're not careful, you could fall to your death. Very few runners go the distance without taking at least one painful spill. Most runners take many. Believe me, you're going to take a flop or two, or more. Bees!!! In 1987, we ran into lots of them. If you are allergic to bee stings, you MUST run with your own medication.

THIS IS NOT A CARRIAGE TRAIL

it is a treacherous hiking trail.
There won't be a vehicle to fetch you if you if you should decide to quit and it is your responsibility to get to the finish line. This is not a Run-For-All and we are not trying to hype it or make it something it is not. There won't be people telling you where the trail goes, doctors to wipe your blisters, or a bus to give you a ride to the finish if you decide you can't continue. This is a wonderful run across wonderful country, a run in which we will share the experience and the friendship with those qualified runners who choose to participate. No awards, no age group categories. Just runners, mountains, and some refreshments at the finish line.

THE CREATOR

Dick Vincent.
The trail was his playground, a place upon which he and friends shared many runs. In 1977, Dick made it an event and has brought it forward since. He also provides coaching services

RACE DAY - Sunday, July 28, 2024

9:00am Start for Wave 1
The event uses a wave start system. Approximately 15 runners go off every 5 minutes. Registered participants will be assigned to a wave one week prior to the event.
Wave Time
19:00am
29:05am
39:10am
49:15am
59:20am
69:25am
79:30am
89:35am
99:40am
109:45am
Wave Time
119:50am
129:55am
1310:00am
1410:05am
1510:10am
1610:15am
1710:20am
1810:25am
1910:30am
2010:35am

Apply for Entry

Please fully read this section before applying for entry.

QUALIFYING STANDARDS

The following standards have been set up for accepting entries. We CANNOT accept your entry if you don't meet these standards. We reserve the right to accept or reject any entry. Due to trail limitations, entries will close at 275 runners or on X date, whichever comes first. These qualifying standards are put in place to insure that runners are in condition to safely complete the event in 6 hours. Please don't ask us to accept any qualifier under a road marathon or 30k trail run.

At least one of these standards must have been met after August 1 of last year:
  • Anyone who completed the previous year's Escarpment Trail Run in 6 hours or less.
  • Anyone who completed a half-iron man triathlon competition in 6 hours or less.
  • Anyone who completed a full iron man triathlon in 13 hours or less.
  • Anyone who completed a 50 miler in under 10 hours, a 50K under 5 hours, or a marathon under 4:15. Add 1 1/2 hrs. for a trail race.
If you do not meet any of the qualifying standards above but have run a trail race of 20 miles or longer (ie. a distance not specified above) within 85% more than the time of that race's winner, you are eligible to submit an application. Acceptance is pending our review.

NO ONE UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.

2025 applications will open in the spring.

Results

2023 & 2024 Results with Split Data (PDF)

Male Record and Most Wins
2:42:09 set by Lee Berube in 2018

WinsNameYears
13Benjamin Nephew (MA/USA)2000-2006, 2008-2011, 2014-2015
8Rich Fargo (CT/USA)1986, 1988-1991, 1994, 1996-1997
5Lee Berube (NY/USA)2018-2022,2024
4Matt Cull (VT/USA)1985,1992-1993,1995

Female Record and Most Wins
3:07:22 set by Cassy Bradley-Byrne in 1999

WinsNameYears
5Sheryl Wheeler (NY/USA)2003-2004, 2007, 2009, 2012
4Jean Kerr (NY/USA)1985, 1987, 1989, 1991
4Cassy Bradley-Byrne (PA/USA)1998-1999,2001-2002
4Michelle Merlis (NY/USA)2017,2021-2023

History of Winners

Results

Virtual* Results

*Virtual editions required that the individual complete the ACTUAL course during race week.

Media

Read up on what it's all about.

Manitou - The song: By Dave Douglas

The "Boston Marathon" of Trail Runs: Amby Burfoot, 2005

Damon Douglas: In Memoriam

Tour d'Escarpment 2004: Ben Nephew

Rocks and Rolls: Stefani Jackenthal, 2003. Originally published by Attache Magazine

Best of Times, Worst of Times: Escarpment '02: Jim Dunn's reflections on Escarpment 2002

Playing Plinko at Escarpment: Steve Darrow, Sept. 2002. Originally published by the Finger Lakes Runners Club.

Rip's Revenge: Don Kardong, Runner's World, August 1995. We have reproduced this article with permission from Runner's World.

The Escarpment Trail, the Ultimate Test: an article about the first Escarpment Trail Run in 1977, by Paul Fetscher. Originally printed in Today's Jogger, Summer 1977.

Escarpment Trail Run 2002 : Carol Kane's account of the 2002 race, on the HiTek Racing site

Dick Vincent: 25 Years a Streaker: by David Blaikie (Ultramarathon World). Not about the race, but about its founder