Thursday, December 27, 2007
Kil-So-Quah Campground entrance, parking and lay-out
You will know you have reached the right place for The HUFF 50K Trail Run when you see this entrance sign on US 224 (Markle Road):
It will be a little bit darker when you are trying to discover the large sign on the morning of the race. Once you turn in on the access road next to the sign you will come to the entry gate.
The DNR will be collecting an entrance fee of $5 for every vehicle entering the campground. This was first instituted in 2004 shortly before The HUFF. That made for long lines snaking out onto US 224 the first year.
Last year, the entry delay was much diminished by the fact that we sold entry passes before the race at the pasta dinner the night before and in Fort Wayne. We will have one-day passes available. Of course, if you already have a 2007 Indiana DNR state park pass or you have purchased a 2008 Indiana DNR state park pass, it will be honored at the gate.
Indeed we urge runners from Indiana to purchase a 2008 pass. These are available at most DNR sites in Indiana or are available online by clicking here. We will have some available for purchase at the pasta dinner.
Once you get past the gate and make the short distance to the campground you should see one of the members of the HUFF parking brigade who can help get you parked efficiently.
Each campsite shown below can accomodate 2 or 3 vehicles if the first vehicle pulls all the way into the space. 50K runners should try to pull in first. One-loopers should pull in after the 50 folks. Try to coordinate with other runners that you know to make parking as efficient as possible.
The map of the campground, which you can enlarge by clicking, show the approximate locations of the state, the main tent, the chute/relay transition area and path of the course through the campground.
The start will take place on the main road. The 50K and first relay runner of a team will start at 8:00 AM. NOTE: THE ONE LOOP RUNNERS WILL START 10 to 15 minutes after the 50K and relay runners start. This is in order to spread out the start, lessen the initial crowding on the trail and make for a more enjoyable - and faster - trail experience.
50K runners and subsequent relay runners will not run on the road on the 2nd and 3rd loops or legs. You will exit the transition area, hit the aid table if you need to, then run west through the short grassy area west of the main tent until you enter the trail.
This means the first loop or leg is slightly shorter than the 2nd and 3rd loops.
50K runners will pass through the campground as they finish each loop. This means that if you want to change shoes and socks, get drier clothing or pick up other supplies from your car, you can do so. This generally obviates the need for drop bags at one of the two other aid stations.
The other aid stations are located approximately 3.5 to 4 miles from each other and from the start/finish. Aid Station "A" is located at the entrance to the Little Turtle State Recreation Area just off Highway 5 (Warren Road) south of the dam. This is near the main office for the reservoir.
Aid Station "B" is located on Division Road where the trail crosses the road. This is past the shooting range. Note that Division Road ends in a cul-de-sac about a 1/4 mile past Aid Station "B." You can turn around there or you can greet your runner at that cul-de-sac as they emerge from the trail and then go down the trail east of the cul-de-sac as they head to Simpson Road and the bridge on the east side of the course.
Division Road is reached by exiting Aid Station "B" and turning left (south) on Highway 5. Go to the first county road south of the Little Turtle entrance and turn left (east) onto Division Road.
Since the opening of the shooting range in 2005, we have had to modify the course and divert runners onto part of Division Road in order to get them past the shooting range.
Please be careful as you drive on Division Road in order to provide the HUFF participants with the greatest measure of safety.
There will be a portable toilet at Aid Station "A" and at Aid Station "B'." There are additional pit toilets just beyond Aid Station "A" in the campground. (These are visible from the trail).
There are three sets of men's and women's modern and upgraded pit toilets at Kil-So-Campground. One set is at the east end where runners finishing the loop will be coming into the campground. Another set is on the west end near the access road. The main set is directly across (south) of the main tent and chute area. We have contracted to put another portable toilet in at that location to augment the two already there.
Aid Stations will have water, sport drink, defizzed cola and an array of solid foods such as fruit, pretzels, chips, cookies, M & M's, hard candy and the like. The aid stations will also have some things special to the aid station such as the traditional chocolate turtles at Aid Staion "A," or boiled potatos, chicken noodle soup and other goodies.
The main tent will, of course, have an amazing array of home-made soups and other goodies. More about that later. The HUFF is known for its food!
It will be a little bit darker when you are trying to discover the large sign on the morning of the race. Once you turn in on the access road next to the sign you will come to the entry gate.
The DNR will be collecting an entrance fee of $5 for every vehicle entering the campground. This was first instituted in 2004 shortly before The HUFF. That made for long lines snaking out onto US 224 the first year.
Last year, the entry delay was much diminished by the fact that we sold entry passes before the race at the pasta dinner the night before and in Fort Wayne. We will have one-day passes available. Of course, if you already have a 2007 Indiana DNR state park pass or you have purchased a 2008 Indiana DNR state park pass, it will be honored at the gate.
Indeed we urge runners from Indiana to purchase a 2008 pass. These are available at most DNR sites in Indiana or are available online by clicking here. We will have some available for purchase at the pasta dinner.
Once you get past the gate and make the short distance to the campground you should see one of the members of the HUFF parking brigade who can help get you parked efficiently.
Each campsite shown below can accomodate 2 or 3 vehicles if the first vehicle pulls all the way into the space. 50K runners should try to pull in first. One-loopers should pull in after the 50 folks. Try to coordinate with other runners that you know to make parking as efficient as possible.
The map of the campground, which you can enlarge by clicking, show the approximate locations of the state, the main tent, the chute/relay transition area and path of the course through the campground.
The start will take place on the main road. The 50K and first relay runner of a team will start at 8:00 AM. NOTE: THE ONE LOOP RUNNERS WILL START 10 to 15 minutes after the 50K and relay runners start. This is in order to spread out the start, lessen the initial crowding on the trail and make for a more enjoyable - and faster - trail experience.
50K runners and subsequent relay runners will not run on the road on the 2nd and 3rd loops or legs. You will exit the transition area, hit the aid table if you need to, then run west through the short grassy area west of the main tent until you enter the trail.
This means the first loop or leg is slightly shorter than the 2nd and 3rd loops.
50K runners will pass through the campground as they finish each loop. This means that if you want to change shoes and socks, get drier clothing or pick up other supplies from your car, you can do so. This generally obviates the need for drop bags at one of the two other aid stations.
The other aid stations are located approximately 3.5 to 4 miles from each other and from the start/finish. Aid Station "A" is located at the entrance to the Little Turtle State Recreation Area just off Highway 5 (Warren Road) south of the dam. This is near the main office for the reservoir.
Aid Station "B" is located on Division Road where the trail crosses the road. This is past the shooting range. Note that Division Road ends in a cul-de-sac about a 1/4 mile past Aid Station "B." You can turn around there or you can greet your runner at that cul-de-sac as they emerge from the trail and then go down the trail east of the cul-de-sac as they head to Simpson Road and the bridge on the east side of the course.
Division Road is reached by exiting Aid Station "B" and turning left (south) on Highway 5. Go to the first county road south of the Little Turtle entrance and turn left (east) onto Division Road.
Since the opening of the shooting range in 2005, we have had to modify the course and divert runners onto part of Division Road in order to get them past the shooting range.
Please be careful as you drive on Division Road in order to provide the HUFF participants with the greatest measure of safety.
There will be a portable toilet at Aid Station "A" and at Aid Station "B'." There are additional pit toilets just beyond Aid Station "A" in the campground. (These are visible from the trail).
There are three sets of men's and women's modern and upgraded pit toilets at Kil-So-Campground. One set is at the east end where runners finishing the loop will be coming into the campground. Another set is on the west end near the access road. The main set is directly across (south) of the main tent and chute area. We have contracted to put another portable toilet in at that location to augment the two already there.
Aid Stations will have water, sport drink, defizzed cola and an array of solid foods such as fruit, pretzels, chips, cookies, M & M's, hard candy and the like. The aid stations will also have some things special to the aid station such as the traditional chocolate turtles at Aid Staion "A," or boiled potatos, chicken noodle soup and other goodies.
The main tent will, of course, have an amazing array of home-made soups and other goodies. More about that later. The HUFF is known for its food!
# posted by Mitch : 3:58 PM
