This year, the Mt. Wilson Trail Race Committee is hosting a unique “MWT 5K Trail Recovery Run” event within the Sierra Madre city limits in Kersting Court. Because this is a special 5K race/run/walk, there is no limit in the number of participants this year and all skill levels and ages …
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This year, the Mt. Wilson Trail Race Committee is hosting a unique “MWT 5K Trail Recovery Run” event within the Sierra Madre city limits in Kersting Court. Because this is a special 5K race/run/walk, there is no limit in the number of participants this year and all skill levels and ages are welcome to register. All 5K paid entries receive a special MWTR t-shirt and goodie bag.
The “MWT 5K Recovery Run” will start and end in the traditional Kersting Court location, going up Baldwin Avenue to Mira Monte Ave., up to the Mount Wilson Trailhead gate, then going west along Carter Ave. to the top of the Bailey Canyon Park settling basin, before heading back to Baldwin Ave. to the Finish Line. While participants will not be able to access Mount Wilson Trail and Bailey Canyon Trail that day, they can see where these wonderful trails start and why it is so important to have both trails repaired and ready to open ASAP for the public’s access and enjoyment.
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As one of the oldest trail races in California, the Mt. Wilson Trail Race takes you 8.6 miles from Kersting Court in Sierra Madre to Orchard Camp and back. The elevation gain is over 2160 feet on a winding course that changes regularly due to fire, earthquakes, and erosion.
The first trail to Mt Wilson was made by the Gabrielino Indians and was used by them when they carried timber from the mountains for use in the construction of the San Gabriel Mission in 1771. The original “Mt. Wilson Trail” was built in 1864 by Benjamin I. Wilson, known as “Don Benito.” In 1889, Harvard College established the first observatory on Mt. Wilson. The Pacific Electric “Red Cars” established their route to Sierra Madre in 1906 until 1950. Literally thousands of people rode the cars to Sierra Madre to hike the Mt. Wilson Trail.
Largely through the efforts of a few dedicated and ambitious Sierra Madre residents, the Sierra Madre Historical Wilderness Area was established by declaration of the City Council on January 24, 1967 and dedicated January 27, 1968. On October 12, 1993, the Sierra Madre City Council included the Mt. Wilson Trail on the Sierra Madre Register of Historic Cultural Landmarks.
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I only went to the finish to watch, but had a lot of fun! I know this is an incredibly difficult trail race.... and I saw a lot of people … MORE
I only went to the finish to watch, but had a lot of fun! I know this is an incredibly difficult trail race…. and I saw a lot of people come in looking like they left it all out there! But it’s great to have such a well run local even like this. The race director and board know what they’re doing. The awards are great, and the community is quaint and sweet! I must run this next year!