Scout Mountain Ultras is an annual celebration of the trail running community held the first weekend of June in Pocatello, Idaho, USA.
This is a challenging and beautiful event in the Bannock and Pocatello mountain ranges surrounding Pocatello, Idaho. Distances and elevation gain/loss based on caltopo maps:
1) 100-miler: 102.2 miles, 22,276′ of gain, 22.284′ of loss
2) 50-miler: 54.9 miles, 11,328′ of gain, 11,375′ of loss
3) 50-km: 35.5 miles (57.7 km), 7,540′ of gain, 7,587′ of loss
4) 23-miler: 23.1 miles, 5,685′ of gain, 5,685′ of loss
All four distances summit our namesake, Scout Mountain!
The event serves as an opportunity to gather together and celebrate months and years of the practice of running as we challenge our bodies, minds and spirits on the trail. We offer a variety of distances to satisfy the curiosity of all, from the beginning trail runner to the experienced veteran. At times, we have joked that we are an environmental event with a running problem. We strive to elevate the environmental literacy of the trail running community through various initiatives including but not limited to reduction the event’s environmental footprint, interfacing grassroots environmental and conservation groups with our participants, meaningful donations of race proceeds to conservation and environmental efforts and re-thinking the items offered to runners in ways that limit waste.
Trail running takes away many of the restrictions or rules about how we should run or how we should look. We can spend hours wandering through stands of pines and aspens, taking in a symphony of color as we pass wildflowers, avoiding the pressure to be something we aren’t. We can be ourselves and be happy. We all deserve this same opportunity, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social class, gender, sexual orientation, gender identification, ability, or age. We are committed to creating space at Scout Mountain Ultras and have committed to at least fifty percent of the field at each of our events will be held for women, femme and non-binary folks. We will not tolerate harassment of any kind in our race or online spaces. These trails have been a doorway to another world, and as the race directors, we will do everything we can to keep those doors open for everyone behind us. All are welcome here.
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Incredible Race
Another race I couldn't find many reviews on beforehand...so I feel compelled to put something out there. This race is nuts. I've run in 24 states and was just amazed … MORE
Another race I couldn’t find many reviews on beforehand…so I feel compelled to put something out there.
This race is nuts. I’ve run in 24 states and was just amazed how beautiful this course is. There is dense forest, open ridgeline, tons of wild flowers, and mountain peaks. The weather is different every year- this year was overcast skies with a few sprinkles and a mild 60-70ish degrees. A little snow on Scout Mountain, but some years it can be feet of snow. The climbs are brutal. 3500′ over 6 miles and 4000′ over 10 miles, with rolling climbs in between. The altitude is between 6500′- 9000′ so locals, MT and CO folks will be fine, with the rest of us huffing it to the top.
Easy logistics – park at the high school, get shuttled to the start, and catch one back (or have someone pick you up at the finish if you’re over 15 hours for the 50). There’s no cell service at the finish so plan ahead for a ride if you think you’ll even be close to the cut off for shuttles.
Five manned aid stations, with a few water only stops in between the long stretches. I was struck how fantastic the volunteers were- these were clearly experienced ultra runners themselves and knew exactly how to take care of every participant coming in. So grateful for all the folks out there helping with this race.
I was rewarded with a bar of soap, a hug, and a potato at the finish, which is everything you want and need at the end of this gnarly 50 miler.
This is a very challenging, gorgeous, SPECTACULAR race. You will NOT regret this one.