I've never been disappointed with a Rootstock race: great course design and logistics, great pre and post race organization, and always challenging. Looking forward to competing in their first expedition-length event: the five-day Endless Mountains Adventure Race!
-mark lattanzi, Team tanz navigation
Pennsylvania offers endless mountains to explore, filled with wildlife, sweeping vistas, cascading waterways, rich history of our nation's complex industrial past, and rugged (and often rocky) terrain. It is a perfect setting to challenge veteran adventure racers, and it offers a great entry point for those ready to take on their first expedition race.
Teams of 2-4 will have five days to complete a 325-mile/525-kilometer course, exploring the sprawling, majestic PA Wilds region, comprising more than two million acres of land spanning one national and eight state forests, twenty-nine state parks, fifty state gamelands, and countless towns and villages nestled in the mountains and valleys of north-central PA. Teams will encounter local history, paddle scenic waterways, climb and traverse rocky ridges and mountainsides, and trek and bike through some of our state's most remote forests.
Along the way, teams will work together to overcome the challenges that only expedition races can bring: being tested to the physical and mental limits with challenging overland navigation, wild terrain, and weather that can tame even the most hardened outdoors enthusiasts. It is in those moments where the best stories are written.
Teams of 2-4 will have five days to complete a 325-mile/525-kilometer course, exploring the sprawling, majestic PA Wilds region, comprising more than two million acres of land spanning one national and eight state forests, twenty-nine state parks, fifty state gamelands, and countless towns and villages nestled in the mountains and valleys of north-central PA. Teams will encounter local history, paddle scenic waterways, climb and traverse rocky ridges and mountainsides, and trek and bike through some of our state's most remote forests.
Along the way, teams will work together to overcome the challenges that only expedition races can bring: being tested to the physical and mental limits with challenging overland navigation, wild terrain, and weather that can tame even the most hardened outdoors enthusiasts. It is in those moments where the best stories are written.
Dates |
Saturday, June 24 - Sunday July 2, 2023
Preliminary Schedule:
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Teams |
Team Composition: Single-gender and mixed-gender teams of 2, 3, and 4*
While we honor the desire to explore on your own, this event is not open to solo racers. If you are a solo competitor looking for a team, consider posting on the Adventure Racing Discussion Group, on our facebook page, or contact us directly. *Top prizes (cash purse, full podium prizes) will only be available to the premier division teams: four-person, mixed-gender. |
Location |
Event check-in and all pre-race activities will take place at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home to the Little League World series. From there, teams will be bussed to a remote start location and the race itself will largely route teams through the incredible PA Wilds.
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Disciplines |
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Prizes |
Premier Division (4-Person, mixed-gender teams):
Other Divisions:
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Safety and required certification |
Required: WFA Certification
During the Endless Mountains, teams will be in remote wilderness environments, sometimes far from EMS assistance, and may need to be self-sufficient for extended periods. As a result, we are requiring that at least one member of each team hold a WFA certification or higher (standard Red Cross First Aid will NOT suffice). WFA (Wilderness First Aid) and WFR (Wilderness First Responder) are industry-standard wilderness-based first aid courses for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals. Being able to take care of yourself or a teammate is critical, and in a multi-day expedition race each team should know how to manage a variety of common wilderness-relate scenarios that may unfold in remote settings. WFA courses are commonplace and typically take a weekend to complete. WFR courses are quite a bit longer in duration but are truly incredible experiences and prepare you to more fully respond to backcountry emergencies. A number of organizations offer WFA and WFR courses, but the recommend industry-leaders are: SOLO, NOLS, and WMA. Collectively, these groups organize hundreds of courses across the country every year. Recommended We encourage teams to consider investing in river-paddling safety and skills courses such as the American Canoe Association's (ACA) Level 3 River Safety & Rescue course and ACA Level 3 River Kayaking (or equivalent). The conditions are such that we are not requiring proof of training or skills, but we recommend building such skills into your toolbox. Friend of Rootstock Racing and fellow adventure racer Eric Caravella is an ACA-certified River Safety and Rescue instructor, who offers packraft-specific skills and river safety training courses through his company, Packrafting Adventures. |