RUNNERSROCK‘NTHEKNOBGUIDESEPTEMBER17,2022 BLUEKNOBALL-SEASONSRESORTANDBLUEKNOBSTATEPARK08:00-MARATHONSTART09:00-HALFMARATHONSTART10:00-10KSTART
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Race Rule............................................................................ The Mountain Marathon course description...................... The Mountain Marathon course maps............................... Half-Marathon course description...................................... Half-Marathon course maps............................................... 10K course maps............................................................... 10K course description...................................................... 4 17161412865
• Music on the trail – Our insurance is provided through an agency that requests that you do not listen to music via headphones since it impedes the ability to hear others around you. Besides, it is a trail race, why not enjoy the nature that surrounds you. If you do listen to music, either use one earbud or headphone or play at a volume that you can hear others. If a race official on the course says something to you and you do not hear his/her instructions, you risk disqualification. Under no circumstances are participants permitted to play music through a speaker or any device that is audible to others.
• Optional race aids – Hiking poles, GPS devices, heart rate monitors, and similar devices are allowed – but ONLY IF you use them safely and responsibly (so you are aware of what’s around you and not a danger to yourself or others).
• No unofficial runners – No bandits (or pacers) allowed.
• Dropping out of the race – If you can’t complete the race, you must notify the aid station captain and surrender your race bib, which will officially withdraw you from the race. If you leave the race and don’t show up at the next aid station within a reasonable time, we’ll assume you’re lost, contact your emergency contact, notify authorities and begin our search. This could threaten the race’s future permits. Leaving a race without informing an aid station captain means automatic disqualification and restriction from entry in future races.
• Do not litter – You can either carry your trash or dispose of it at the aid stations. We are operating under permits from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and other parties. Litter could threaten future permits. Anyone caught intentionally littering along the trail will be disqualified. Leave no trace!
• When nature calls – Some aid stations will have bathroom facilities, either a permanent structure or a port-a-john, but most do not. If you have to pee, find a tree.
• No course cutting – Follow the marked course at all times – it will be clearly marked with flagging, directional arrows and markers. If you depart the marked course, you must return to the point of departure on foot before continuing. Cutting the switchbacks is cheating, and leaving the beaten path to avoid mud or water is just bad trail karma – please don’t.
• No crew support or aid drops; spectators only permitted at aid stations – Rock ‘N The Knob is a crew-less race. No one is allowed to give aid to runners at aid stations, drop or store supplies or equipment along the race route, and runners are not allowed any kind of aid between checkpoints unless it is an emergency. Spectators are allowed only at aid stations and can interact with runners as long as they do not give aid, supplies or equipment unless it is an emergency or other special situation as permitted by the aid station captain.
• Passing other trail users – The course uses many popular hiking trails, so please be respectful of all trail users and yield as needed. Be careful, courteous, patient, and safe while passing competitors or other trail users. Communicate your intentions clearly (“Passing on your left”), and remember that it’s much more fun when everyone uses their manners.
As it is in many trail races, the Rock ‘N The Knob Trail Challenge has its own rules and practices. Please read carefully the race rules and warnings before the competition.
• Cut-off times – Aid station captains will strictly enforce the cut-off times that are posted for designated aid stations. Aid station captains also have the authority to pull you from the course if it is clear that you are physically unable to continue in a safe manner. Their decisions are final, and if you refuse to vacate the course when directed, you’ll be disqualified.
• Mandatory gear – There is no mandatory gear needed for this race but we suggest a good pair of trail shoes, hydration and maybe some bug spray. If you are allergic to bees or other insects, please carry the appropriate medication (antihistamine, EpiPen, etc.)
ROCK ‘N THE KNOB TRAIL CHALLENGE RACE RULES
• Pets – We love dogs, but not during a race. Please no pets on the course. (Pets are welcome at the start/finish area, but they must be under control and they must be on a leash. Pet clean up after your pet.)
• Accountability – We’ll be tracking your progress around the course – it’s your responsibility to make sure your race bib is visible, and to check yourself IN and OUT of each of the aid stations (even if you are just passing through without stopping). A volunteer at the aid stations will record your arrival and departure, and relay your progress to race HQ.
Additional event rules:
• You are paying to race – When you sign up for a race, you are signing up to run/race at the event. When you show up at the event, we guarantee to provide a race bib, event timing, start line, a marked course with aid along the way, finish line food and beverages and results posted online through our timing company. Anything not listed above is a bonus provided by us and is not included in your registration fee. We have an obligation to our participants who actually show up to the race. If you do not show up, we owe you nothing – meaning if you don’t show up, we will not mail your stuff.
• Do your homework – Go online, read and understand all the available information concerning the 3 W’s of the race; the what, the where, and the when. The time put into developing a race website, writing pre-race emails and social media posts are for your benefit, and you alone are responsible for knowing this information about the race before race day. If you have a question, please email us or post on our group or race page, no matter how silly you think it is.
• Injured on the course – If you are injured on the course: if you can still walk under your own power or with assistance from others, please go in the direction toward the next aid station. Don’t try to bushwack, use “Zen” or internal compass to the nearest road or landmark. All aid stations will have basic medical supplies, some will have medical staff and/or have a radio operator that can summon emergency personnel. If you can not move forward, a course sweeper will be behind the last runner and will also have a radio to summon emergency personnel.
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Section 2 – Pavia Aid Station to Chappelle’s Field AS (3.8 miles | +1449 ft. / -560 ft.)
Racers will cross Pavia/Knob Road (at 7.3 miles) and here will be a full aid station. Then racers will run up a section of single track with Pavia Run on the left before making sharp right up Rock ‘N Ridge Trail and up the spine of the ridge. Overall, there is a climb on both ends of this trail, at beginning and just before the turn to the right at the top. Runners will now run along the mountain before making a left and dropping down into Pavia Run for 0.8 miles. When you reach the bottom, it will be at mile 10 of the course. The course will turn make a sharp right and up the western fork of Pavia Run before making a slight left and then up out of the hallow. After making another sharp right, runners will be near Chappelle Field on the left. At the top of the Field is an aid station. You are at mile 11.4.
Section 3 – Chappelle Field Aid Station to Ravens Rest Aid Station. (2.3 miles | +402 ft. / -600 ft.)
The Mountain Marathon Course Section 1 – Blue Knob All Seasons to Pavia Aid Station (7.0 miles | +572 ft./ -1726 ft.)
From the aid station, runners will glide on a flat double track a quarter-mile until an intersection with a paved service road and several trails. Take the uppermost trail - for the race we call it Upper Ridge Trail (marked Rock ‘N Ridge Trail though on a different section of trail from earlier). Enjoy some flat yet mildly technical singletrack for a halfmile before going around a hallow and then the course turns sharply up Deep Hallow at mile 12.8. The course follows an abandoned trail to the top of the mountain. It’s steep yet short. 400 feet in 0.4 miles. At the top the course will merge onto a mountain bike trail and descend all the way to Sawmill Trail. This downhill is steep and somewhat eroded, dropping more than 500 feet in 0.6 miles. The course will now be on Sawmill Trail, a double track, will bear to the left around a parking area before emerging out of the woods. Runners will run down the field to Raven Rest Aid Station at 14.2 miles.
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Starting at the Clubhouse at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort at 2736 feet, runners will enter the trailhead at the Condos then follow Hink’s Delusion for a short segment called Y Not Udy – a new 0.2 mile singletrack singletrack that meanders before reaching Hinks Delusion again. Then another detour departing on Jed to the Tubing Hut and back on Hink’s between the ski slopes and Overland Pass Rd. before emerging out of the woods on Stoehr Climb below the summit before crossing the road. Runners will cross the road and then dips into the woods before a right turn down a gravel service road to the paved hairpin turn.. Runners will cross the road and onto a blue-blazed connecting singletrack for 0.7 miles to Tower Road. Runners will turn right on the road and run toward the radio towers at the top of Herman Point at 3014 feet (3 miles in the race). Lost Turkey Trail will be on the left. Racers will take Lost Turkey Trail down the mountain and across Blue Knob Road (be careful of vehicle traffic). Runners will continue onto Lost Turkey Trail on the left just before the guard rail. The trail continues downhill until reaching an old logging trail. This section from Herman Point to the old logging trail, called Herman Steps and Blister Blaster, is one of the steepest descent of the race, dropping over 600 feet in 0.7 miles. Racers will turn left and continue on the logging road/Lost Turkey Trail for 0.7 miles to the campgrounds. This section is very flat and offers a chance your quads to recover. Runners will go around the Blue Knob State Park Campgrounds before turning left around the southern end of the campgrounds and then a right onto Chappells Field Trail. Chappells Field Trail is a wide trail toward Pavia Road. At Pavia Road (mile 5.1), runners will cross the road, bearing left onto an access trail before making a right onto Crist Trail. The forest will vary from new growth, to damp pines, to high canopy of second and third-growth forest. The trail will eventually cross Pavia/ Knob Road (at 6.1 miles) again about halfway down the mountain then runs atop the ridge until banking to the left. Crist Ridge Trail will make a last final drop into the valley – first a fast and straight section before banking to the right and then several switchbacks to Pavia/Knob Road. This downhill will be the fastest section of the course. Also this section is the longest single downhill of the race with a total fall of 859 feet in 2.6 miles. Runners would have dropped 1800 feet since Herman Point.
Section 4 - Raven Rest AS to Hairpin (3.8 miles | +1480 ft. / -721 ft.)
Section 5 – Hairpin AS to Quitters Row (2.5 miles | +8.91 ft. /-1190 ft.) Runners will run to the lodge via a powerline, cross a service shed and up to the ski area parking lot. Runners turn right and around the south side of the lodge (right side of the lodge) and will be offered a tremendous view toward the northeast at the top of the ski lifts. New for 2021: Runners will then proceed down Upper Mambo ski slope then continue down Lower Mambo until your jaw drops when you gaze at the face of Eurus. Eurus or ‘The East Wind’ is terrifying force that lays waste to all in its path. It seeks out the unworthy and plucks them from the Earth At Eurus, you will climb more that 400 feet at a 20% to 40% grade until you reach the condos and make a left. Here, it is a short reprieve until you yield left and down a steep slope called Edgeset. After a short break, runners will go down Stembogen ski slope before running toward a “hole in the forest” and down an old logging road. Then it is a steep scramble up the mountain called “I Need a Sherpa!” Now on top of the ridge, we give you another short rollercoaster down a service road and a sharp right up another steep, yet shorter scramble up the hill, up some rattlesnake switchbacks back to the top and toward the resort before making a left through some “small rock potatoes”, past the maintenance shed and to the Ouitters Row aid station. Here, so close to the finish, you’d might be tempted to drop.
Runners will start down a singletrack trail prior to the pavilion so make your move fast because the next 2.5 miles is narrow but a true gem of singletrack trail as you take a left turn onto Black Bear Trail. The singletrack is “surprisingly technical” in some places and twisty and turny throughout. Black Bear Trail is a gradual downhill amid Pennsylvania hardwoods and ferns. You will take a left onto Lost Porcupine Trail which offers even more twisty turns on singletrack. Then you make a right turn onto Tree-odge – “get it” – then Code Blue Trail.
Section 7 – The Final 10K Challenge: Part 2 (2.8 Miles | +1210 Ft. / -236 Ft.) Hyner has Humble Hill and the Megatransect had Raw Trail. Every great PA trail race has its own signature section. We call ours “Throat Punch”! It’s the second half of Devils Hairpin. (Imagine the shape of a hairpin with one zigzagshaped side and a straight side.) It’s time to go up, my friends. Throat Punch scrambles up Spit Hollow to almost the top of the mountain. At the end of the climb, it’s a right turn onto an old logging route and about eight-tenths of a mile downhill through Cadillac Alley. Then it’s the final climb – a combination of ATV trails, a logging flune and logging roads – it is a mile climb of 600 feet we call The Soul Sucker Slopes. Once at the top, Not Fairway is a splendid runnable singletrack to the intersection of Oak Hill Lane and Summit Way. Go past some condos on your left on some nice grassy singletrack until you literally pop out below the resort and sprint to the finish. 7
Section 6 – The Final 10K Challenge: Part 1 (3.5 Miles | +39 Ft. / -1032 Ft.)
This will be the most physically demanding and mentally challenging section of the course. Runners will climb the remote southeastern flank of the mountain. The first half mile is up the mountain to 2570 feet, then along the 2500 foot contour for about six-tenths of a mile, then downs 500 feet in a half of a mile to Beaver Dam Run at 15.72 miles into the race. This entire section includes steep slopes requiring runners to be able to stop on a dime to avoid seriously technical and jagged rocks along the narrow single track. THEN reaching Beaver Dam Canyon, runners will climb up the hallow up Beaver Dam Run to the top of the mountain with “rock step climbing” almost the entire 971 feet in 0.79 miles out of the hollow. The biofilm-covered rocks on this entire climb are very slippery. Be sure to enjoy the dry waterfall you will cross. Eventually you will cross a dirt road (Three Springs Trail) but the climbing is not over. Runners will cross Three Springs Trail (at 16.6 miles) and continue up the mountain for just two-tenths of a mile. At the top is a beautiful section called the ‘Stone Pads’, a flat section of stone stepping on the single track. Then the trail will become less technical and will follow the trail along the edge of the summit (clockwise), past Pavia Overlook on the left. After a section of straight singletrack, runners will make a hard left, down a short hill and then bear to the right before arriving at the dirt state forest road. Make a left.The road will end at Pavia Road, here is an aid station.
On the northeastern side of Spruce Knob, these trails with its pine, lush moss, mushrooms and mountain laurel, is reminiscent of the great trails in the northern PA Wilds or Catskills. Not to give away any secrets but you might end up doing a little bit of “wilderness parkour” before you are done. Afterward, you will find yourself on a grassy double track. The downhill fun is about to begin. It’s the first half of Devils Hairpin! Part one is a 630-foot descent in three-quarters of a mile! What makes this even more exciting is that the downhill is wide-enough for two, maybe even three runners wide! If you are brave enough and good at finding a line, this is the place you can pass. At the bottom, there will be an aid station.
20-mile runner down one of the ski slopesLance Harshbarger Momentum Photography SEE 10K COURSE MAP FOR DETAILS ON LAST 6 MILES 8
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SECTION 2 – CHAPPELLE FIELD AID STATION TO RAVENS REST AID STATION. (2.3 MILES | +402 FT. / -600 FT.) From the aid station, runners will glide on a flat double track a quarter-mile until an inter section with a paved service road and several trails. Take the uppermost trail – for the race we call it Upper Ridge Trail (marked Rock ‘N Ridge Trail though on a different section of trail from earlier). Enjoy some flat yet mildly technical singletrack for a half-mile before going around a hollow and then the course turns sharply up Deep Hollow at mile 5.9. The course follows an abandoned trail to the top of the mountain. It’s steep yet short … 400 feet in 0.4 miles. At the top the course will merge onto a mountain bike trail and descend all the way to Sawmill Trail. This downhill is steep and somewhat eroded, dropping more than 500 feet in 0.6 miles. The course will now be on Sawmill Trail, a double track, and will bear to the left around a parking area before emerging out of the woods. Runners will run down the field to Raven Rest Aid Station at 7.2 miles.
The Half-Marathon Course
SECTION 1 – BLUE KNOB ALL SEASONS TO CHAPPELLE AID STATION (4.75 MILES | +618 FT./-883 FT.)
Starting at the Clubhouse at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort at 2736 feet, runners will follow a rocky singletrack past the Tubing Park, along Pavia Road then across from the ski chalet. Runners will cross the road which dips into the woods behind the chalet and down a gravel service road to the paved hairpin turn. You will cross the road here. Runners will cross the road and onto a blue-blazed connecting singletrack for 0.7 miles to Tower Road. Runners will turn right on the road and run toward the radio towers at the top of Herman Point at 3014 feet (3 miles in the race). Lost Turkey Trail will be on the left; racers will take this down the mountain and across Blue Knob Road (be careful of vehicle traffic). Runners will continue onto Lost Turkey Trail on the left just before the guard rail. The trail continues downhill until reaching an old logging trail. This section from Herman Point to the old logging trail, called Herman Steps and Blister Blaster, is one of the steepest descents of the race, dropping over 600 feet in 0.7 miles. Racers will turn left and continue on the logging road/Lost Turkey Trail for 0.7 miles toward the campgrounds. Before the campground, runners will make a sharp left turn and take a gradual climb to Chappelle Aid Station.
Now on top of the ridge, we give you another short rollercoaster down a service road and a sharp right up another steep, yet shorter scramble up the hill, up some rattlesnake switchbacks back to the top and toward the resort before making a left through some “small rock potatoes”, past the maintenance shed and to the finish line. Cheers! 13
SECTION 4 – HEAVENS HAIRPIN AS TO FINISH (2.55 MILES | +891 FT. / -1190 FT.)
This will be the most physically demanding and mentally challenging section of the course. Runners will climb the remote southeastern flank of the mountain. The first half mile is up the mountain to 2570 feet, then along the 2500 foot contour for about sixtenths of a mile, then down 500 feet in a half of a mile to Beaver Dam Run at 8.2 miles into the race. This entire section includes steep slopes requiring runners to be able to stop on a dime to avoid seriously technical and jagged rocks along the narrow single track. THEN reaching what some call “Beaver Dam Canyon” or what others call “I’ll Nettle Do That Again…”, runners will climb up the hollow up Beaver Dam Run to the top of the mountain with “rock step climbing” almost the entire 971 feet in 0.79 miles out of the hol low. The biofilm-covered rocks on this entire climb are very slippery. Be sure to enjoy the waterfall you will cross – some years it is a trickle, sometimes a raging torrent. Eventually you will cross a dirt road (Three Springs Trail) but the climbing is not over. Runners will cross Three Springs Trail (at 9.85 miles) and continue up the mountain for just two-tenths of a mile. At the top is a beautiful section called the ‘Stone Pads’, a flat sec tion of stone stepping on the singletrack. Then the trail will become less technical and will follow the trail along the edge of the summit (clockwise), past Pavia Overlook on the left. After a section of straight singletrack, runners will make a hard left, down a short hill and then bear to the right before arriving at the dirt state forest road. Here you will make a left turn. The road will end at Pavia Road where the aid station will be setup.
Runners will run to the lodge via a powerline, cross a service shed and up to the ski area parking lot. Runners turn right and around the south side of the lodge (right side of the lodge) and will be offered a tremendous view toward the northeast at the top of the ski lifts. New for 2021: Runners will then proceed down Upper Mambo ski slope then continue down Lower Mambo until your jaw drops when you gaze at the face of Eurus. Eurus or ‘The East Wind’ is terrifying force that lays waste to all in its path. It seeks out the unworthy and plucks them from the Earth At Eurus, you will climb more that 400 feet at a 20% to 40% grade until you reach the condos and make a left. Here, it is a short reprieve until you yield left and down a steep slope called Edgeset. After a short break, runners will go down Stembogen ski slope before running toward a “hole in the forest” and down an old logging road. Then it is a steep scramble up the mountain called “I Need a Sherpa!”
SECTION 3 – RAVEN REST AS TO HEAVENS HAIRPIN AS (3.84 MILES | +1480 FEET / -721 FT.)
HALF MARATHON MAPS 14
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MAPCOURSE10K
The 10K Course
10K CHALLENGE: PART 2 (2.8 MILES | +1426 FT. / -481 FT.)
Hyner has Humble Hill and the Megatransect had Raw Trail. Every great PA trail race has its own signature section. We call ours Throat Punch!! It’s the second half of The Devils Hairpin. (Imagine the shape of a hairpin with one zigzag-shaped side and a straight side.) It’s time to go up, my friends! Throat Punch scrambles up Spit Hollow to almost the top of the mountain. At the end of the climb, it’s a right turn onto an old logging route and about eighttenths of a mile downhill through the Needle Patch. Imagine you are a flea on the back of a dog. The dog hair would look like giant needles sticking out of the ground. Well, the trail, with its tall, thin saplings, would be as if you were a flea running on a dogs Thenback. it’s the final three-part climb – a combination of ATV trails, a logging flune and logging roads – it is a mile climb of 600 feet we call The Soul Sucker Slopes. Once at the top, a slight grade, Not Fairway is a splendid runnable singletrack for almost a mile to the intersection of Oak Hill Lane and Summit Way you get back onto the doubletrack. Here, it is a fast sprint to the finish behind a set of condos and rock ledges before popping out below the resort and making a left turn onto the service road and across the finish line.
Runners will start down Evergreen Lane between the pavilion and the club house so make your move fast because the next 2.5 miles is narrow but a true gem of singletrack trail as you take a left turn onto Black Bear Trail. The single track is “surprisingly technical” in some places and twisty and turny through out. Black Bear Trail is a gradual downhill amid Pennsylvania hardwoods and ferns. You will take a left onto Lost Porcupine Trail which offers even more twisty turns on singletrack. Then you make a right turn onto Tree-odge (like Triage) then Code Blue Trail. On the northeastern side of Spruce Knob, these trails with its pine, lush moss, mushrooms and mountain laurel, is reminis cent of the great trails in the northern PA Wilds or Catskills. Not to give away any secrets but you might end up doing a little bit of wilderness parkour near “Rock” before completing this section. Afterward, you will find yourself on a grassy double track. The downhill fun is about to begin. It’s the first half of Devils Hairpin! Part one is a 630-foot descent in three-quarters of a mile! What makes this even more exciting is that the downhill is wide-enough for three, maybe even four runners wide! If you are brave enough and good at finding a line downhill, this is the place you can Atpass.the bottom, there will be a water-only aid station, then the second half of the Devils Hairpin is on deck…
10K CHALLENGE: PART 1 (3.5 MILES | +70 FEET / -1015 FT.)
STUCKEY SUBARU ROUTE 22 • TOBESTISEVERYEVERYEVERYEVERYEVERYSTUCKEYSUBARU.COMHOLLIDAYSBURGBREATH,THOUGHT,ACHE,STRIDE,FOOTCLIMBEDPARTOFTHEADVENTURE.OFLUCKALLRUNNERS.
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SPONSORSOURGOLD SPONSORS EasternTrail-EnduranceStatesAlliance
RUNNERSROCK‘NTHEKNOBGUIDE
