Rules and Required Gear

Anyone who does not follow the rules will be disqualified. No one is allowed to start the event without the required gear.

Rules

  1. Be Safe, Have Fun, Be Nice.
  2. Being SAFE means being VISIBLE – do not take shortcuts.
  3. No littering. This includes human waste.
  4. No outside help is allowed by crews, family, friends – imaginary or real, enemies or otherwise. If you have family/friends watching the event – make sure it does not appear they are offering support.  Please explain this to them prior to the event.  Spectators need to obey traffic laws and park safely out of roadways/traffic.
  5. Catching a ride on a snowmobile or vehicle is not allowed. Getting into a non-event volunteer vehicle is not allowed. Pacers are not allowed. Participants may help other participants. Checkpoint volunteers may assist you at the checkpoints. Patronizing local businesses is encouraged and in that respect participants may use product/services of local businesses as long as no event rules are broken. If you want to stop and purchase a pizza at a bar, warm up and throw down a beer, go for it. But no assistance by crews/friends/family. Feel free to contact us with questions.
  6. Respect other trail users – be aware that snowmobilers using the trail may not know about the event, may not see you and might be going very fast. MOVE OFF the trail any time they are approaching.
  7. Participants are required to MOVE OFF the trail when stopped. No matter how quick your stop is. Do not stop and remain in the trail. Ever. Even for just a second.
  8. All participants MUST check in & check out at ALL of their respective checkpoints along the course. Make sure the volunteer takes your bib number.
  9. No camping. Bivy sacks and sleeping bags are optional to carry in your gear. If you feel it is necessary/emergency, be safe and use them, off the trail of course.
  10. NO LITTERING. This isn’t a road race and we don’t have an army of sweepers to pick up trash. Don’t be a bad ambassador of your sport by leaving your empty gu/chomp/burrito wrappers/toilet paper on the trail. If you see trash on the trail, stop and pick it up, even if not yours or non-event related. It will give you a warm fuzzy feeling to know that you are a good person and you will get 1 minute off your finish time.
  11. Headphones: wear in only one ear

Event directors AND their volunteers have the discretion to implement and interpret the rules as they see fit. The event directors’ decision is final.

Required Gear

Any participants not having the required gear during the event will be disqualified.

MANDATORY Gear **new this year: rescue fee**

  1. At least 20 square inches of reflective material, 10 front and 10 back.  This can be in any form – a vest or belt, or patches sewn on your outer clothing (so long as you keep it on at all times). Do not skimp on this. Being VISIBLE means being SAFE.
  2. Headlamp/bike light or flashlight + back-up batteries for each light. Light must be switched on during hours of darkness when encountering motorized traffic, i.e., you can travel at night without your light on but if a snowmobile, participant or any other traffic is on the trail you must switch your light ON. If a law enforcement officer sees you at night without a headlight on, you will be DQ’d.
    • Suggest minimum ~100 lumen
  3. Cash: $30 in the event you need to purchase a light from us at any time during the event + $50 in the event you need to be rescued from the trail and driven back to the finish line.
  4. Three (3) individual flashing red LED lights + back-up batteries for each light 1 front facing and 2 rear facing
    • Flashing lights must be on at ALL times during the event, day and night.
    • Lights must be a minimum of 12 inches off of the trail surface.
    • Only LEDs with at least 20 lumen light output are acceptable.
    • Pay attention to the run time on flash mode (some lights have day flash mode and night flash mode) – expect lower run times for cold weather – and make sure you have sufficient battery back-ups for the entire event.
    • Some LEDs offer better visibility during the Day Time than others.
    • Being VISIBLE means being SAFE. Ever had a snowmobile traveling towards you at 60 mph? If they can’t see you, they will not slow down.
    • See lights below. If you have suggestions for others, email use at tuscobia@gmail.com

List of Acceptable LED lights

Lights with multiple flash modes must be run in a mode >20 lumen, do not reduce lumen to gain run time if it makes your light unacceptable.

List of Unacceptable LED lights

There are many others not on this list that we will not accept. Keep it simple and use lights from the list above.

Event directors AND volunteers have the discretion to implement and interpret the gear requirements as they see fit during the event. The event directors’ decision is final.

Requested Gear

  • Cell Phone – We request that all participants carry a cellphone. Coverage is spotty among most cell carriers, but may be useful for us to find you if you don’t show up as expected. Do not call us if for anything less than a medical emergency. We are not set up to come get you if you decide you want to drop in the middle of the woods. Get yourself to a checkpoint if at all possible.

Recommended Gear

  • Helmet strongly recommended for bikers.
  • Insulated water container(s).
  • Lots of food. Preferably items which remain chewable at way below zero.
  • Extra red blinking lights/batteries.
  • Zero degree sleeping bag, bivy sack and sleeping pad.
  • Extreme conditions mittens, head gear and outerwear, including waterproof items.  30 degrees and rain/snow can be the most difficult of conditions once you are wet.
  • Down/synthetic sweater, spare undershirt/socks etc.
  • Over-boots, gaiters.
  • Duct tape, Vaseline, sunglasses, lip-balm, moleskin, ibuprofen, etc.
  • Map/compass/gps.  Reflective vest.
  • Sleds or backpack for runners skiers. Assorted tools/waxes as needed.
  • Judge your gear based on your mode of transport and skills.  Look at the results from the prior years to estimate times.
  • Be aware that you may be out there for a long time, in temps below zero F, or wet conditions, and assume that you won’t have any help.  If you need to sleep on the trail for a night until we figure out you are in trouble, make sure you can survive.