Upload / Capture
Mammoth Trailfest is the brainchild of ultrarunner, Tim Tollefson. In its 3rd year, the event has grown a ton, but it still maintains the local race feel. As part of the Golden Trail World Series, this event holds some serious prestige in the trail space, but the vibe doesn't feel elitist; the cheers for the last finishers are even louder than for the victors.
Earlier this year, I had signed up for the 50K distance at Mammoth Trailfest since I was racing shorter course mountain events earlier in the season. However, after my success at Broken Arrow, I realized the shorter distances seem to better suit my skillset. I emailed Mammoth Trailfest to request a transfer into their Dragon's Back Ascent (DBA) and the 26K. The race allowed me to drop down to the 26K free of charge and add the DBA into my order.
Although Mammoth Lakes is a difficult place to travel to (no major airports aside from Reno, which is a 3 hours away), the venue is stunning and entirely worth the trek. Mammoth Lakes is a high elevation destination at 8,000ft above sea level, so be prepared to work pretty hard during whichever distance you choose to race. For those who race the DBA, 26K, or 50k, the highpoint--Mammoth Mountain-- is 11,053ft above sea level.
Mammoth Trailfest 2024 hosted the following race distances as advertised:
The DBA took place on the first day of Mammoth Trailfest. The course is a simple point to point, starting at the base of Dragon's Back. Runners are shuttled from village plaza to the startline with a free shuttle bus. When I picked up my bib, the volunteers were a bit unsure about the shuttle times, so I showed up with plenty of time before the race start to ensure a low-stress morning. I prepared a drop bag with an extra layer that would keep me warm once I hit the finish line (the temps at the top of the mountain are substantially cooler than down in the village). A volunteer at the start-line collected drop bags to be taken to the summit.
DBA started FAST on a short downhill paved section before crossing a bridge. It was important to position yourself early before hitting the singletrack where passing became a bit more difficult. The climb is a pretty steady grade with only short sections of flatter running. There is a false summit, so keep that in mind when you're nearing the top--don't cash in before you should! Everything was clearly marked and the trail is straightforward. Every finisher gets a free gondola ride down the mountain where they can catch a shuttle back to the village.
In total, my GPS watch logged 3.15 miles and 2530ft of gain, so a bit longer than advertised on the website; however, they have changed the course over the 3 years of the race's inception.
The only downside to this event was the lack of communication surrounding the awards ceremony. When I broke the tape, nobody informed me that I was supposed to stay at the top of the mountain for more than an hour to wait for podium awards. Unfortunately, I took my free gondola ride down and a shuttle to the village only to find out that I was supposed to be back up at the top in less than a half hour. I hurried back to the shuttle and gondola and just barely made it for the awards ceremony. Prize money was awarded to the top 5 men and women.
As a Golden Trail World Series race, the 26K drew top tier athletes; the course was fast and flowy with one major climb up Dragon's Back and a steep descent off the mountain into the rolling mountain bike trails outside of the ski village.
The 26K started in the village plaza on a screaming fast paved section before descending onto singletrack. As part of the elite women's start, I really enjoyed the opportunity to position myself strategically without getting stuck behind men that went out too hot and couldn't sustain the pace (a familiar experience for any elite female trail runner). The singletrack gave way to the major climb up Dragon's Back. Although I didn't stop at any of the early aid stations, they appeared well-stocked with nutrition, hydration, and great vibes from the volunteers!
After summiting Dragon's Back, the 26K runners descend the mountain on a steep, yet wide open access road before hopping back onto singletrack. It was important to pay attention to the flagging during the descent and into the village finish because the area has SO many mountain bike trails that intersect with Mammoth Trailfest routes.
After running through buttery smooth singletrack amidst the pines, runners appear in the village, cross a bridge, and descend some stairs for a fast finish. Tim Tollefson and spectators cheered runners in as they sprinted to the finish.
I really appreciated the finish line hospitality where runners were supplied with fluids and bags of ice for cooling.
The only downside to this race that I encountered was that despite it being a hot day, aid station volunteers were not offering options for cooling on course. I suppose runners could just ask to be doused in water, but after racing at Broken Arrow where sponges with ice water was the aid station standard, I wasn't sure.
Whether you're a first time trail runner or an elite, Mammoth Trailfest is a fantastic event to test your mettle. I'd encourage everyone who has an interest in smooth singletrack trail running to give an MTF distance (or even all three main races) a try.
Login to your account to leave a comment.
We Want to Give it to You!
