Coordinate Table (alphabetical by code)

From I-80 in Truckee, exit at the SR 89 South. This is the first SR 89 exit if eastbound, and the second if westbound. Continue south toward Tahoe City approximately 6 miles. Turn right at the entrance of Squaw Valley.

From the Start, proceed up the road to the summit. The trail follows the road, except in one place, where it leaves the road and then rejoins it just below High Camp.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

The Lyon Ridge checkpoint has been staffed by the same communications crew for a number of years. This is one of the most difficult checkpoints to find, and it is extremely easy to get lost. Some of the trail coincides with the roads, and the runners all come through in a big pack, keeping the staff very busy. Spectators are strongly discouraged.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Exit I-80 at the Auburn Ravine-Foresthill exit. Take Foresthill Road down the hill, and across the large bridge to the town of Foresthill (approximately 17 miles). Continue through the town. The road will become Baker Ranch-Soda Springs Road at the Michigan Bluff turn-off, and is paved to Robinson Flat. Continue beyond Robinson Flat on the gravel road to the left another 14 miles, and then turn right onto the gravel road marked "French Meadows" that forks off to the right. Proceed about 1.5 miles to the checkpoint at the entrance to the wildlife refuge. Dust on the gravel roads is a serious hazard -- drive slowly. Deer on the road is common. Please Note: Because the current event course follows Baker Ranch-Soda Springs road down to Robinson Flat, checkpoint staff must remain well behind all runners when leaving.

From Auburn: Exit I-80 at the Auburn Ravine-Foresthill exit. Take Foresthill Road down the hill, and across the large bridge to the town of Foresthill (approximately 17 miles). Continue through the town. The road will become Baker Ranch-Soda Springs Road at the Michigan Bluff turnoff, and is paved to Robinson Flat. Crews and visitors are required to park at Sailor Flat, about 1.5 mi prior to Robinson. A shuttle bus service is provided between Sailor Flat and the checkpoint. Tell them who you are, and they'll let you drive up to the checkpoint.

This is a large checkpoint, and a team is mandatory. The communications is normally set up at the in-timer's station to facilitate collection of arrival data. The large campground area below the road presents problems with radio coverage. We recommend that you bring FRS radios for your team to permit contact into the campground when needed. (You are free to choose your FRS channel and PL but be aware others may be using these radios as well. We have commonly used Channel 14, PL #14 in the past for the communications teams)

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

Follow instructions to Robinson Flat. At Robinson, take the road to the Duncan Peak Fire Lookout (to the right), and proceed about 0.5 miles.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn (you really need a GPS and a USGS topo map): Follow the instructions to Dusty Corners. At Dusty Corners take the right fork from N-44. Ignore all side roads. At approximately [39+07+10.21 120+33+58.22], the road will tee into another road. Turn left, and again ignore all side roads. The checkpoint is on Barney Cavenaugh Ridge, at the intersection with a jeep trail, however there really aren't any other landmarks hence the need for a GPS, unless you've been there before. Please drive slowly in the Dusty Corner's area.

From Auburn: Exit I-80 at the Auburn Ravine-Foresthill exit. Take Foresthill Road to Mosquito Ridge Road (junction just before the town -- "Robber's Roost" restaurant on right). Turn right and take the paved Mosquito Ridge Road. Watch the mile markers (white paddles on your right). At MM-20, begin watching the forest service roads. You will pass Peavine Rd on your left followed rapidly by Interbay road on your right. The next road on the right will be marked "Big Trees Grove" or something similar, and you will then come to N-44 on your left. If you get to N-43 on your left (marked "Robinson Flat") you've gone too far. Turn left on N-44. It is a chip seal road for about 2 miles, and then turns to dirt. The checkpoint is on N-44 about 5 miles in from Mosquito Ridge Road. Drive slowly on the dirt road.

Last Chance

Follow directions to Dusty Corners. At the checkpoint, take the left fork and continue approximately 5 miles to Last Chance. Drive slowly ... there's a good reason it's called "Dusty Corners."

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From either Robinson Flat or Auburn: Approximately 14 miles beyond Foresthill or 18 miles from Robinson Flat on Baker Ranch-Soda Springs Road, look for the Deadwood/Devil's Thumb turnoff on the south side of the road (A county road sign indicates Deadwood Rd). Turn left if coming from Robinson Flat or right if coming from Foresthill and proceed approximately 5 miles on the gravel road. The road to Devil's Thumb will turn off to the left and is marked by a brown Forest Service sign (don't give up, it's farther than you think, and don't take any unmarked roads!). Be alert for log trucks traveling at breakneck speeds and off-road vehicles crashing across the road at random. Devil's Thumb is a mile or two from the marked turn-off.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

(Note: We do not assign first-time volunteers to this checkpoint) Follow instructions to Foresthill. Continue on Foresthill to Baker Ranch (about 4 miles). Turn right onto the Michigan Bluff paved road, and proceed about 3 miles to Chicken Hawk Rd (dirt). Turn left to the first green USFS gate on the right. Turn right and go down the canyon about 3 miles. The checkpoint is at El Dorado Creek. This road is very steep, narrow, and is suitable for small, high clearance 4WD vehicles only. The USFS gate will be open for the event but may be locked at other times.

From Foresthill: Proceed through Foresthill about 4 miles. There is a well marked, paved road to the right, across from the Baker Ranch Bar. Proceed on it about 3 miles to the town of Michigan Bluff. Parking in the town of Michigan Bluff is extremely limited, and crews/visitors will be required to park on the road and walk in. Tell them who you are, show them your antenna and microphone, and you will be allowed to proceed.

From Foresthill: Proceed through Foresthill about 1.1 miles. Bath road is on the right. The checkpoint is usually set up about a mile or so down the road from old mill site whose entrance is on the right on Foresthill Road, just prior to Bath Road. Sometimes, the checkpoint is set up at the intersection of Bath Road and Foresthill Road.

From Auburn: Exit I-80 at Auburn Ravine-Foresthill road. Turn right at the end of the ramp, cross Lincoln Way, and continue for 17 miles to Foresthill. The checkpoint is in the parking lot at the elementary school on the south side of Foresthill Road, just east of the town. Note that you will have already passed the Middle School on the right. Runners will have left the WS Trail at the bottom of Bath Road, come up Bath Road and through that checkpoint, and then will follow Foresthill Road westward to the checkpoint at the school.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Begin as if you were heading for Foresthill. As you approach the community, you will pass the USFS Ranger Station on your right. Set your odometer to zero when you are abeam of the station. Continue on Foresthill Rd exactly 0.2 miles to Mrs. Wilson's gate on the right. If you get to the gas station on the right, you've gone too far. Turn right at Mrs. Wilson's gate, and proceed 1.32 miles, bearing left at all forks. 2WD vehicles must park here at the road to the dump. 4WD vehicles can continue on, approximately 1.3-1.4 miles, to the end of the road. The checkpoint is 50' below the end of the road. (If you are even slightly inclined to laugh at these directions, you are not eligible to work this checkpoint)

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: If you do not have an ATV in the back of your truck, don't even start out. Exit I-80 at Auburn Ravine-Foresthill Rd. Turn right at the end of the ramp, and set your odometer to zero. Cross Lincoln Way, and proceed across the big bridge. At approximately 13 miles, you will come to Todd Valley Rd on the right (the sign is hard to see as it is partially hidden in the trees). Turn right on Todd Valley Rd., and at 13.9 mi, you will come to Green Ridge on the right (very suddenly!). Turn right, proceed one block, and turn left on Oak Wood (14.0 miles). You will be in a rural residential area. Continue on Oak Wood to 14.5 mi, ignore the "Not A Through Road" sign and proceed on through. At 14.7 mi, you will come to a sign that says "End." Again, ignore it and and continue down the chip seal road. At 15.4 mi, you will be in a cul-de-sac.

Park your vehicle and take the trail to the right of the dirt road on the ATV in the back of your truck that you checked for before leaving home. Do not take the dirt road ... it is private property and the owner is very unfriendly to trespassers. The trail is very narrow and steep down to the checkpoint, and much steeper coming back up. The checkpoint is at the end of the trail ... literally. The trail just ends in a dense forest, and the WSER Trail comes across it from above and continues down to the river which isn't very far away, although you'll never know it.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

(Note: Ford's Bar is private property and the owner charges a fee to the event on a per/vehicle basis. For that reason, and because the access is so difficult and dangerous, we do not generally staff this checkpoint with communications volunteers) Begin by following instructions through Todd Valley as if you were heading for Peachstone. On Oakwood, watch for Nugget Drive on your right. Turn right onto Nugget, and follow it to where it becomes a dirt road. From this point, proceed 0.27 miles to a private road on your left with a gate. On other than race day, the gate will likely be locked. Turn left onto the private road and continue to the checkpoint at the river. The road is extremely bad, and accessible to high clearance, small, 4WD vehicles - experienced drivers only.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: From I-80E, take the Auburn Ravine-Foresthill exit and continue approximately 6.5 mi to Driver's Flat Road on the right, which is well marked with a right turn-only lane at the beginning of a large sweeping right turn on Foresthill Road. The river and checkpoint are approximately 2.5 miles down Driver's Flat Road. This is the point where the run crosses the Middle Fork of the American River, and is directly across the river from the end of Sliger Mine Road, at the site of the washed out bridge. If coming from Foresthill, Driver's Flat Road is about 10.5 miles back toward Auburn on Foresthill Road. Parking at the aid station is very limited and vehicular access to this checkpoint is normally restricted to WSER staff only.

Note: Driver's Flat Road is unpaved, steep, and often impassable for 2-wheel drive and/or low center vehicles.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Follow the instructions to Green Gate (below). At Green Gate, continue on Sliger Mine Rd. to the end at the river. This portion of the road is narrow, steep, and rocky so proceed with great care in a high center, 4WD vehicle.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Exit I-80 at Elm Avenue. Proceed South to High St (signal) Turn left on High Street, and then bear to the right at the fork, under the concrete railroad bridge, straight through the signal and down the canyon (State Route 49 south). Continue down to the river (confluence of the Middle and North Forks), turn right over the first bridge and continue back up the other side of the canyon to Cool. In Cool, turn left at the stop light onto Highway 193 and proceed 6.1 miles to Sliger Mine Road on your left. (Lance's Place, a Greenwood watering hole, is across from it on the right) Turn left onto Sliger Mine Road. The road is paved (such as it is) for approximately 3.8 miles. The Green Gate checkpoint is approximately 1.2 miles beyond the end of the pavement, and the far side of the river crossing is approximately 2 miles further on. (Note: The "green gate" is gone. All that is left is a green gatepost.) DO NOT PARK IN FRONT OF THE GREY HOUSE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Follow directions to Cool in the Green Gate instructions. Turn left onto State Route 193 (toward Georgetown) and proceed about 1 mile to Auburn Lake Trails Gate 1. There is a guard at the gate, and you will be able to gain entrance at the gate on race day if you explain you are working the aid station. You will be on American River Trail. Continue about 2 miles to Sweetwater (American River Trail ends), and turn left. Continue another 2 miles on Sweetwater to Secret Lake Trail. Turn left on Secret Lake Tr. and continue past Grouse Ridge Trail to a dirt road with a green colored gate on your left. (If you reach the cul-de-sac on Secret Lake, you've passed the dirt road)

Proceed down the dirt road past a second locked gate that will be open on race day. (There is a fork in the road ... stay to the right for safety although both roads go to the same spot,) Continue about a 1/4 mile past a creek to the sharp left hand bend in the road. Vehicles should park out of the way near this bend. The aid station is about 200 yards after going straight through the gate at the bend. There is parking only for 2 vehicles at the station which should be the ones with the provisions and the vehicle ferrying water should be in last in. If you need any gates opened, call the Gate officer at 530.885.5881.

Because of the limited parking, the ALT communicators should plan on using non-vehicle mounted equipment if at all possible.

(RESTRICTED TO WSER STAFF ONLY)

From Auburn: Follow above directions to Gate 1 of Auburn Lake Trails. Enter ALT, and follow American River Tr. to Sweetwater Tr. Left on Sweetwater Tr. to Strap Miner. Left on Strap Miner to the end of the pavement. Continue on the dirt trail 0.75 mi, following the ribbons to the upper parking, 1.25 mi from the checkpoint. You can continue for another 0.5 mi to the lower parking however the dirt road is fairly poor. The checkpoint is 0.75 mi below the lower parking on a trail.

From Auburn: Follow above directions heading towards Cool. At the top of the El Dorado County side of the canyon, prior to reaching Cool, you will find the checkpoint on the right alongside the road, across from the entrance to the quarry yard. If you get to the fire station on the north end of Cool, you've gone too far.

From Auburn: Begin by following above directions to Cool. Upon reaching the bottom of the canyon (No Hands Bridge is the concrete bridge with the arches on your right), cross the first highway bridge and you will see a dirt road and gate on your right. Parking is limited, and you will need to walk in a quarter mile or so.

From Finish Line: The street on the north side of the stadium is Finley. Take Finely uphill to the bridge on your right that crosses the railroad. Turn right onto Lubeck St. to Marvin. Right on Marvin which will make a small jog to the left and intersect Channing. Right on Channing to Robie Dr. Left on Robie Dr to the end. Parking is limited. This is also the course route, and you must be very careful and watch for runners, especially at night.

The finish is located in the stadium at Placer High School in downtown Auburn. From I-80 (either direction), exit at SR 49 south. Proceed south to the signal and turn left onto Lincoln Way. Turn right at the next signal (about 100 yds) and continue to High Street. Turn right and then immediately left onto Agard St. The stadium is at the top of the campus on your left. The PHS campus is in the middle of an older residential area and sort of winds through it. Parking is a problem ... check as you go up Agard, there's parking in a dirt lot at the railroad crossing on the right, and in a lot on the left on Stadium Way.