2023 partcipant Information

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Friday- September 29th

Fitger’s Complex. 

Bib Pick-up - 4PM to 7PM 

Fitger's Complex at 600 East Superior Street. We will be just inside the Superior Street entrance doors.

• Bib pick-up. All distances
• Drop bag supplies
• Questions….we have answers!

Saturday- September 30th

Fitger’s Complex

Bib pick-up and Start - 5:15AM to 8:30AM

• Bib pick-up. All distances
• Check in for 27 mile, 21 mile and 17 mile participants. Check-in is required prior to boarding the bus for the 27 mile, 21 mile and 17 mile participants. 
• 10 mile participants: a Grand Traverse bib is your ticket to ride the bus. 
• Drop bags, tape and markers will be available. 

27 Miles:   6:00AM

21 Miles:    6:30AM

17 Miles:    7:30AM

10 Miles:    8:30AM

Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your departure time to allow plenty of time for parking, registration check-in, bib pick-up, gear organizing and loading the shuttle. See above for specific shuttle departure times. 

If you provide your own transportation to the starting locations you are responsible for your car and transportation to your car after you are finished. Parking at Grand Portage, Becks Road, Magney-Snively and Highland/Getchell trailheads are limited. We are not responsible for towed vehicles. Please park respectfully. Parking longer than a participant drop off at the Grand Portage trailhead requires a Minnesota State Park sticker or day pass.
 

We strongly encourage you to ride the bus to the start points. If you are interested in meeting the bus at the start location, please plan to arrive 15 minutes prior to estimated start time. All participants who are providing their own transportation to the 27 mile, 21 mile and 17 mile starting point, please wait for the bus to arrive, check in and start at official start time.

10 mile participants please wait for the buses to arrive and the official start before heading out on the trail.  10 miler participants do not need to check in prior to loading the bus or before heading down the trail after the official start. 

Bibs are required for all participants. If you plan to drive or get dropped off at the trailhead, please pick up your bib on Friday.  

27 Mile - Grand Portage Trailhead - 6:30AM

21 Mile - Beck's Road and Munger Trail - 6:50AM

17 Mile - Magney Snively - 8:00AM

10 Mile- Highland and Getchell - 8:50AM

FREE all day in the Fitger’s Ramp, located off Superior Street. Please be courteous to daily patrons of the complex and park farthest away from the entry doors.   Parking is also available at 1st parking ramp located on 1st Street behind the Sheraton. Parking is also available at meters along London Road. Meters in this are a not enforced on weekends.
 

Participants in the 27, 21, 17 and 10 miler have the opportunity to use drop bags. There will be bins labeled with each aid station number and location. All gear must be placed in a bag and labeled with name and rest stop number. Bags, markers and tape will be available Friday night and Saturday morning.  White trash bags and ziplock bags will be provided for use. Personal bags, properly marked, are allowed.  The bus will also have a drop box to discard clothing, mugs, water bottles, or last minute unwanted items.   
 

We will try our best to have the bags back at Fitger's before you finish.  All bags will be returned by 5:00PM.

The start time for each distance will be based on the arrival of the bus and the official start proclaimed by the Grand Traverse official for the 27, 21,17 and 10 mile. Your finish time will be recorded by timing chip. There is one time check mat located at the aid station #3. If you are driving to the trailhead, please wait for the bus to start.

Our team will do our best to offer a safe and fun event.  Hand sanitizer will be available at all rest stops.  All water and drink coolers high touch spots will be regularly sanitized.

Current Policy:

• Please stay home if you are sick.  Be a good neighbor.

Four aid stations are located on the course. Each aid station has water, sports drink and food. Each aid station will provide disposable cups, if needed, for participants. 

#1 Aid Station - 21 Miles to go

#2 Aid Station -15 Miles to go

#3 Aid Station - 10 Miles to go

#4 Aid Station - 5 Miles to go

All participants should check-in with Grand Traverse staff at each rest stop.  Please have bibs visibly displayed. 

Aid Stations will provided the following items:

Water

Sports Drink - Gatorade 

Clif Bars

KIND Bars

Bananas

Gels and Gu’s

Granola bars

Trailmix

Donut Holes

Chips

Halloween Candy

Porto potties are available at aid Station #1, #2, #3 and #4. 

Follow only the BLUE Superior Hiking Trail blazes and SHT markers for "Main Trail". Spur or Loop Trails are marked with White Blazes. If you find yourself not seeing Blue Blazes, backtrack until you see Blue Blazes.  Always head up the shore or East to Downtown Duluth. 

The Finish of the Grand Traverse 2023 will be at Fitger's.  Follow the finisher signs to Fitger's Courtyard....up the stairs to the finish line!

All finishers received a 2023 Grand Traverse Dry-Zone t-shirt, men’s and women’s styles.

This event is chipped timed and results will be available as soon as the first finisher crosses the line.

All those completing the Grand Traverse receive a finishers rock.  What a Rock?  It is tradition that those finishing the 27 mile Grand Traverse receive a rock created by a local artist.  Rocks are awarded at the finish line. 

Safety is important because of the rugged nature of the Superior Hiking Trail. Each aid station is also a check in spot for hikers/runners. We do this to ensure participants are progressing in a timely manner and to ensure no one is lost. Each station is stocked with everything you need for minor bumps, bruises, pain medication and of course blisters. We also will have a sweeper and first aid officials hiking along the course to ensure safety.  

If you have decided to pull out of the event and you are not at a rest stop, and have arranged for someone to pick you up.....please call the event coordinator.  This simple action will prevent a search party being sent out to find you.  Thank you.
 

Participants who are doing the  longer treks are expected to maintain a 3 mile pace throughout the course. If a participant has not arrived at an Aid Station prior to the cutoff times the aid station will not close until contact has been made.  The participant will be given the option to be shuttled to the finish located at Fitger's or shuttled ahead on the course.

Aid Station #1  at  21 Miles    9:30AM

Aid Station #2 at  15 Miles     12:00PM

Aid Station #3 at  10 Miles      2:30PM

Aid Station #4 at  4.8 Miles       4:30PM