Bridger Ridge Run

🏃‍♂️ Event Overview

The Ed Anacker Bridger Ridge Run is a remote and aesthetic ~20 mile foot-race along the crest of the Bridger Mountains, near Bozeman in Southwest Montana. It is a not-for-profit event enabled by about as many volunteers as participants.

🎉 Sponsors and Partners

The Bridger Ridge Run is put on & sponsored by the Big Sky Wind Drinkers, which is a premier running club for runners of all ages and abilities. Some videos, photos, and history of this event can be found on this Big Sky Wind Drinkers webpage.

⛰️ Race Challenges

• Terrain: Essentially the entire route involves unstable footing, challenging ascents, brutal descents, and unpredictable weather along an exposed ridge.
• Experience Needed: Experience with mountain running is important.
• Access: No part of the route can be accessed by a road.
• Supplies: All supplies, including water, are hauled to Aid Stations through human volunteering.

🤝 Volunteering Opportunities

This entire event is enabled through volunteer effort. We offer a diversity of volunteering opportunities -- some well in advance of the event, and some during the event. Check out our Volunteer page for specific opportunities.

📝 Registration Process

(See the Registration Process page for more details.)

• Participant Limit: The number of participants is limited to 250, as per the permit we receive from the US Forest Service.
• Application Process: Anybody seeking to register for this event must submit an application to our lottery.
• Notification: All applicants will be notified of their status before the close of May, shortly after the registration window closes.
• Wait List: Note: we do not use a "Wait List".

🚫 Cancellation Policies

If, for any reason, a registered participant cancels their participation in the race after they sign up, they will not be granted a refund.

This event is committed to complying with governmental guidelines. For instance, we may impose strict rules of participation, or cancel the event altogether, due to a forest fire or due to CDC guidelines. If, for some reason, we cancel the race, registered participants will have these options:

1. “Roll-over” their registration to the following year.
2. Donate their registration fee (and still get swag).
   • Note: as a non-profit event, all unused proceeds are donated to Big Sky Wind Drinkers and to the Gallatin Valley Land Trust, both of which are non-profit organizations that enable trail use and stewardship in the area, as well as other regional non-profit organizations.

🗓️ Pre-Race Meeting

Participants, especially first-timers, are strongly advised to attend the pre-race meeting which will take place at 5:30pm the Friday before the Start at the Fish Hatchery (ie, Finish Line, near the Drinking Horse Trailhead). This meeting will cover all sorts of specific information, including the following:

• Conditions: Up-to-date conditions and weather prediction. Discussion of lightning hazard, and how to mitigate it.
• Route Description: Description of the route, and answers to questions or concerns thereabout.
• Race Rules: Race rules, including disqualification policies.
• Aid Stations: Description of Aid Stations, including the medical support and snacks and water present at each.

🏁 Start Line Logistics

The race starts at 6:30am at the Fairy Lake Trailhead, which is a 45-minute drive from the Finish, the final 25 minutes of which is along a dirt road requiring a high-clearance vehicle.

Transport: Each participant must arrange their own transport to the Start Line. There is no shuttle to Start Line, nor is there a shuttle from the Start Line to the Finish Line.

• Drop-Bag Service: We provide a drop-bag service from the Start Line to the Finish Line.
• Parking: All participants are encouraged to park their vehicles at the Fairgrounds, and self-organize carpooling to the Start Line from there.
• Start Waves: Given the nature of the trail, registered participants will be grouped into Start Waves, each spaced 5 minutes apart.

📍 Route Description

Here is a link to a downloadable GPS file of the route, including aid stations and other information.

• Starting Point: The route embarks from Fairy Lake parking area (elevation 7,600'), which is forested.
• Aid Stations: There are various Aid Stations with medical teams and water along the route.
• Technical Aspects: The route is rocky and sometimes braided, difficult to follow precisely, and exposed.
• Cut-off Times: We impose the following cut-off times, any participant who arrives at one of these spots after its accompanying cut-off time is automatically disqualified.

🏆 Finish Area

The Finish Line is at the Fish Hatchery, by the Drinking Horse Trailhead, which is across the highway from the M Trailhead. Participants will be clearly directed from the M Trailhead through the Drinking Horse tunnel to the Fish Hatchery.

• Medical Team: The Finish Area will have a medical team, snacks, and aid for participants.
• Awards Distribution: Awards will be given to top three overall finishers in each gender category, as well as in each 10-year age division.
• Community Gatherings: Everybody is invited to hang around the Finish Area, where shade, BBQ, beverages, and good spirits can be found.
• Shuttle Service: A shuttle bus will be operating roughly 9am-4:30pm to take anybody (participants, friends/family/supporters) between the Finish Area and the Fairgrounds Park & Ride Lot just off of East Oak Street.

📊 Results

Muddy Dog Sports does the timing for the race.

Results can be found on My Race Results.

For more information and updates, visit the official race page at Bridger Ridge Run.