Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge

The Mount Yonah Vertical Race

“Without mountains, we might find ourselves relieved that we can avoid the pain of the ascent, but we will forever miss the thrill of the summit. And in such a terribly scandalous trade-off, it is the absence of pain that becomes the thief of life.” —Craig D. Lounsbrough

Details

Join Team Summit for the third annual Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge weekend.

• Options: Participants will have FOUR options upon registration.
• Climbing: 5,000FT of climbing over 3 summits of Yonah, totaling roughly 25km.
• Extended Challenge: 10,000FT of climbing over 6 summits of Yonah, totaling roughly 50km.
• Relays: 10,000FT 50k Relay - Grab a friend and tag-team Saturdays 10,000FT 50K!

Prizes provided by ALTRA Running.

This event sold out in 2024 and 2025! Register now and secure your spot.

Course Information

The trail is technical and steep for the majority of the climb, with a few sections of scrambling required.

• Path: The path becomes a dirt/gravel double-track leading to the top.
• Scramble: There are runnable sections of the trail depending on your skill level.
• After-party: Hosted at NoFo Brew Co - 2 miles from the trailhead!
• New for 2026: Saturday’s 50K will offer a 2-person relay!

Location

Yonah Mountain Trailhead - 34.63721066176569, -83.72498145886013

Start/Finish will be in the main parking lot for Mt Yonah. This is a gravel lot with limited space: volunteers will direct participants on where to park. Please consider carpooling.

Schedule

• Friday, February 26th: 5:30 PM - Bib Pickup at NOFO Brew Co (Cleveland)
• Saturday, February 27th:
  • 6:30 AM - Bib Pickup available
  • 8:00 AM - 10,000FT-50K Race Start
  • 4:00 PM - Must have started final lap!
  • 6:00 PM - Course closed
  • 6:00 PM - After-party at NoFo Brew Co (2 miles away) and bib pickup for 25K
• Sunday, February 28th:
  • 7:30 AM - Bib Pickup available
  • 9:00 AM - 5,000FT-25K Race Start
  • 3:00 PM - Must have started final lap!
  • 5:00 PM - Course closed
  • 5:00 PM - After-party at NoFo Brew Co (2 miles away)

The Course

The race course follows the Yonah Mountain hiking trail up to the summit of the mountain. From there you will pass the overlook before returning down the mountain.

• Terrain: The trail is runnable in some sections, rocky and rooty in others, and a few spots require scrambling over boulders.
• Start: The race will start with a quick out and back on the gravel road leading to the trail-head.
• Repeats: Each time you return from your summit, you will repeat the same out and back.
• Encounters: You may encounter hikers on the course, so use caution and be courteous.

Strava Route

Cutoffs

• 50K: 10 Hours for the 50K Saturday - You must be on your final summit attempt by 4 PM!
• 25K: 8 Hours for the 25K Sunday - You must be on your final summit attempt by 3 PM!

Additional Information

• Hiking Poles: Allowed!
• Required Gear:
  • All Summit events are cup-less. All participants should carry a bottle, bladder, or collapsible cup at all times.
  • All participants should have a waterproof shell or jacket with them at all times.
  • Adequate footwear - the trail is rocky, rooty, wet, muddy, icy, and everything in between.
  • This is a mountain race that takes participants up and over 3000' above sea-level.

Aid Stations

A full aid station will be provided at the main trailhead, featuring Precision Fuel carb/electrolyte mix (60g of carb/1,000mg of sodium) along with everything else you’d expect including hot food, as well as GF and plant-based options.

There will be a water stop on course near the summit. Volunteers will be at the mountain-top as well with emergency supplies as-needed, but only for emergencies.

Crew Information

Due to limited space at the trailhead, personal pop-up tents/tables are not allowed. If needed, you may use your vehicle for a personal aid setup, being mindful of others visiting the park or participating in the event.

Sorry, no pacers or crew allowed on the trail with participants.

Weather

Our team closely monitors the weather during race weekend and leading up to it for any adverse conditions. The Yonah Mountain Vertical Challenge will be run "rain or shine", but could potentially be delayed or cancelled depending on the severity of any storms and with guidance from the USFS.

Your safety and the safety of our crew and volunteers will always be our priority. If storms are expected, keep an eye on your email and our socials for any updates.