SSS 2023 KNEE HIGH HILLY HALF

THIS ROUTE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, RIGHT UP UNTIL RACE TIME. IMPORTANT NOTES FOLLOW:

There is a lot of backtracking on this route, so the overlap is hard to read unless you can zoom in. I will try to find time to enter some minimal directions, but no promises! Please explore the plotaroute platform for ways that you may be able to download the route—that is beyond my ability at this point!

State highway road construction continues in Hot Springs. Although it will be beautiful when done, it certainly makes for some creative route mapping.

We now have sidewalk on the 'outer limits', down Highway 18, where you used to have to run through fast food parking lots!

Due to construction on the River Street sidewalks, to climb UP Goddard Grind, you will first have to climb down!

More dramatically, two staircases (Castle Crunch and Goddard Grind) deteriorated so badly this winter that the City has decided to close them until they can be replaced. This will be a huge project and Challenge Dakota will be involved in research and fund raising, so we will keep you posted as the project progresses.

To make up for the two missing staircases, you will climb Battle Mountain Grand Staircase three times (and down twice). You will be handed a marker at the top of each flight, so that the volunteer will ensure you have climbed three times before you move on.

The short version of what this all means to us is that we will have to go DOWN one staircase (Goddard Grind) in order to climb up that staircase, and we will have to go UP the Battle Mountain Grand Staircase THREE times and down TWICE. At 742 steps, we will be just two steps shy of our usual total.

IMPORTANT: If you practice this route before the event, please note that you are not permitted to climb the Grandstone staircase on Fall River Road (Hwy 18) until race day. That staircase is on private land. The homeowners graciously permit us to climb it, help us with marking that portion of the route, and provide route monitor support on event day. So please, do NOT wear out our welcome by trespassing before the event!

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