Thank you for registering for the 2023 Ironmaster’s Challenge and being part of this annual tradition at Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Michaux State Forest! With less than a week away, the preparations are in high gear, and the planning team is excited to put on a fun and safe day for everyone. The forecast looks cool and potentially rainy for Sunday with a high of 71, and we wish you all the best with any final training and preparation for the event.
Fuller Lake Parking Lot-after turning into the Fuller Lake Parking Area, please turn right into the grassy, overflow lot first. There will be attendants to direct you. Please do not park at the Ironmaster’s Mansion or the Furnace Stack Pavilion. There is a wood chip path leading from the parking lot to the registration area at Furnace Stack Pavilion for an easy shortcut. Please be sure to lock your vehicle, take your keys with you, and do not leave any valuables in sight.
*Please Note: Mobile phone service is extremely spotty in this area. Please use the land lines above and communicate via our volunteer radio team, Keystone VHF Club of York, available at every Check Point and Water Station.
Obtain your event bib, tshirt, light breakfast, water, and map (if you need one).
You may not switch t-shirt sizes until all participants have crossed the starting line. Once you finish your race, you may switch sizes if shirts are available.
You must check-in during the assigned time for your event. Photo ID is not required. There will be lines organized by last name for check-in.
50K: 6:30 am to 7:30 am, Race Start Time is 7:30 am. Pre-race meeting at 7:15 am
15K: 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Race Start Time is 9:00 am. Pre-race meeting at 8:45 am
15K participants: DO NOT ARRIVE UNTIL 7:45 am to allow room for the 50K participants to start their race. If you are early, please wait over by the Furnace Stack ruins until 7:45 am. Thank you!
Bib Wearing Instructions
This race is NOT chip-timed, so please do not pin or tear off the lower portion of your bib. Your bib must be worn on the front and easily visible to volunteers at every checkpoint and at the finish line in order for proper recording of results.
At registration, you may leave a small bag clearly marked with your name and bib number that may contain a pair of shoes, socks, or shirt if you intend to make a change during the event. The bag will only be available at CP-2 (Brickyard Pavilion MP-19.4). After the exchange, please place your items back into your own bag and leave it at CP-2. Your bag may be retrieved at the finishline on the back porch of the Ironmaster’s Mansion. Bags must be claimed within 24 hours after the event. Unclaimed bags will not be sent.
Water and Medication
All participants must carry at least 1 water bottle. Additional water will be available at CP’s and WS’s. Please bring your medication, as needed. If you need an inhaler, EpiPen, or glucose, please be appropriately prepared. Please be aware that the Ironmasters Team (staff, volunteer, medical) are not allowed to dispense medications (ibuprofen, tylenol, naproxen, etc). Participants may self-administer ibuprofen from a first aid kit, available at an aid station.
Footwear
All participants must wear appropriate footwear for the terrain. Event officials may remove participants who violate this rule.
Restrooms
There are 3 public restrooms near the check-in area: at the east end of the Fuller Lake Parking Lot, at the Brickyard Pavilion, and at the Furnace Stack Pavilion. There are also public restrooms near the Water Station at Laurel Lake. There will be portable toilets located at the Furnace Stack Pavilion (1), and the Ironmaster’s Mansion (2)
Check Points
Snacks include pretzels, pickles, chips, PBJs, energy bars, gels, bananas, oranges, grapes, water, and Gatorade.
Water bottle re-fill
First aid
Seating
Radio communications
ALL participants must check-in with a radio volunteer at the checkpoints or your time at the finish line will not be considered official.
It is YOUR responsibility to make sure the check-in volunteer has checked you in. Clearly state your bib number when you arrive at checkpoints and make sure your bib number is visible! A failure to check in may result in your disqualification from the results.
Water Stations provide water, Gatorade, first aid, and pretzels only
Dropping Out, Dropping Down, or Canceling
PLEASE only drop out at a Check Point or Water Station and you MUST inform a Radio Club Volunteer that you are doing so. We need to track participants. If you are MIA, it may result in a search and rescue which incurs significant cost and valuable use of first responder resources.
For 50K Ultra participants, you have 10.5 hours to finish the course. The cut-off time for arriving at Check Point 2 (MP 19.4) is 1:45 pm and for Check Point 3 (MP 28.3), is 4:30 pm. If you drop out at Check Point 2, it is 6/10 of a mile back to the Mansion for a total of 20 miles.
For the 15k, the cut-off time at the Cold Springs Check Point is 12:30 pm
Hikers or runners who arrive at a Check Point after the cut-off time will be required to drop out. You will be driven to the Ironmaster’s Mansion once the checkpoint shuts down.
If you would like to drop down from the 50K to the 15K, please DO NOT check-in for the 50K. Instead, you may obtain a NEW 15K bib from Anna Yelk starting at 8 am at the Furnace Stack Pavilion. You will not be refunded the difference in cost between the two races.
If you have registered but cannot attend, or decide not to participate because of injury or other, please do not check-in and pick up your bib as our radio team tracks all bib#s that are picked up. You can pick up your tshirt and lunch at the finishline with your name and ID. We are unable to mail or otherwise deliver tshirts to folks who do not show up.
You may not switch t-shirt sizes until all participants have crossed the starting line. Once you finish your race, you may switch sizes if shirts are available.
Trail Markings
50k is marked with custom ORANGE flagging tape (1 to 2 feet long)
15k is marked with custom WHITE flagging tape (1 to 2 feet long)
Transition points are marked with lines of flour on the ground
Mile Marker signs for 50k (black border) and KM signs for 15k (green border)
Please watch carefully for places where the 15K and 50K courses split! They will be very well-marked but still require your close attention.
Finishline and Picnic Lunch
Make sure the timer obtains the tear-off on the bottom of your bib when you cross the finishline.
50K Finishers, be sure to pick up your finisher’s prize at the marked table!
You will find one red lunch ticket and two yellow beer tickets stapled to the back of your bibs. These will be collected, so please hold onto them.
Lunch will be in the form of brown-bag lunches again, choice between a southwest grilled chicken wrap or a spicy chickpea and roasted veggie wrap. All lunches come with pasta salad, an apple, chips, and a cookie. Beverages include iced tea and beer provided by Appalachian Brewing Company, Evergrain Brewing, and Boston Beer Company.
Please keep in mind that walking outside the Mansion courtyard and back porch with an alcoholic beverage is prohibited and against state park rules.
We will have a limited supply of non-participant lunch tickets to sell for $10 each for friends and family of participants.
No Smoking and No Pets. This will be strictly enforced all day at all venues.
We are looking forward to a great day, safety first, as you challenge yourself for the Ironmaster’s Mansion!
