ABOUT THE FROZEN SNOT
This little winter race thing we do is a 8.3 or 13.5-mile adventure race held at Zindel Park in McElhattan, PA. The long course includes over a mile of elevation gain — brutal climbs, worse descents and both are held during the coldest week of the year. Welcome to the Frozen Snot.
We have selected the worst that Bald Eagle Mountain provides and scheduled it during what is usually the coldest week of the year. It is aimed at the hardcore trail runner and hardy hiker. By hardcore we don't mean "elite" or necessarily fast, but rather a person that is ready for the most daunting course we could devise in these parts. The day could be freezing rain on top of a foot of snow or it might just be a bracing, bright winter's day out on a hard and fast rocky surface. A fair amount of the route is on established trails used by the Boulder Beast. Some of the route, though, travels ground that is really only passable (except to the diehard bushwacker) in the winter. The course will be well-marked, but not "manicured." Expect four stream crossings which may, or may not, be frozen. You can choose the regular course (about 13.5 miles) or, by popular demand, a "short course" of about 8.3 miles. Choose your preference when you register. Historically, one of the (semi) unique things about this event is the ability to either drop down from full to half course or to increase from half to full during the event. In all the years that we have done this, it has been 99. 9% the former and not the latter.
Not a Beginner-Friendly Event
The course is very technical, has A LOT of elevation gain and loss over very few miles. There are boulder fields, steep descents, and could have any combination of snow/ice/mud (depending on the weather). All participants are REQUIRED to have available (wearing or in your pack) some sort of traction device, such as Kahtoola Microspikes, Hillsound Trail Crampons, Yaktrax or "screw shoes" (shoes with short sheet metal screws in the sole to provide traction.) Also, if you generally don't use trekking poles, you may want to reconsider for The Frozen Snot. And remember - two poles are more than twice as effective as one. If the East Kammerdiner Run is not frozen you should have dry socks in your pack. Wet feet and cold temperatures can lead to frostbite. Running or hiking in winter conditions on a challenging course requires preparation and planning for your clothing and gear. You are responsible for making good choices for yourself. We strongly recommend NO COTTON clothing whatsoever. Once wet with sweat, rain, snow or ice you can get hypothermic very quickly. In mild weather you can easily get away with poor or uninformed choices; winter is a different ball game. The race director reserves the right to not let a person start if he feels that an entrant is not suitably equipped or dressed.