MMT 100 Crew Instructions

Updated for the 2008 Event

Printing: This page is designed for printing. The heading above and the footer at the end will not print. The font will change to 11 point serif. You might want to do PRINT PREVIEW to see what it will look like before wasting a lot of paper. You can fiddle with the margins in PAGE SET UP. These instructions will take about six pages of letter-size paper to print.

Bring these instructions with you. They will be in short supply, if available at all, at the event.

While crews are welcome at the MMT, they can cause congestion and related problems. Crews must comply with the provisions on this page. Race management reserves the right to take action on violations of these provisions ranging from a warning, to exclusion of the crew from an aid stations or all aid stations, and finally to disqualification of the runner whom the crew is supporting.

Overall Rules

Crews are permitted at the aid stations listed below. Crews and pacers may only meet their runners within 200 feet of a designated aid station.

Crews may not meet runners at other places on the course due to limited parking, access, and safety.

The one exception will be in the area of the old Visitors' Center aid station at the south end of the course. Crews and pacers will be allowed to park at the Visitors' Center parking lot and hike 0.3 mile down the Wildflower Trail to the intersection with the Massanutten Mountain South Trail (MMS). Runners will pass this intersection twice -- going in both directions on the MMS on their way to and from the Bird Knob aid station.

If a pacer needs to leave a car at the south end of the course, he or she may do so at the 211E parking area or the Visitors' Center parking lot.

Crews are required to comply with the parking instructions of aid station personnel. We must restrict parking in many areas for safety reasons and Forest Service requirements.

Crews may not be allowed in certain portions of the aid station areas. Please note that if an area is cordoned off, you as crew are not allowed into these "runner only" areas.

Violation of these rules can lead to the exclusion of the crew from the aid station or all later aid stations or disqualification of the runner.

Discussion

"FR" is Forest Road. "SR" is State Road. Signs generally have numbers only. Name signs are occasionally stolen. It is better to rely on numbers and use names as confirmation. Mileages are from vehicle odometers. Maps will be valuable in helping you navigate around the course. Take a look at the map before going to the next aid station.

Aid stations: Aid station food is intended for the runners, not the crews. Please don't take food or drink from the aid stations unless it is offered to you first. Some food might be in short supply, especially sandwiches, hot soup, or other warm food prized by runners. Your cooperation with aid station volunteers is appreciated.

Please drive carefully during the MMT 100. Use extra caution when on or near the MMT 100 course (Crisman Hollow Road (FR 274), SR 730, and FR 374). The roads are not designed for speed. Drive slowly. It will take you a lot longer than expected to go from point to point. Most aid stations are easy to find; however, some crews have had difficulty locating aid stations #15 and #16, especially at night.

Staff of the Forest Service will be present during the MMT 100. We appreciate their presence, particularly during emergencies.

Dogs

Please do not bring a dog into any aid station or the finish area. If you have a dog, please keep it away from the runners, the aid station itself, and the volunteers in the aid station. At the finish, please keep your dog away from the runners, the finish line, and the lawn and deck in the area of the finish line. Dogs are not allowed in the club house at SRR. If your dog wants to meet its running master along the course, please arrange for it to do so before or after the runner enters the aid station itself. Dogs should always be on a leash.

Restrooms

Except were noted, there are no restroom facilities or running water on the course or in the aid stations.

Cell phones

There is cell phone coverage over some parts of the course, but it is sporadic. Cell phones could prove useful to you, but they will not work everywhere. They generally do work if you are on the top of the mountain, but not if you are "in a hole" in the Valley. Our experience with AT&T and Verizon cellular service is (some of these connections may be "roaming" and conditions are known to vary):

Coverage: Aid stations: 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, Start/Finish
No Coverage: Aid stations: 6, 7, 11, 15, 16

Emergency Telephone Numbers

The MMT goes through three Virginia counties. Where to call depends on which county the emergency occurs in.

Warren County
(Front Royal -- the start and northeast portions of the course -- the start/finish and aid stations 1 - 4)
Warren County (Front Royal) Sheriff - (540) 635-4128
Warren Memorial Hospital (Front Royal) - (540) 636-0333
  1000 N. Shenandoah Avenue

Page County
(Luray – southern portion of course, east of ridge top -- aid stations 5, 7 - 11)
Page County (Luray) Sheriff - (540) 743-6571
Page Memorial Hospital (Luray) - (540) 743-4561
  200 Memorial Drive

Shenandoah County
(Woodstock -- western portion of course -- aid stations 6, 12 - 16)
Shenandoah County (Woodstock) Sheriff - (540) 459-6100
Shenandoah Memorial Hospital (Woodstock) - (540) 459-1148
 759 South Main Street

Directions to Aid Stations

1. From start (Skyline Ranch Resort) to AS #2 (Shawl Gap, 8.7 miles)

• Turn left from SRR exit on Mountain Rd, SR 619.
• Go 100 yards and turn left on SR 608, (Burke Rd).
• Go 0.4 miles on SR 608 and turn left on SR 613 (Panhandle Rd).
• Go 1.0 miles to the Shawl Gap Trail Head. Make sure all four wheels are off the road when parking.

2. From AS #2 to AS #5 (Habron Gap, 24.4 miles)

• Return to the SRR and continue 5.2 miles on SR 619 towards Front Royal.
• Turn right on US 340 at the traffic signal, just after crossing the Shenandoah River, going south towards Luray.
• Stay on 340 South for 22.2 miles. At that point, 340 becomes 340 Business. Continue on 340 Business for 0.5 miles until you come to Mechanic St (SR 675). Turn right and cross over the bridge on SR 675.
• Follow SR 675 for 3.5 miles. Cross the Shenandoah River on Bixler Bridge and turn right on SR 684.
• Follow SR 684 along the river for 7.3 miles to Foster's Landing on the right (sign at entrance says Public Boat Landing). SR 684 will become a dirt road about 3/4 of a mile before you reach Foster's Landing. AS #5 will be at Foster's Landing this year. Do not park on the road. Park in the lot for fishermen on the right.

3. From AS #5 to AS #6, Camp Roosevelt (33.3 miles)

• Return on SR 684 for 7.3 miles to Bixler Bridge and continue straight on SR 675 for 0.5 miles. Do not go back over the Shenandoah River.
• Turn right, uphill, on SR 675 for 2.7 miles to the overlook. Stop and enjoy the view but be careful when you park and as you leave the overlook.
• Continue downhill for 1.5 miles to Camp Roosevelt. Park here and walk to the aid station located in the Camp Roosevelt picnic area.
• Camp Roosevelt has flush toilets. It also has running water, but it does not taste very good.

4. From AS #6 to AS #7, Gap Creek Trail Head (38.9 miles)

• From Camp Roosevelt, go west on SR 675 and drive 0.2 miles to the four-way intersection of SR675, SR 730 and FR 274 (Crisman Hollow Road).
• Turn left on FR 274 and drive 3.0 miles to AS #7.
• All vehicles must park on the same side of the road, the east side (the left side as you head south).
• This aid station is one of our most congested. Please park properly and be prepared to walk a bit. You have plenty of time to see your runner.

5. From AS #7 to AS #8, 211E (47.8 miles) [211E is also AS #10 (58.2 miles)]   Also see note 6 below.

NOTE: Parking is limited at the 211E aid station. Please follow the directions of the parking attendants.

• Continue on FR 274 for 6.5 miles to US 211.
• Turn left on US 211, and go about a 2.0 miles down the hill to the 211E aid station. Park where directed by the parking attendants.
• (Tourist opportunity - take a walk on the Massanutten Mountain Story Trail where the dirt road ends and asphalt begins. The trail is on your left, about 4.7 miles after you leave Gap Creek. The trail is short, educational, and has great views!)
• If you want food or supplies, you will find a big supermarket, fast food restaurants, and other shopping opportunities are a little over 5.5 miles east down the hill on Route 211 from the 211E Aid Station. You likely have time to make this side trip. It should take the leader at least 1.5 hours to run from Gap I to 211E I.
• Dan's Steakhouse is a convenient place to eat. It is right on 211, just about a mile up the hill, west of the 211E aid station. They might give you water if you ask nice!

7. AS #10 [or 211E] to AS #11, Gap Creek Trail Head (64.9 miles) - Runners are headed for Jawbone Gap but this aid station is at the same location as AS #7.

• Return to Visitor Center (top of hill) on US 211 and turn right on FR 274, immediately after the Visitor Center.
• The Jawbone/Gap Creek Trail Head is 6.2 miles.
• All vehicles must park on the same side of the road, the east side (the right side as you head north).

8. AS #11 to AS #12, Moreland Gap (67.7 miles)

• Continue north on FR 274 for 3.0 miles to SR 730.
• Turn left on SR 730. Drive 3.5 miles to AS #12, intersection of SR 730 and FR 374.

9. AS #12 to AS #13, Edinburg Gap (75.9 miles)

• Leave AS #12 on FR 374 and drive about 5.4 miles to AS #13.
• Watch for runners crossing FR 374 in about a mile and just before AS #13!
• The Edinburg Gap Aid Station is located in the Off Road Vehicle Parking lot. As you get to the end of FR 374, you will see a paved road (SR 675). Don't go on this road. Make a 180 degree turn to the right and go into the ORV parking lot. The aid station is usually all the way into the lot.
• Edinburg Gap Aid Station has a pit toilet. (Ask aid station people how to find it in the dark.)

11. AS #13 to AS #14, Woodstock Gap (84.1 miles)

• Turn right at intersection of FR 374 and Rt 675.
• Drive 2.0 miles on SR 675 to Kings Crossing. There is an excellent spring (pipe coming out of the hill) 0.5 miles from Edinburg Gap.
• Turn left on SR 678 at Kings Crossing.
• Drive 7.3 miles on SR 678 to Detrick and turn left on SR 758 (Woodstock Tower Rd).
• Drive 4.3 miles on SR 758 to AS #14 just over the crest of the mountain, parking on both sides of the road. Woodstock Tower is a short walk for another good view.

The route above is more direct and probably faster. The alternate route below is slightly longer but takes you through civilization with all-night food, gas, and stores.

Alternate route to Woodstock Gap a.k.a. Woodstock Tower

• Take SR 675 west for 4 miles to US 11.
• Turn right on US 11 and drive through Woodstock to SR 665, Mill Road, at north end of a shopping center at the north end of Woodstock.
• Turn right on SR 665 for 1.4 miles to junction with SR 758, Woodstock Tower Rd.
• Bear left onto SR 758.
• Continue on SR 758 for 3 miles to AS #14. Warning, the last mile of this road is dirt, steep, and has several sharp switchbacks. Use extreme care.

12. AS #14 to AS 15, Powell's Fort Camp (89.3 miles)

• Go east on SR 758 to Detrick and turn left on SR 678.
• Follow SR 678 for 4.1 miles and turn left on SR 771, Boyer Furnace Rd.
• Drive straight for 1.6 miles on SR 771 and turn right on FR 66. (Note: FR 66 is not well-marked. Look for a small, brown sign that says only "FR 66" on a post. After you turn, you will quickly see another small sign that says, "Mine Gap Trail." That tells you that you have made the correct turn.)
• Drive about 2.5 miles on FR 66 to AS #15. The aid station is through the trees and off the road.
• There is a spring with good water near Powell's Fort Camp. Aid station personnel can point it out to you.

The route above uses the best roads but is somewhat longer. The route below is more direct but uses very narrow country roads.

Alternate route to Powell's Fort Camp

• Go east on SR 758 for about a mile onto FR 273. SR 758 makes a hairpin turn to the right. You go straight to get on FR 273.
• Continue on FR 273 for 2.4 miles to FR 66 and turn left. (Note the warning about the turn onto FR 66 above. When you are coming this way, FR 66 is the second obvious turn. There is a drive way that looks like a road just before FR 66. When you make the wrong turn, you will figure it out quickly. After that, you are close to the real FR 66. Look for the "FR 66" sign and, after the turn, the "Mine Gap" sign.)
• Drive about 2.5 miles on FR 66 to AS #15. The aid station is through the trees and off the road.

13. AS 15 to AS #16, Elizabeth Furnace (96.8 miles)

• Turn around at AS #15 and drive 2.5 miles to SR 771.
• Turn left on SR 771 and drive 1.6 miles to SR 678.
• Turn left on SR 678 and drive 4.7 miles to the Elizabeth Furnace picnic area, about 0.5 miles past the family campground entrance.
• You want to park in the parking lot where the blue blazed Tuscarora Trail crosses SR 678. You can meet runners in the parking lot or at the aid station that is across Passage Creek. Runners will cross a bridge over Passage Creek, immediately turn left and after a few yards turn right into the aid station in a covered picnic shelter.
• There are pit toilets at Elizabeth Furnace. Also, you should be able to get water at the family campground, if not at the picnic area itself.

14. AS #16 to Skyline Ranch Resort (Finish - 101.8 miles)

• Turn right from the parking lot on SR 678.
• Drive 2.7 miles to SR 619 and turn right.
• Continue on SR 619 to Skyline Ranch Resort and the finish line.

Revised May 2007