Boalsburg, PA, United States · Saturday, October 24, 2026

Fixed Distance 50 mi

Tussey Mountainback 50 Miler

38 days away

80 km Distance

1,671 m Climbing

6.5 Grit · Hardcore

40.7756° N, 77.7925° W© OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 21 m / km Rolling. Moderate undulations. Requires consistent effort across varying grades.

Time limit 12 hours 9:00 min/km average. Comfortable. Room to walk the climbs and stop at aid. Among the tightest 50 mi cut-offs we track. Measured against 455 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~40 Small. Long stretches with nobody in sight.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, October

Daytime high 16°C

Night low 5°C

Rainfall Showers likely

Daylight 10 h 48 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for October — NASA POWER, grid elevation 400 m. Not a forecast.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a rolling course. Expect fast, runnable sections where rhythm is key.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail with 1,671 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes21 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration VestsPole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles1,671 m of ascent to walk up.
HeadlampsA 12 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Asics

Trabuco Max 3

★★★★★ 4.6

Brooks

Catamount 3

RunRepeat found the Brooks Catamount 3 to have a cozier upper that enhances the overall fit, though breathability and durability could be better. iRunFar noted…

★★★★★ 4.5

Skratch Labs

Sport Hydration Mix

Clean electrolyte drink mix with real fruit flavor. Low sugar.

$20 ★★★★★ 4.5

Nathan

VaporKrar 12L

12L race vest co-designed with ultra champion Rob Krar, with insulated bladder pocket.

$170 ★★★★★ 4.6

LEKI

Ultratrail FX.One

Ultra-light carbon folding poles (135g each) designed for mountain ultra racing.

$200 ★★★★★ 4.6

Petzl

NAO RL

1500-lumen reactive lighting headlamp with 15-hour runtime. Automatic brightness adjustment.

$150 ★★★★★ 4.7

All gear guides →

Course Notes

A certified single 50M loop on mostly (82%) unpaved forest roads in central Pennsylvania's scenic Rothrock State Forest during fall foliage season. Elev gain 5,485 ft (1671 m).

Similar races

Other 50 mi trail ultras, closest in distance first.