Update: As of June 14th, Ragnar officials have announced that the road over Guardsman Pass has been cleared and should be ready by race day. They hired their own snow removal service to get all that snow off the route, but runners will be going through 6-foot walls of snow on that leg. Fortunately, it will have a cooling effect!
Ragnar officials may have to hand out snowshoes at this year’s Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back. The massive amount of snow that fell in Utah this winter, coupled with a record-breaking wet and cold spring, has combined to create an icy problem – too much snow.
According to Fox 13, there’s so much snow in the mountain passes that the route, which must accommodate 12,000 runners and 2,000 vans over 192 miles, had to be changed already. Even more last-minute modifications are on the horizon if mother nature doesn’t cooperate.
So far, there are three problem areas along the race course that goes from Logan to Park City along the back side of the Wasatch Mountains. First, the Old Snowbasin Road is falling apart due to frost heaves and ground water that is disintegrating the ground under pavement. Already, Ragnar has redirected the route to Trapper’s Loop to avoid this dangerous area.
Second, Avon Pass is currently closed because of winter conditions, but road crews are working hard to get the pass ready for the race.
But the biggest concern is Ragnar’s namesake leg – Ragnar Hill over Guardsman Pass. Over five feet of snow still covers the pass, meaning plows can’t get up there to clear the road.
To add even more concern to an already big problem, all that snow will probably cause flooding when it melts, which could complicate the route even more.
With the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back only two weeks away, will the course be ready in time? Ragnar officials are working closely with UDOT and the counties along the course to make sure the race goes off as safely as possible. But if you’re running in the Ragnar Wasatch Back this year, don’t be surprised if there are any last minute changes thanks to what has been a very unusual spring season here in Utah.
To stay updated on any Ragnar course changes, keep checking the Ragnar Wasatch Back website for new information.
To see video of the course and all the snow, watch this report filed by Fox 13’s Arikka Von.