Anyone do the High Cascades 100 and Park City P2P? I’m wondering how they compare for technicality. Felt like HC100 was a 6ish for a long XC race. Nothing super technical just 85 miles of loose single track gets to you over time.
I have not done HC100, but PCP2P is probably a 4/10 overall technical score. It’s really the length/elevation gain/altitude that combine to make it tough. The year I did it, myself and 2 friends (one faster, one slower) all missed our plans by 45-90 minutes and we are all local with lots of experience on these trails. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I’m not doing the race this year and the course changes a bit every year, but the basics are the same. I’m local and have ridden all of these trails many times. Almost all trails are blue on Trailforks. Basically, the route is:
- Round Valley - Dry and rocky, sometimes loose and dusty this time of year (late summer)
- Lost Prospector/Solamere/Snow Top/Deer Crest/etc - Nothing tough here… mostly dirt sidewalks. Getting some early climbing in here to Aid #1.
- Team Big Bear is typically rocky and dusty late in the year and a solid climb, but not overly technical
- Flagstaff/Moosebones/Corvair/Little Chief/Johns 99 - Fun! Just typing this makes me want to go ride it this weekend.
- Johns (not to be confused with Johns 99) - Now it begins.
Usually a bit overgrown, tight trees, LOTS of roots, narrow trail… you will be using watts to ride down hill. It’s really not THAT bad, but it probably helps to expect this to be tough/annoying. - Jenni’s - A brief respite
- Steps - Steep. Rarely ridden. Rocky. Not exceedingly technical, but the steepness after nearly 40 miles and the midday heat on an exposed trail make this another ‘memorable’ moment.
- The next section is different from when I did it, but… 3 Candles / Fat Lip / 9k - Fat Lip has a couple tough spots. 3 Candles is a well-worn climbing trail and 9k is great fun and not technical.
- Shadow Lake / Keystone - Easy descents. Watch out for hikers.
- Apex will slow things down due to tight turns, but not difficult.
- CMG - FAST descent. Again, not technical. Dumps into First Time Return which is a flow trail with large berms. Aid #2 is here. I recall a lot of riders calling it a day here.
- The Suck / Armstrong - I’m pretty sure nobody ever rides up PCMR Road except during this race. It’s stupid steep. Armstrong is one of the 3 popular ways to climb up from PCMR. Generally no drama, but I remember this trail being MUCH tougher at Mile 53 than any of the dozens of times I’ve ridden it before or since. Basically, general exhaustion makes the last 1/3 seem more technical than it is.
- Mid-Mountain/Iron Man - This section of MMT is different than the rest of it. Just a short piece of it, but much more rocky and technical than the dirt sidewalks elsewhere. Iron Man is another steep climb, but once you summit this, the worst is behind you. Drop down to a more mellow section of MMT to Aid #3 “The Oasis”
- Climb Mid-Mountain on smooth trail/moderate grade, then down to Olympic, short climb, then down Moose Puddle, Iron Bill, and BYOB. Iron Bill is ‘black’ on Trail Forks for some reason, but it’s not bad.
Basically, you could ride ANY of this on a hardtail with 2.2" Aspens no problem. The trick is what bike do you want to ride ALL of it? Check out my race report above (post 41). For sub 4w/kg people, I recommend FS, wider tires, and low gearing.
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That is a great write-up and good advice Chris.
All right, I’m doing this and riding my 2021 Epic FS. I’ve already de-brained it. I have the option to put a 120mm SID Ultimate on it rather than the standard 100mm fork. Both have full lockout and it’s probably only 1/2 an hour to swap. Any thoughts about if this is needed, or am I overthinking it?
I’d go 120mm. Its a long day and anything that can help save the upper body shows itself towards the end
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Just did a couple of rides on the 120mm. Wow. Much plusher, and maybe a tad faster too, or maybe I’m just in better shape.
Now I need to figure out my chain ring. 32 or maybe go down to 30. I can really see being spun out anywhere on the course so a 30 might feel good.
Even the start you wont spin out most people are taking it fairly chill from what I can remember. Looking back i only did 180w getting to the single track. 32 could be fine but it wouldnt hurt to have a 30
I think I’ve said it 2 or 3 times above, but lower gearing is better for most. You will use the lowest gear you have a lot (first part of John’s, Steps, the Suck) When you are going fast on the course, you likely won’t be pedaling at all. If you are riding to “finish in x hours”, choose the 30. 
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Rather than start a new thread…
Anyone know if the trails PCMR has been working on for the last few years are open yet? I believe they have been cutting downhill only trails near Jenni’s and another over near Spiro.
We usually congregate and start a few rides from the base parking lot (@ Jenni’s) and I like to incorporate the new trails when they appear…
Other than Seldom Seen, nothing is officially open. Seldom has taken a beating, but they’ve laid down some fresh matting which helps.
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Many thanks!
Course marking is in progress. Orange dots appearing in DV + PCMR
Been riding around the better part of a week now and have been on most of the trails in DV + PCMR that will be used. Trails are in typical condition. Fairly dry, loose over hard in spots, normal chunder spots.
Good luck to forumites giving it a go this year!!
-Darth
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Thanks. I’ll driving out tomorrow. I’ve only ever ridden about 20% of the course. I’m NOT a good descender. How is John’s looking?
John’s was in typical condition. Dry with exposed roots and the occasional tight spacing between aspens. Take your time and all will be good. John’s is just rooty. It is not extreme and nothing to worry about!!
Fat Lip and Upper Lip have some tight spots but no worries.
The longest downhill in PCMR is 9K → Keystone → Apex → CMG → Seldom Seen → First Time Return. Nothing extreme anywhere in there.
Segment three, Armstrong is great. Mid Mtn and Iron Mtn will have some loose over hard to rocky sections. The downhilling in the Canyons is smooth and good condition and nothing to worry about.
Good luck!
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Had a great time at PCP2P. Tough ride, especially for a gravel rider coming from sea-level. There’s definitely a benefit to being a local. I think even riding the trails once would have given me a lot more confidence descending. I kept up or gained ground on the accents but was passed by 21 people in the last 2.7 miles.
The course is perfect for a (shudder) down-country bike. 120mm of suspension front a back worked out great. Better bike handlers could get by on 100mm or a HT, but the course is long and relentless. The cognitive load weighs on you. A little more squish was appreciated, especially in the 3rd section where I was very tired and benefited from a more forgiving bike.
If you have good cardio, above average bike handling, and very good endurance, it’s a fantastic ride.
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Great job finishing! P2P has a high rate of attrition.
Good advice on the bike set-up… it’s an XC race by nature, but the duration of it means every choice between XC/Trail leans a bit towards Trail for most… wider tires, knobs vs outright speed, a bit more suspension, etc… down-country as you said.
Congrats to all the finishers. It’s an epic ride!