MDH BUCK-FIFTY

The buck stops here at our most epic race yet, the MDH BUCK-FIFTY! No excuses, no whining, if you want this rare and limited BUCKLE then you must understand one simple rule… YOU are 100% responsible for YOURSELF at this race. The MDH150 is one of the RADDEST endurance feats a person can aspire to attempt on one of the longest and BADDEST single-track trails in the world. You can HIKE, BIKE or RIDE your horse! The course is open from May to October and your ONLY competition is yourself… and if 150 miles isn’t enough for you, then test your resolve with the MDH300 out and back option. See the details below.

total distance

154+ miles (point-to-point)

Start & Finish

This LEGENDARY race begins at the southernmost point of the world-famous MAAH DAAH HEY TRAIL, the Burning Coal Vein Campground Trailhead. Racers will travel north on the raw & rugged BADLANDS single-track phenomenon, with the goal of reaching the northernmost trailhead at CCC Campground, over 150 miles away. Both Units of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park will be bypassed, please see course map for details.

race start/ Finish

May 1st - October 31st

Supported & Unsupported

Unsupported racers must carry ALL of their own gear with them and may NOT receive any water, gear, food or aid from anyone else.  Supported racers may have a Support and Gear (SAG) vehicle that meets them at multiple checkpoints along the racecourse. Checkpoints range anywhere from 5 to 15 trail-miles apart from each other. All checkpoints are accessible to most types of vehicles, however a high clearance vehicle with at least one full-size spare tire is strongly recommended.

elevation gain

17,539 feet (one way)

safety

This is a “self sufficient,” POINT-TO-POINT, single-track, “in the middle of nowhere,” extremely hardcore race. Racers may encounter difficult terrain, wild animals, livestock, water crossings and other dangerous situations. Every participant will be 100% responsible for him or her self. Racers should be well experienced in extreme endurance events and very capable of taking care of themselves in the remote wilderness. Racers must be honest with themselves whether or not they are ready, willing and able to attempt a challenge as extreme as the MDH150/ MDH300.

COURSE RECORDs

MTB

300 Corey Kronser | 56:54:00 (unsupported)

150 Kelly Magelky | 13:13:41
150 Kate Ginsbach | 19:05:05

RUN

300 Sally Nelson | 130: 00:16

150 Elliot Waldock | 53:28:30
150 Sally Nelson | 52:09

HORSE

To be determined…

View results archive

Lodging

Racers may camp at any of the primitive campgrounds located at the start, finish or along the MDH150 racecourse. Racers may also disperse camp according these guidelines from the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. The Roosevelt Inn, located in Watford City, is a great place to stay before or after your MDH150 adventure. As an addition to you adventure, explore Medora too and while in Medora, also might want to try the Pitchfork Steak Fondue and the Medora Musical and use the code RaceSeries15

awards

Race standings and awards will be determined and announced in November. Special MDHx1DAY awards will be given to racers who can complete the racecourse in under 24 hours. Other special mentions may be honored such “first of the season,” “largest team,” “slowest finisher,” etc.

*Registration includes the required permission to access one section of private property on the MDH150 racecourse. Do not attempt the private property section of this racecourse without permission from the land owner. Survivors will be prosecuted.

MDH150/300 Race Requirements
and Rules:

1. Bikes: racers must use non-motorized bike(s) only. Supported racers may use as many different bikes as they desire; and may swap out bikes, parts, tires, etc… at any point on the racecourse. Supported racers are not required to finish on the same bike that they started on. However to qualify for the single speed category you must use the same gear ratio for the entirety of the race.  Unsupported racers must start and finish on the same bike, no swapping or receiving mechanical help.

2. All racers must follow the designated racecourse via the GPX file and Google Map provided. NO other racecourse specific markings will be provided. Racers will need to follow the USFS trail markings and are responsible to navigate around the Theodore Roosevelt National Parks and other connecting trail intersections. It is the racer’s responsibility to study and know the racecourse and use the tools provided to stay on course. In order to be considered an official finisher and eligible for places and awards; a GPX file of the racer’s ride(s) or run(s) must be provided as verification of their completion of the entire racecourse, such as Strava, Garmin, SPOT, or another electronic recording that provides undeniable proof that the racecourse was completed.

3. Supported racers who have a SAG vehicle are required to have a reliable means to contact their SAG driver(s). Cell phones are acceptable, but service is not always available in the low spots of the badlands, however a signal is usually available on the top of most of the buttes and hills. Racer’s SAG drivers are their primary search and rescue team. If a racer fails to make it to a checkpoint, it is the responsibility of their own SAG driver(s) to locate the racer and get them to safety. In case of a life-threatening emergency racers or SAG crews must alert the local emergency responders via 911. Racers and SAG crews are responsible for any and all rescue fees and costs that may be incurred for any emergency rescues.

4. Unsupported racers, who do not have a SAG crew, are required to carry a satellite phone or a device, such as a SPOT GPS or similar device, that can reliably contact emergency services from anywhere on the racecourse, without requiring cell phone service. Carrying a cell phone in addition to a satellite operated device is also recommended.

5. Participants must carry sufficient amounts of water, food, and gear at all times. The water in the streams, ponds, and puddles in the badlands may not be suitable or available for drinking. Plan on packing in all your own drinking water. MOST of the campgrounds along the racecourse have well-water that can be pumped out of the ground by hand, but we highly recommend that racers and SAG drivers bring plenty of their own bottled water. Check the USFS Maah Daah Hey map for the locations of the water cache boxes located sporadically on the trail. These cache boxes may be used by UNSUPPORTED racers to stash water before starting the race. All water containers must be labeled and picked up afterwards.

6. TEAMS! Enjoy the badlands with team. Race teams may split the racecourse into any configuration of distances they prefer, however teams may only swap racers at the designated checkpoints, on the MDH150 racecourse map. This is great way to see as much or as little of Maah Daah Hey as you would like, with a guaranteed SAG vehicle/ teammate which adds both comradery and safety to your MDH150 experience. For some reason we always picture these teams being formed like in the Blues Brothers movie, when Jake and Elwood are on their “mission from God,” trying to get the band back together… It is not necessarily easy, but it is definitely worth it.

7. Pack it in, pack it out. Anyone caught littering on the racecourse or SAG route will be disqualified.

8. Every racer needs a primary light source and backup light that are sufficient enough to safely travel in the dark.

9. ALL racers are 100% responsible for their own transportation onto and off of the racecourse from start to finish. NO shuttles are provided. Volunteers and race directors are NOT obligated to provide or coordinate any form of transportation for any racer, under any circumstances. Please plan ahead and be prepared to be 100% self sufficient at this BADLANDS RACES epic event.

DOWNLOAD SAG DIRECTIONS

These are photos of the MDH150 RACECOURSE and SAG ROUTE as listed in the SAG Directions above. Note: the solid black line is the MDH150 course for the racers, and the dotted line identifies the gravel roads for the SAG drivers.