The Gallatin Gallop will be held at Bohart Ranch, in the scenic Bridger Mountains. Bohart's website provides directions to the ski center.
The race course is laid out as a 5K loop through the Bohart Ranch trail system. The 10K race will make two loops of the course. The course will be marked with blue flags and small signs with the Gallatin Gallop moose logo; red flags will mark side trails that are NOT part of the course - turn around if you find yourself passing one of these, as you'll be off course!
The loop starts and ends at the "Arena" in the heart of the Bohart base area. From here, the course begins gradually climbing through the pines, following several of the Nordic ski trails in a counter-clockwise direction. Along the northern fence-line, the Coyote Cutoff is taken to make a direct approach to Jane's Gate. After passing through Jane's Gate, the course enters an open meadow, allowing views of the peaks of the Bridger and Bangtail mountains. The course skirts counter-clockwise around the meadow, then racers cut up through loose snow towards Montagne's Meander. Montagne's Meander is a narrow trail in untramped snow through the forest - watch for tree branches and downed trees on this section! Plan for this in your race strategy - it will be difficult to pass anyone on this section of the course. After regaining the ski trails, you'll begin to return back down to the meadow and Jane's Gate, passing by the biathlon range. After passing Jane's Gate, another section of untracked snowshoe trail is encountered, then a short stint on packed trails, followed by a cut through an open glade of powder. At about 2.3 miles, you'll be challenged by a short but steep hill, before dropping down again toward the Arena. Just before arriving at the base area, you'll cut down to your right into the "Stadium" at the south end of Bohart property for a mostly flat loop to the finish line.
NOTE: If the weather is severely cold on race day, the course may be shortened by not going beyond Jane's Gate into the meadow area. If this happens, the loop will be just slightly under 3K in length.
