09/27/2024
ATTENTION ALL HIGH GROUND GRAVEL RACERS, PLEASE READ!
Thank You for participating in the High Ground Gravel! I hope you enjoy Terra Alta! The course is amazing!
We just wanted to give you a run down on what the expect. Below you will find all the information that will make your experience great!
Packet pick up: Friday night is from 7PM to 8PM at the Alpine Lake Resort. Head to the lobby, once inside, turn right toward the conference area. So, if you are staying with us at the resort, please make your way down to us. This is also a good time to drop off your aid station bags. Please note that ALL aid station bags will ONLY be going to AID STATION #2. Last call for ALL aid station bags (regardless of what racecourse you are doing) is at 8:30am Saturday morning!
Race Day packet pick up starts at 7AM at the venue. If it is dry out, we will be located at the start / finish location near the miniature golf location just pass the resort. This is also the time to drop off aid station bags. Please note that ALL aid station bags will ONLY be going to AID STATION #2. Last call for ALL aid station bags (regardless what racecourse you are doing) is at 8:30am Saturday morning!
Bibs / Race Numbers: During pick up we will be looking for a few things. We want to make sure you confirm your name, what course you are racing and what class.
Attaching Bibs! This is a big one! Please zip tie the bib to the front of the bike ONLY. Please do NOT wrap the bibs around down tubes, or around head tubes. We have had issues where the carbon on the bike blocks the signal from the chip and participants had to be manually entered.
Race Start Times...
Long 8AM
Medium 9AM
Short 10AM
The Start/Finish will be next to the miniature golf course. Look for the big blue arch and canopies.
The Racers’ Meeting will take place 10 minutes before each race. Please be present for announcements or possible changes!
Aid Station Mileage
Long 16.5 Mile Aid Station #1, 32.5 Miles Aid Station #2, 53 Miles Aid Station #2 (Second Visit)
Med 16.5 Mile Aid Station #1, 32.5 Miles Aid Station #2
Short 19 Miles Aid Station #2 ( there is only one aid station for short course )
Safety:
High Ground Gravel is hosted on active roadways. This is not a closed-circuit race. Ride with sense, be aware and you will be fine! The roads we use are low traffic but can be fast traffic in areas. Please just ride heads up and be aware of your surroundings.
RWGPS Links:
High Ground Short · Ride with GPS
High Ground Medium · Ride with GPS
High Ground Long (New) · Ride with GPS
Direction and Signage:
The racecourse is marked very well. GPS is totally up to you, but it is always recommended. Road marking consists of Arrows (Yellow, Blue FLY, Black White), Orange Paint on Black Top, Red SRAM Tape, SRAM fencing, Caution signs at main road crossings, Caution signs to alert automobiles that “Bike race in progress”.
There are a couple sections that my GPS tells you that you are off course, but I was obviously on the road. There will be moments when GPS will act like you are off course, but common sense will go a long way here.
Course Split:
There are a couple of areas that we would like for you take a moment and look at the provided maps.
Long and Medium, at Aid Station #1 you are making a hard right on to Muddy Creek Rd. The team at the aid station #1 will make sure you are making a right hand turn off. Note to Long Course racers, the second lap through this area (mile 51) you will NOT turn on to Muddy Creek Rd. You will go straight and by this time aid station #1 will be gone. Also, long course at mile 38.7, you do NOT return to the venue! You go straight and do you second short lap. You will be back to this split later in the race, then at mile 59, make the right and head back to the venue. Please look at the map! These are critical areas for you.
Food!
After the race, feel free to take your meal ticket into the Alpine Lake Resort and get lunch! The dining and deck areas are open just for you!!! Please note, High Ground Gravel is only paying for food for race participants. Friends and family can purchase food at the venue. Drinks… We are providing water and soda. If you want an alcoholic beverage, it must be purchased from the Alpine Lake Resort. ((We are having an after party at the brewery later in the day. Detail listed below))
Accommodations:
Restrooms and showers are available, and they are located on the bottom floor of the main building. There will be signs directing you where to go. There are also restrooms available in the lobby of the resort, but please be courteous with mud and dirt. If you are muddy or dirty, please use the ones on the bottom floor.
Buckwheat Festival:
There is a festival happening just 20 minutes away! The Buckwheat Festival! This event will be happening all weekend! If you’re staying, I highly recommend you making the time to visit the Buckwheat Festival in Kingwood!
Parking:
There is plenty of parking, but please park so everyone can get a spot. If the parking lot if full, there is additional parking available above the boat house down by the lake. If you are not staying the night at the resort, please don’t park in the hotel area parking.
Golf Course Rules:
The resort is surrounded by a golf course. Please be courteous and stay off the golf course. We are grateful to be able to host the event at this beautiful resort and we don’t want to make waves with the locals. Thanks
Awards:
We are awarding 3 deep with cash and/or prizes for each class. Awards will be inside in the dining area. We are shooting for awards at 3pm, no later than 4pm. Please stick around for the WVGS awards also!
WVGS AWARDS will follow right after the High Ground awards. We are paying 3 deep…. To qualify for Series awards, you needed to complete 4 of the 5 races in the series. (Note) If you are in the series and you see something incorrect with you standing, now is the time to correct it! Please do not wait until tomorrow!
After Party @ High Ground Brewing
That’s right, we are having a party at High Ground Brewery in downtown Terra Alta! It’s about a 10 min drive from the resort. To receive your free pint, just give the bartender your race bib. They have Ben Benson playing music, and “It’s a Wrap” Food truck at the brewery.
Thank you so much for participating in the High Ground Gravel and WV Gravel Series events! We hope to grow in 2025 and have more amazing gravel events!
Cheers, The High Ground Gravel Team
