Great things happen when a community pulls together. Runners, cyclists and trail lovers of all sorts came to the Arcata Community Forest on Oct. 30 and 31 for the Race for the Ridge Trail Festival, two days of fun-filled events to raise money for the city’s Ridge Trail Project. Thanks to all of the visitors, race participants, volunteers, sponsors, family and friends who helped support the cause for sustainable trails.

Scroll down on the blog for complete results on the running and cycling races. Here are some photos taken by our fans. Photos with the JmB logo are by local photographer Jason Barnes. Photos by Vic Armijo of Ichabod’s Wild Ride are for sale here, and proceeds will go to the Arcata Trail Ridge Project.

STXC

The Race for the Ridge Trail Festival will be held on Saturday, October 30 at Redwood Park in the Arcata Community Forest.  The festival is a fundraiser for the Arcata Ridge Trail Project, a new 4 mile trail and additional open space that will connect southern and northern Arcata neighborhoods through the redwoods of the Arcata Community Forest.  All proceeds will be contributed to the Arcata Forest Fund, which was established to acquire and protect forest lands  through partnership with landowners, the City of Arcata and state and federal funding agencies.

The Race for the Ridge Trail Festival includes  a running race, mountain bike race, kids rodeo and bike race, costume contest, trick or treat, live music, food, beer and family events all in Redwood Park.  Wear your favorite costume and a chance to win prizes! Spectators are encouraged to wear a costume and showcase Humboldt wackiness throughout the day (but please leave the other stuff Humboldt is known for at home )

Saturday October 30

9:00 a.m. Run for Your Life 5K running race sponsored by the Jogg N’ Shoppe and held at Redwood Park in the Community Forest.  The 5 K event will be comprised of three 1 mile loops beginning and ending in Redwood Park.

Beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Ghosts and Goblins Kids Events

Kids’ Bike Rodeo followed by a Kids’ race, a costume contest and Halloween activities.  Bring your bikes, helmets and costume.  A limited number of bikes will be available for use during the festival, thanks to our sponsors.

12:00 p.m. Ichabod’s Wild Ride XC Mountain Bike Race starts in Redwood Park in the Community Forest.  Top collegiate and citizen racers from throughout the Western U.S. will compete in a multi-lap race in the Arcata Community Forest.  Each lap features 1300 feet of climbing, and a variety of distances are available to suit all abilities and fitness.  Beginners will do one 7.25 mile loop, collegiate C and D racers will do one 7.25 mile loop.  Intermediate and collegiate B racers will do two 7.25 mile loops.  Experts and collegiate A racers will do 3 laps for a total of 22 miles and 3900 feet of climbing! There are a number of excellent technical sections for cowbell ringing, screaming and cheering on the racers.

All-Day Events on Saturday 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

• Barbecue and local organic food buffet
• Trick or Treat
• Beer Garden sponsored by local breweries
• Live Music with local bands and  Lost Coast Communications
• Climbing Wall sponsored by North Coast Adventure Center
• Kids Bike Rodeo
• Bike Demos from Kona, Niner, and others…
• Raffles and Silent Auction

Sunday October 31 No Festival but more fun for the MTB enthusiast, racers and spectators

8:00 a.m. Short Track Slaughterfest Redwood Park

This race will be 20-45 minutes of brutal effort (depending on your category). You will experience a fast pace, close finishes and maximum efforts from beginning to end, with a short, technical course through the redwoods.  This spectator friendly race can be seen almost entirely from the meadow at Redwood Park.

12:00 p.m.  Screaming Super D Downhill (No shuttle. All riders need to ride up to start. Plan accordingly.) Finish in Redwood Park.

3:00 p.m.  Awards (You may get one if you survive the haunted forest and are one of the top three finishers in your category.)

About 500 people are expected to attend the festival, including college students from all over the western U.S. who will be competing in the Humboldt State Cycling Club’s organized collegiate events.

Directions

Heading North to Arcata from San Francisco (approx. 5 hours north of S.F.) Take Highway 101 North to 14th St./Humboldt State University exit.  Turn right off exit onto 14th Street and go about 3 blocks. Parking will be in the large lot to your left on the corner of 14th and Union Streets.

Gear drop off zone is at Bayview and 12th Streets. From the festival 14th St. parking lot, go south on Union St. to 11th St. Take a left onto 11th and head uphill to Bayview St. Turn left onto Bayview, which enters to park. A barricade and volunteer will be blocking passage beyond 12th St.  Drop off all gear, bikes and riders here and return and park at 14th St. parking area as mentioned before.  The area will be well signed with Race for the Ridge Trail Festival.

Heading South to Arcata from Eugene/Portland: Take Highway 101 South to Arcata/Sunset Ave. exit. Turn left onto Sunset Ave. and cross over highway. Turn  right onto LK Wood Blvd. and continue for about 1/2 mile (you will pass Humboldt State University campus).  At the next stop sign, turn left onto 14th Street. Go about three blocks up the road and you will see the parking lot on your left at the corner of 14th and Union Streets.

Gear drop off zone is at Bayview and 12th Streets. From the festival 14th St. parking lot, go south on Union St. to 11th St. Take a left onto 11th and head uphill to Bayview St. Turn left onto Bayview, which enters to park. A barricade and volunteer will be blocking passage beyond 12th St.  Drop off all gear, bikes and riders here and return and park at 14th St. parking area as mentioned before.  The area will be well signed with Race for the Ridge Trail Festival.

Heading to Arcata from 299 East take Highway 101 South exit off of 299 and then take the Sunset Ave. exit (first right turn after entering Highway 101, approximately 1.5 miles after the 299/101 intersection).

Turn left onto Sunset Ave. and cross over highway. Turn  right onto LK Wood Blvd. and continue for about 1/2 mile (you will pass Humboldt State University campus).  At the next stop sign, turn left onto 14th Street. Go about three blocks up the road and you will see the parking lot on your left at the corner of 14th and Union Streets.

Gear drop off zone is at Bayview and 12th Streets. From the festival 14th St. parking lot, go south on Union St. to 11th St. Take a left onto 11th and head uphill to Bayview St. Turn left onto Bayview, which enters to park. A barricade and volunteer will be blocking passage beyond 12th St.  Drop off all gear, bikes and riders here and return and park at 14th St. parking area as mentioned before.  The area will be well signed with Race for the Ridge Trail Festival.

Registration

Registration for the 5 K run is at the Jogg N’ Shoppe 1090 G Street Arcata, and at the event site on Saturday, ending at 8:30 a.m..

Registration for the MTB races is at Revolution Bicycle 1360 G Street Arcata on Friday October 29th until 9:00 p.m., or at the event site on Saturday starting at 7:00 a.m. until 11:45 a.m..

If you can help during the festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 and 31,  please leave a message in the comment section of this blog page and we’ll get right back to you! And thanks!

The City of Arcata plans to develop a four-mile long regional trail known as the Ridge Trail. The triail route would  go from West End Road to Buttermilk Lane and traverses the Sunny Brae Forest and Arcata Community Forest, spanning the city limits from north to south  along the redwood forested hillsides.

For more information on the trail, see the City of Arcata’s Ridge Trail Project.