Putting on the Sawatch Ascent 50k takes A LOT of help!

No race can happen without a community, and the Sawatch Ascent is no different. We are immensely grateful for the massive amount of support we receive from our wonderful community of volunteers! We need around 55 volunteers to work across our 4 teams: General, Communications, Medical, and Course Marking/Sweeping.

How do you sign up to volunteer?

Read through the description of the teams to decide which ones you are interested in
Click on any of the “Sign up to Volunteer” buttons
Scroll through the available shifts for the team to see what’s available
Select as many shifts as you’d like, just make sure you have time for driving, eating, and sleeping!
Your team leader, director, or captain will reach out in the following months with more info

Hoping to boost your odds in the High Lonesome lottery? Each shift is worth a certain number of points which you can use to win an entry into the race or to boost your odds in the lottery! Scroll down to see the chart with values for all the shifts.

Sign up to volunteer

Our biggest team, the general volunteers carry the brunt of the race. From prepping supplies and checking runners in, to helping runners at aid stations and cleaning up after the race. This team does it ALL and has something for everyone, including kids! While not required, many aid stations spend the weekend camping together (because we just don’t want the good times to end) and it’s not uncommon for volunteers to work multiple shifts.

Sign up for General Volunteering!

Love data and numbers? This is your team! The comms team plays the incredibly important role of tracking runner through every aid station. We utilize internet hotspots and the OpenSplitTime app as our primary tracking method. The comms team provides communication between aid stations and CommsHQ through cell phones, Garmin InReach messengers, and sat phones. As a fail safe, all tracking info is also recorded with pen-and-paper.

Sign up for the Communications Team!

Are you a medical professional and want to help care for runners? Join our phenomenally talented medical team, which is led by Dr. Whitney Barrett! Medical volunteers are paired together and are given fully stocked medical kits, protocols, direction, and race-specific education. Medical volunteers must be currently licensed and must have at minimum BLS certification, though ACLS and EMS experience is especially valuable.

Sign up for the Medical Team!

The most active of all our teams, the course team is responsible for marking and sweeping the entire course. Course marking happens on Saturday, and sweeping happens in segments between aid stations on Sunday. We try to have folks work in pairs, though it’s possible you could be out there solo. The course team is a a great way to see the course, help us make sure no runners get lost, and get some seriously scenic miles!

Sign up for the Course Team!

Volunteer Locations

Saturday Pre-race opportunities

If you really want to see “inside” a race, these are the best ways. We have two main tasks on Saturday, aid station prep and runner check in. Both are done at the Buena Vista Community, which is in downtown BV and is a stone’s throw from the Arkansas River, world-class beer, food, and more. Both jobs are extremely important and lay the foundation for a smooth raceday.

Additionally, you can always volunteer at the West Line Winder 50k! It’s another one of our races and it’s hosted by the 14er Fest. It starts and finishes in downtown Buena Vista and is an absolute blast!

Saturday Course Marking

There are only two sections for course marking, and they are very different from each other. Section 1 is from the Start to Raspberry and is 7.3 miles with 1,300’ of vert and is a mix of roads and buttery Colorado Trail singletrack. Section 2 is the “Browns Creek Loop” which is 18.4 miles with 5k of vert and reaches 13,150’ in elevation. It’s a sublime section, but it’s a big chunk to mark.

You’ll be given a UD fastpack (only if you want it), all the markings you need, an Avenza map with the route, and written sheet with the marking instructions. Section 2 needs at minimum of 2 markers and can be done without a shuttle. Section 1 can be done with 1 person as an out and back, but 2 people would help and enable a point-to-point with an easy car shuttle.

Start Line

The busiest time of the race! There’s parking to manage, runners to check in, and a few random tasks. It’s fast and over quickly, so we lump it into the Finish Line crew. Volunteers have an early start, but will have free time from around 7:30 - 10:30ish so there’s time to catch a nap, get a run in, or head into town for a nice breakfast.

Raspberry 1 and 2

Raspberry is the first and last aid station for runners, and they almost seem like different aid stations! Raspberry 1 is only 7.3 miles into the race and crew accessible, so it’s bustling! Runners will be in and out, which means mostly filling water bottles, making sure people park correctly, and tracking the rush of runners without missing anyone.

Raspberry 2 (mile 25.7) is a more relaxed atmosphere. Runners should be in good moods but there will also be some carnage from the massive climb and descent that they just cleared. Crews are allowed at this aid station, so it will have good energy and plenty of stoke. The road to Raspberry is a bit rough, but doable in a 2wd vehicle if you drive carefully.

Raspberry is captained by Leanne Thompson. Raspberry has no running water, but there is good cell service, a portapotty, and plenty of camp sites.

Skyline

The highest, toughest, gnarliest aid station of ANY of our races (yes, even the High Lonesome 100), Skyline sits at 13,150 at the top of the famous Mount Antero Road. It’s well above treeline, and getting to the top can take 1-2 hours depending on the vehicle. While the aid station is highly exposed to the elements, it has one of the best views in the entire range. Runners are going to be worked but undoubtedly inspired and should be in great spirits.

Skyline is captained by Charity Larson from Fort Collins/Alpine. A three-time High Lonesome finisher and an experienced mountain runner, Charity has all the skills needed to run the most epic of aid stations. Due to the remoteness, Charity is coordinating Saturday night camping and shuttles for folks to get up the rough 4wd road.

Finish Line

Where the stoke and Laws Whiskey flow in equal measure, there’s nothing quite like the finish line of an ultra! With sweeping views of the Sawatch and Arkansas River Valley, this is an idyllic place to spend some hours celebrating runners. Located a short 10 minute drive from Buena Vista on paved roads, it’s easy to get to and has great cell service. There’s camping and restrooms on site (no running water though) and the aid station is all about having fun. Making food, slinging drinks, and cheering runners will occupy the brunt of the time.

The Finish Line is captained by Mitch Dulleck of Leadville Colorado!

Sweeping

The sweepers are broken out into the same two sections as course marking, but the order is flipped. There are no sweepers from the Start to Rasp 1, so the first sweeper section is from Rasp 1 to Rasp 2. Sweepers will have 18.4 miles with 5k of vert, but they will be able to dump markings and resupply at Skyline. The second sweeper section is from Raspberry 2 to the Finish and is 7.3 miles with 1,000’ of vert and mix of buttery Colorado Trail Singletrack and roads.

Sweepers are given a UD fast pack, a Garmin InReach mini, a small med kit, and an Avenza map of the course. Sweepers should expect to move slowly and be EXTREMELY thorough…we don’t want to leave any course markings or trash out there. Sweepers are also likely to encounter the last runners and so may need to hike with those runners.

Volunteer points for High Lonesome 100 lottery

Hoping to boost your odds in the High Lonesome lottery? Each volunteer shift is worth a certain number of points which you can use to boost your odds in the lottery! We do this partly to as a “thank you” to our volunteers, but also because we want our community to be able to run and volunteer in equal measure. There is no limit to the number of volunteer points people can use in the lottery.