From Trail Race Committee Chair Pete Siberell:

Some History of the Race (adapted from 1998 history of race)

Introduction

The City of Sierra Madre has a charming village atmosphere and sits at the base of Mt. Wilson in the foothills northeast of Los Angeles, California. The city of 10,800 is set on gentle foothill slopes and the canyon area of steep hillsides and valleys. The Mt. Wilson Trail has been noted since 1840 as a packing and hiking trail which rises from Sierra Madre to the summit of Mt. Wilson eight miles away.  The Mt. Wilson Trail Race is coordinated by volunteers and is traditionally held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Challenged by 8.6 miles of rugged terrain, runners from across the nation are attracted to this unique historical event.

Goals and Objectives

Facilitated by the Recreation Department, the Mt. Wilson Trail Race Volunteer Committee has established the following goals and objectives in the planning and supervision of the annual Mt. Wilson Trail Race:

• To preserve the Mt. Wilson Trail Race, retaining its historic and cultural significance to the Sierra Madre community.

• To best utilize and coordinate the services of over 100 volunteers representing eleven agencies, including civic organizations, local students, and support groups.

• To preserve a safe and well-maintained hiking trail and running course throughout the year.

• To offer runners and hikers an opportunity to participate in a competitive foot race set in the natural area's mountain terrain at challenging elevations.

• To attract runners and spectators to witness Sierra Madre in its finest display of community spirit.

Unique, Innovative Features

The Mt. Wilson Trail Race is sanctioned by the Athletic Congress and is considered to be one of the toughest of the "uphill" runs in the circuit. Due to the steep, narrow features of the trail, the race is limited to a maximum of 300 runners. The limit is established by the volunteer Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team which regularly monitors the trail and provides emergency support on race day. Unique features of the Mt. Wilson Trail Race include its historical value to the community and a competitive course layout for runners. Innovative features involve the use of volunteers and support groups, specifically in the preservation of the Mt. Wilson Trail.

Mt. Wilson Trail History

The first trail to Mt. Wilson was made by the Gabrielino Indians and was used by them when they carried timber from the mountains for use in the construction of the San Gabriel Mission in 1771. The original "Mt. Wilson Trail" was built in 1864 by Benjamin I. Wilson, known as "Don Benito." In 1889, Harvard College established the first observatory on Mt. Wilson. The Pacific Electric "Red Cars" established their route to Sierra Madre in 1906 until 1950. Literally thousands of people rode the cars to Sierra Madre to hike the Mt. Wilson Trail.

Largely through the efforts of a few dedicated and ambitious Sierra Madre residents, the Sierra Madre Historical Wilderness Area was established by declaration of the City Council on January 24, 1967 and dedicated January 27, 1968. On October 12, 1993, the Sierra Madre City Council included the Mt. Wilson Trail on the Sierra Madre Register of Historic Cultural Landmarks.

Race History

The Mt. Wilson Trail Race is the second oldest race in California, celebrating its 34th consecutive birthday on May 27, 2000. The race was first held in 1908, when runners raced 7 miles to Mt. Wilson, rested 30 minutes, then raced back down. Nine intrepid men dared to attempt such a grueling test.	Eugene Estoppey, a competitor in the first Mt. Wilson Trail Race in 1908, was competing for this award.
From 1912 to 1929 the race did not take place due to runners' interest being diverted to the automobile. Half-way between Sierra Madre and Mt. Wilson was an orchard of apples, cherries, plums and chestnuts that soon became a public resort known as "Orchard Camp." In efforts to promote Orchard Camp, the trail race was reactivated in 1930 when women and young girls ran for the first time.	The race was held sporadically until the late 1940's and was then abandoned completely. It was revived in the Autumn of 1965 and evolved to its present format when it was held in the Spring of 1987 in conjunction with Search and Rescue Days. The race has been conducted more than 45 times in the last 90 years.

Course

The current version of the race is approximately 8.6 miles in length. The exact course has changed over the years due to trail damage caused by erosion, earthquakes and fire. For this reason no official course record is recognized. The present course configuration is considered the most difficult since its revival.

The race starts on pavement and progresses uphill to a dirt path no more than three feet wide. The trail features an elevation gain over 2100 feet in approximately 4.3 miles to the turn around point at Orchard Camp. Most of the race takes place on the established Mt. Wilson Trail where several sections have vertical drop-offs of several hundred feet.

Trail Maintenance

The trail does not groom itself, and particularly with rain, mudslides, falling trees and yes, rockslides, it needs special attention.  The MWTR committee thanks trail heroes including Charlie Bell, Dan Richter, Jon Pedder, Jeremy Heiner, Gary Hilliard, Eric LeClair, Jay Chapman and Randy St. Aubyn for their great work clearing the trail in the last couple months.  (In fact, this group was recognized recently by the Sierra Madre Community Services Commission, which presented nice certificates to them.)  If not for this extensive volunteer work, the trail would not be open for all to enjoy.

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Sierra Madre News Net is not affiliated in any way with the Mt. Wilson Trail Race Committee. The Trail Race pages are provided as a public service by Sierra Madre News Net, with information generally provided by the Sierra Madre Parks and Recreation Department.