The Rut goes wild

In the midst of mass cancellations and isolation, the 2020 Big Sky Rut Mountain Run has managed to adapt this past week by way of virtual racing. As opposed to the typical mobs of runners panting up Lone Peak, competitors ran the distance of their event on a selected course on the route and day of their choosing, and recorded their own performances in an isolated and safe setting then uploaded their results, which can be found at RunSignUp.com).

Based on the European sport of sky running, The Rut run combines typical distance running with grueling climbs and dangerous descents, usually in the scenic locale of Big Sky Resort. Competitors can choose from five events in the series: 11K, 28K, 50K, the Vertical Kilometer (VK) and the vicious Rut Trifecta—a combined performance in the VK, 28K and 50K that spans three days. However, this year, the competitive aspect has been stripped away, due to the incomparable variety of participant selected courses.  

“It’s just for the fun of it,” said Tucker Hoefler, a 50K-participant and junior studying snow science at MSU. “They had a recommended course that ran through the Bridgers, but the fire stopped anyone from running it this weekend.”

Hoefler instead tracked a speedy 12-hour ascent of Granite Peak in the Beartooth range southeast of Bozeman. With only 27 miles and 8,000 feet of vertical climbing, his selected route fell short of the typical 31 mile and 10,000 foot course of Lone Peak. However, his ascent proved far more technical with difficult scrambling and fifth-class climbing—a classification that typically denotes the necessity of a rope. For the sake of time, Hoefler and his partner free-soloed to the summit and back down.

Hoefler has competed in several sky races this year in Utah and Idaho, but he considers The Rut “the ultimate sky race.” In fact, the event has become so popular that the entries for the 5K and 28K sold out in only 11 minutes (registration opened nine months ago, in January of this year). The brutal 50K only took an hour to sell out.

“Last year I wanted to compete, but everything sold out before I could sign up,” said Evan Telford, a senior studying exercise science. He snagged a spot in the 11K in 2018 and instantly found himself hooked by the atmosphere of the event. Every year, hundreds of racers and spectators gather to support one another and push the limits of their physical capabilities. Telford attempted to run the 50K for the past two years, but never registered in time. After finally securing a spot, nothing, not even a pandemic, could get in his way.

This year Telford had to face a new challenge—no support. Mapping a route through his home range of the Sawtooths (Idaho), he set out with no partners and only some food and a water filter. Covering 34 miles, 7,000 feet of climbing and debris-riddled avalanche paths, Telford finished his route in just under 10 hours. 

“I love the challenge. It’s an emotional and mental journey. Sometimes you feel really bad, but it’s like a moving meditation; it’s therapeutic.”

Both racers hope to compete in future Rut events, as well as other running challenges. Hoefler hopes to land in the top 20 in the Rut 50K next year, while Telford has set his sights on running an 80K. Not even a virus will stop these boys from running wild.