The 411 on Tough Mudder

3.2.12  I’ve been asking a lot of questions and taking notes so I can share some tips with everyone heading to Mount Snow for Tough Mudder.  Just think of me as the Dear Abby of Tough Mudder and let me know if you have any questions that I may have missed.  I will try to find an answer.  Here goes – in alphabetical order.

Bag Check or Drop: Free for participants only.  Located in the Dos Equis Post-Party area by the Grand Summit Express Lift. 

Chairlift Rides:  This year we will have the Canyon Express chairlift running and you can ride it to the highest point on the course.  And it is all downhill from there!  Well, kind of.  Chairlift tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in the Clocktower Building from 7:30 am until 3:30 pm.  This lift closes at 4 pm.  If you pay to park, look on the discount sheet they hand you.  There is a coupon for a discount on chairlift rides.  If you are a Mount Snow season passholder, as usual, access to the Canyon Express is free – don’t forget your pass!

Coolers:  Coolers will not be allowed into the Dos Equis Post-Party area.

Course:    The course is over 10 miles long but with our elevation expect it to feel like 16+.  You can get your hands on a course map at registration/spectator check-in, in the Clocktower Building or at the Canyon Express lift.

Dogs:     We love dogs, cats, birds…you name it.  But we do not allow dogs on Mount Snow property.  Please do not bring them to the resort.  Thanks so much!

Entertainment:    A live band will play outside in the Dos Equis Post-Party area from noon to 5 pm.

The Snowbarn nightclub will be open on Saturday at 5 pm.  Stop by for a beer and one of their great pizzas.  The band starts up at 9 pm and there is a $5 cover charge – 21 plus only and we ID everyone.  No cover if you wear your orange Tough Mudder headband.

Food & Beverage:    There’s lots of food and beverage options to keep you fueled.  Breakfast starts at 7 am and is available at the Marketplace Cafeteria in the Main Base Lodge.  In the Dos Equis Post-Party area you will find Zoohoo’s (I love their veggie wrap), Ana’s Empanadas, Everything Crepes, Hot Shot Café (takes care of all coffee needs), VT Country Deli (I suggest you try their mac & cheese), Harvest Kettle Corn (very addictive – trust me), Tony’s Pizza and the Marketplace Café.  Wow – sounds like a food festival.  Cuzzin’s will be open for sit down service and the Cuzzin’s deck will be open with a BBQ.  Of course, we will be serving up plenty of Dos Equis at Cuzzin’s, inside or out.

I would highly recommend the Grand Country Deli (located in the Grand Summit Hotel.)  And over at Carinthia our cafeteria will be open for food and beverage.

At night, the Mount Snow Valley offers a great variety of restaurants and bars and they are ready to make sure you get a good meal after a challenging day on the mountain.  Click here to visit our Chamber of Commerce website and check out all of your options.  http://visitvermont.com/

 First Aid:     Our staff will be on mountain and we also have walk-in facilities nearby the Walk the Plank water feature, at the base of Carinthia, in the Dos Equis Post-Party area (Cape House) and our Mountain Medical facility will be open each day for injuries requiring more advanced medical attention.  If you are in need, ask any staff member and we will call for assistance.

Lost and Found:       Located at Bag Check/Drop in the Dos Equis Post-Party area by the Grand Summit Express Lift. 

Parking:     There is a parking fee of $10 per car, per day to park at Mount Snow.  We accept cash only, no credit cards so please plan ahead.  This will give you a parking spot close to the event, which is handy if you forget something you can just run back to your car.  If you pay to park, you will receive a coupon sheet with some discounts to use around the resort.

The Mount Snow region offers an excellent FREE public transportation system called the Moover.  The buses are painted like Holstein cows.  The Moover will bring you right to the Main Base Area and did I mention FREE?!

We also have a free drop zone at the SnowBarn.  Get dropped off and then ride the Moover  Shuttle up to the Base Area.

If we run out of spaces at Mount Snow, we will park participants and spectators at Howe Farm, located on Rt 100, south of Mount Snow.  It is free to park at Howe Farm and there is a free shuttle to the Main Base Area.  We expect to need overflow parking sometime after 9:30 am.  The Howe Farm shuttles will run until 7 pm.

Please do not park in fire lanes.  I am sure no one will do it but if we have to tow your vehicle, please go to the Clocktower Building for instructions.

Registration:      Participant registration is open 7 am to 2 pm on Saturday and 7 am to noon on Sunday.  Registration is located right in front of the Clocktower Building.  You can’t miss it – look for a bunch of white tents.

Retail:   Don’t worry – if you forget something, we have you covered.  Our retail shops have everything from fleece to flip flops.  And if you are a bargain hunter, stop by the tent sale at Mount Snow Sports at the Cupola, located on Route 100.

Showers:       Cold showers are located at the top of our Covered Bridge lift, at the south end of the Dos Equis Post-Party area.  These showers are free.

New this year, we also have warm showers located in front of the Main Base Lodge, in the Dos Equis Post-Party area.    Warm showers are $5 for 3 minutes.  Or you can purchase a pair of flip flops, a towel and a shower for $20.

There are also foot washes near the entrance to our Main Base Lodge.  Please use them before you enter to help us keep up with the mud – Thanks!

Spectators:         To purchase a spectator pass that gives you access to the Dos Equis Post-Party area, go online http://toughmudder.com/spectator-tickets/ by Friday at noon and pay $20 pp.  If you wait, on-site spectator tickets are $40.  Spectator pass pick up and same-day sales are located in the Main Base Registration area in front of our Clocktower building.

The Base Area is a great spot to take in the action.  A short distance from the base you can see (4) obstacles:  Arctic Enema, Boa Constrictor, Everest Quarterpipe and Electroshock Therapy. 

This year we will have the Canyon Express chairlift running and you can ride it to the highest point on the course.  And it is all downhill from there!  Well, kind of.  Chairlift tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in the Clocktower Building from 7:30 am until 4 pm.  This lift closes at 4 pm.  If you pay to park, look on the discount sheet they hand you.  There is a coupon for a discount on chairlift rides.  If you are a Mount Snow season passholder, as usual, access to the Canyon Express is free – don’t forget your pass!

Carinthia is another great spot to watch the event.  There are several obstacles right at the base including Funky Monkey, Berlin Walls, Log Jammin and the Gaunlet.  The Carinthia base lodge will be open for first aid, restrooms and food and beverage.

Volunteers:   Volunteers will register at the Discovery Center, located in the Main Base Area, right next to the participant registration.  From my experience last year I would suggest you bring a small pack with sunscreen, bug spray, warm clothes, a snack and water.  You never know where you will end up and how long you will be there.  Be prepared!  Volunteers do not have to pay to park.  Tough Mudder will send you a parking pass.

Water Stations:  There are several spots on the course for water, bananas, etc.  They are located at the top of the Canyon Express lift, a short distance from Hold your Wood, near Tired Yet, at the base of Carinthia and near Fire Walker.

Good luck to all Tough Mudders and a special shout out to Mount Snow staff members who are participating this weekend:  Jim, Mary Anne, Jesse, Alex and Chef Michael.

 

3.3.12  I was out on the course today and wanted to share some pics of some of the obstacles.  Can you hear them calling your name?!?

Tired Yet?  This obstacle is near the end of Long John, just before Cooper’s Jct.  Nearby is a water station and porto-potties.

Berlin Walls #1 – located on Ego Alley.  There are another set of walls at the base of Carinthia in the same place as last year.

A little under 2 miles into your trek you will take a left off Snowdance and head out Somerset Rd to the North Face.  At the bottom of the North Face you will find Kiss of Mud (shown above.)  It is an uphill crawl and I think it looks longer than last year.

Close up – I am thinking that if it is muddy now, Saturday around 12 noon should be delightful.  Keep your mouth closed!

Be thankful Mudders, the temp was about 49 F today.  That was about 1 ft down from the surface.  So it should be in the 40′s for you!!

 

As soon as you are done with Walk the Plank, enjoy a refreshing dip in this little body of water.  It looks beautiful here but the bottom is lined with muck, leaves and all sort of forest debris.  There is barbed wire on top of those logs in case you thought you would go over.

A little foggy – sorry about this shot.  Dong Dangler, known as Ball Shrinker last year.  Also 49 degrees F.

New this year is Twinkle Toes.  It is right behind the Grand Summit Hotel and as you can see it is still under construction.  They will fill it with water and you walk across like a balance beam.  I like the little ladders they have installed to aid you if you fall in.

That’s all for today.  Hopefully, I will have more for you tomorrow.

Friday May 4th – more pics:

Twinkle Toes goes green!

Boa Constrictor – same location as last year.  Looks pretty tame from here.

Then you look inside and realize that Boa Constrictor is full of water!

It looks like Everest just got slicker.  Bring your Spidey gloves!

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