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This remarkable event challenges up to 35 teams of two or three ultrarunners – running together as duos or trios for the duration, NOT in a relay – to tackle an unimaginable traverse of Southern California deserts and mountains. The route covers 81 miles (130km) non-stop from below sea level at the shoreline of the Salton Sea, across, up, and over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, to the top of Palomar Mountain with a dramatic view of the Pacific Ocean.
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Salton Sea Ultramarathon: April 29, 30 , 2023 |
Teams with crews before the start. Elevation 226 ft below sea level. No trespassing signs posted since last year now prohibit the historical start at the edge of the Salton Sea.
Start line
Team "Constant Runtime" were at the front all the way to the finish
Mile6.5. Underpass across the highway to the truck stop.
Miles 14-25. Through the Anza Borrego badlands.
Ocotillos in bloom
Heat haze with temperature over 100 Farenheit
Passing
Ricardo Brededa metal sculptures at the edge of Borrego Springs.
Mile 31. An 'upside-down'
aerial competition underway at the Borrego Valley airport.
Entering Hellhole Canyon trailhead parking lot.
Elevation 3500ft, mile 44. On the California Riding and Hiking trail approaching Pena Spring checkpoint.
Sunrise over Lake
Henshaw the next morning.
Elevation 3210ft. Starting up the East Grade Mt. Palomar road. Mile 70. Scenic vista over Lake Henshaw
Elevation
5271ft. View across marine layer hiding the coastal plain.
Elevation
5500ft, mile 81. . Finish line on Palomar Mountain.
Salton Sea Ultramarathon: April 30 - May 1, 2022 |
Ocotillo sunset before the race start
A line-up of four planets (jupiter, venus, mars, saturn) above Salton City
Jupiter and Venus reflected in the Salton Sea
Start line - 6:15 am, 226 ft below sea level
Team photos before the start
Start! Runners cross the beach and ascend a dirt ramp
Miles 0 to 5 - Through Salton City
Miles 7-30: Along highway S22 through the Borrego desert and past the microwave tower. Altitude 510 ft.
Mile 34: Approaching Borrego Springs
Mile 35.2: Checkpoint #2 at Borrego Springs Resort. Altitude 560 ft.
Miles 32-40: Uphill from the Resort to Hellhole Canyon.
Mile 40.5: Checkpoint 3 and start of California Riding and Hiking Trail. Altitude 750 ft.
Mile 44.5: California Riding and Hiking Trail. Altitude 3565 ft.
Ladder-backed woodpecker along the trail.
Mile 45.5: Sunset at the junction of Culp Valley trail with the Riding and Hiking trail
Mile 63: 5:30 am along by Lake Henshaw. Altitude 2820 ft.
Mile 65: Early morning mist over Lake Henshaw. Altitude 2820 ft.
Mile 71: Viewpoint on the East Grade road overlooking Lake Henshaw. Altitude 3199
Miles 71-81: On the East Grade road climbing Mout Palomar
Mile 81: View from the Lodge on Palomar Mountain. Altitude 5665 ft.
Mile 81: Finish Line. Altitude 5665 ft.
Salton Sea Ultramarathon - November 7-8, 2021 |
Ocotillo in the badlands the evening before the race
Race start - 6:00am, Sunday November 7th.
Shoreline of the Salton Sea. Altitude 230ft below sea level.
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Enjoying the sunrise; Salton Sea Ultra |
Mile 6.9 - runners meet their crew at the gas station on Borrego Springs Seaway and head off into the desert
Fisheye views of the microwave tower at mile 14.4 - first checkpoint
Mile 35 - checkpoint at Borrego Springs Resort
Mile 40.5 - turn into the trailhead for the California Hiking Trail. Altitude 890 ft.
Mile 46 junction with Culp Valley trail. Altitude 3600ft
Mile 63. Lake Henshaw covered in mist at 6:00am Monday morning. Altitude 2680 ft
Miles 69-81 The climb up Palomar Mountain to the fiinish
Mile 81 - Finish line. The Lodge on Palomar Mountain. Altitude 5666 ft.
Salton Sea Ultramarathon - April 28-29, 2019 |
I returned to the 7th rumning of the Salton Sea Ultramarathon as staff photographer.
Salton Sea Ultramarathon - April 28-30, 2018 |
I returned to the 6th rumning of the Salton Sea Ultramarathon as staff photographer. Many more photos of the runners HERE
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This remarkable event challenges up to 35 teams of two or three ultrarunners – running together as duos or trios for the duration, NOT in a relay – to tackle an unimaginable traverse of Southern California deserts and mountains. The route covers 81 miles (130km) non-stop from below sea level at the shoreline of the Salton Sea, across, up, and over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, to the top of Palomar Mountain with a dramatic view of the Pacific Ocean. |
A visit to the Salton Sea the day before the race start
Font's Point for sunset and a night out under the stars
At the Salton Sea start line before sunrise for runner check-in
Race start: 6:30 am by the shore of the Salton Sea
Runners on the road toward Borrego Springs
The big climb up the California Riding and Hiking Trail
A cold, misty last stretch to the finish on Palomar Montain
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Salton Sea Ultramarathon - May 1-2, 2016 |
An excursion on Saturday morning to visit the start line on the shore of Salton Sea and check out the dead fish that inspired the race logo
The race started at 6:30 am on Sunday morning.
Some runner and team portraits before the start
Fill-flash photos of runners near the highway underpass at mile 6.
Running through the desert section of Anza Borrego State Park .Temperatures warmed to the mid 80's, but nowhere near as hot as Badwater.
At mile 40 the runners left the road and began a major climb up the California Riding and Hiking Trail.
At mile 48 the race route leaves the trail and rejoins the highway. Many teams arrived here after dark.
The runners continued through the night, while I got a good sleep camped at the top of the Jasper Trail. Setting off before dawn to catch up with the slower runners I was delayed while driving up the East Palomar grade by a wonderful panoramic view of fog over Lake Henshaw and the surrounding valley.
updated 06/03/2023
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