Tarc Wapack and Back
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TARC Wapack and Back
The TARC Wapack and Back is a trail race along the Wapack Trail based in Ashburnham, Massachusetts offering multiple distance options. Distances available:
- 21.5 mile end to end on the Wapack Trail.
- 43 mile out and back ultramarathon.
- 50 mile out and back ultramarathon.
The course runs from Mt Watatic in Massachusetts toward North Pack Mountain in Greenfield, New Hampshire. Terrain includes rocky ledges, boulder fields, granite slabs, single track with rocks and roots, and some short sections of fire road. Elevation gain is about 4,600 feet each direction, with the 50 mile route totaling roughly 10,800 feet of climbing. The trail is blazed with yellow triangle markers; participants are expected to follow the marked route and may be asked to retrace steps if markers are missed.
Four staffed water stations provide water and an electrolyte mix and are spaced no more than 7.5 miles apart; aid station food is basic. Participants in the longer distances are required to carry a headlamp at the start. Drop bags are accepted for the 43 and 50 mile races and are transported to specified turnaround points; bags must be small and clearly labeled and will be returned to the start after the race.
Registration is online only and the event often sells out. Entry fees are $75 for the 43 and 50 mile distances and $60 for the 21.5 mile distance. The event has a no refund policy; transfers and deferrals are restricted and handled by race staff, with a pregnancy deferral option of up to two years. Timing is manual and full results are posted after the event. The race follows Leave No Trace principles, acknowledges the land’s original stewards, and donates event profits to land conservation efforts. Volunteers and adaptive athletes are welcomed. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
