Mount Ascutney Vertical Backyard

Mount Ascutney Vertical Backyard

The event uses a Last Person Standing format in which participants complete repeated hourly laps until only one person remains. Each lap is 2.25 miles with approximately 1,209 feet of gain. Runners have one hour to complete each lap and must be at the start line on the hour to continue.

Each hour participants may choose between route options: three laps up the t bar path that provide about 403 feet of gain per shorter lap, or a single higher turnaround on the hiking trail that provides roughly the full 1,209 feet of gain. The course layout keeps much of the route visible from the bottom, allowing spectator viewing from below.

Organizers provide a single aid station at the bottom with hot food available throughout the event and indoor tables and bathrooms at the Ascutney Outdoors Center. There are camping spots available the night before and participants may set up personal aid stations such as EZ ups and tables.

Small prizes mark cumulative elevation milestones roughly equal to Mt Washington, Mt Whitney, and Mt Everest. Official awards include Cash Lap, Vert Gobbler, Assist, and the Last Person Standing Winner. The entry fee is $150 with a partial refund schedule: 75 percent through Oct 1 and 50 percent through Nov 1. Five percent of entry fees are donated to each of three local organizations. The event takes place on a late November mountain course so conditions may include cold nights, snow, and ice. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.