Soapstone Assault

Soapstone Assault

Soapstone Assault is a trail race held at Soapstone Mountain in the Shenipsit State Forest near Somers, Connecticut. The course measures 5.5 miles and requires runners to climb the mountain six times, accumulating roughly 1500 feet of ascent.

The start line is at the trail head sign just before the blue-blazed trail entrance. Runners circumnavigate the base of the mountain in a counterclockwise direction. Each time a marked trail heading upward is encountered, runners ascend to the peak and return down the same trail to continue around the base. This up-and-down sequence is repeated for the first five trails encountered. The sixth ascent follows the powerline trail known as Killer Hill and the finish is at the base of the tower.

The course contains steep, rocky, slippery, and otherwise treacherous sections. Some parts are relatively inaccessible, so a serious injury could result in a prolonged wait for emergency medical care. Because of the terrain and limited aid access on parts of the route, the event is not recommended for novice runners.

Online registration is required and there will be no race-day registration. The field is capped at 50 runners to address parking and public safety concerns. Participants are required to follow parking instructions and avoid parking on Gulf Road or Sodom Road. Aid details include no aid access on the first two climbs, a cupless water stop reachable from climbs three through five, and breakfast sandwiches available near the aid station after the race. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.