THE COURSE THE LOOPS AID STATIONS RACE RULES

THE RACE

If you’re looking for a solidly difficult, early-year ass-kicking, this is it. Tiger Mountain, with its many summits, packs a brutal one-two punch - steep uphills followed by focused downhills. 25 miles with ~8500 feet of elevation gain on rugged Pacific Northwest terrain is a stout effort for even the most seasoned of trail runners. Tiger Claw is a unique challenge that puts you in control. It’s simple: there are three different climbs, each of varying length and difficulty, and one common descent. You get to pick the order in which you complete the loops. On each climb and descent, you will use our unique E-Punch timing system to track your routes and splits. Successfully complete each of the 3 different loops, return to the finish and you will have tamed The Tiger!

The Pink Loop - sponsored by Spring Energy - travels along the local favorite, Tiger Mountain Trail (TMT). Just over 4.8 miles to the top with 3000’ of gain. From the Lower Aid Station, you run straight up the High Point Trail to where the trail splits in a “Y”. To the right is the Bus Trail which connects to the white and yellow loops. Staying left is the West Tiger #3 trail. Continue up to your left until you reach the Tiger Mountain Trail junction 50 feet ahead. A sharp left on the TMT. Enjoy some beautiful singletrack that slowly winds it’s way to the shadowed quiet side of the mountain. In about 2 miles, you’ll arrive at the K3 junction. Turn left continuing on the TMT, downhill. Run across the long bridge and stay right on the TMT. This is where it gets good. TMT will start to climb and climb, eventually crossing paths with the West Tiger Railroad Grade. Take a right and stay straight. When the K3 junction appears on your left, turn left and enjoy the climb. If you’re going straight up, it’s correct. Once on K3, you will not turn off of it. Before you know it, you’ll emerge behind the antennae towers atop West Tiger #2’s summit. Hug the fence heading LEFT and you’ll creep into the Upper Aid Station. Congrats, you’re halfway through the Pink Loop!

Download the Pink Loop GPX file HERE.

The White Loop - sponsored by Seven Hills Running Shop - follows the brutal Section Line trail. This is considered the “hard” loop. Just under 3 miles to the summit of West Tiger #2 with 2500’ of gain. Upon leaving the Lower Aid Station, you’ll run straight up the High Point Trail to where the trail splits in a “Y”. Stay to the right along the Bus Trail. In a 1/10th of a mile, you’ll hang a left onto the Nook Trail - a gorgeously lush trail draped in moss and green. As you begin to climb, you’ll turn right on the Talus Rocks Trail. Very quickly you’ll reach the junction with the infamous Section Line. Turn left. Climb. And climb some more. Once you reach the West Tiger Railroad Grade, turn RIGHT. Enjoy the climbing break, catch your breath and keep your eyes peeled for the sneaky LEFT hand turn up Seattle View trail. You’ll continue up through the dense Salal and emerge at the summit of West Tiger #2. Congratulations, you just completed one of the punchiest climbs of the entire race!

Download the White Loop GPX file HERE.

The Yellow Loop - sponsored by rabbit - follows the extremely popular Poo Poo Point Trail (named as such by the loggers after the lunch whistle that would sound through the forest). It’s by far the longest loop, but still packs some nasty punches towards the top. It’ll take you just over 5.5 miles to reach West Tiger #2 and the Upper Aid Station, but you’ll crush over 3000’ of vertical and get some decent views in the process up on West Tiger #1 summit! Upon leaving the Lower Aid Station, run up High Point Way Trail to the “Y”. Stay to the right on Bus Trail. Continue straight for about 3/4 of a mile (keep your eye out for the old school bus remains for which the trail is named on the right). Turn LEFT onto the Bonneville power line cut trail. Then turn LEFT when you reach the Poo Poo Point junction about 2/10th of a mile ahead. This will take you straight to the Poo Poo Point Trail intersection. Follow the Poo Poo Point Trail up to the right. In 2 miles, you’ll reach the 4-way intersection with Rail Road Grade trail. Stay straight to continue onto One View Trail. Continue until you reach Tiger Mountain Trail and turn RIGHT. In a few feet, you’ll take Hidden Forest Trail to your LEFT. Climb and cross over the Tiger Mountain Forest Road to continue up Poo Top Trail. At the top of Poo Top Trail, you’ll cross over and in front of the gate to the cellular tower buildings/private property. Cross the road and head down the bypass Trail. At the Bypass Trail junction, head LEFT. You’ll soon sneak through the trees with the famous Hiker’s Hut on your left. You’re now on the summit of West Tiger #1 (enjoy the views and the highest point of the race!). Now follow the West Tiger #2 connection road to the right down. Head around the red gate at the bottom to head up to the Upper Aid Station .4 miles away. Congratulations, you just crushed the long loop!

Download the Yellow Loop GPX file HERE.

Tiger Claw has two aid stations, Upper and Lower. Both aid stations will have food and drinks available. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, we hope runners till try to remain as self-sufficient as possible. If you have any dietary restrictions/requirements, we recommend making sure you carry what you need to be self sufficient in case they don’t have what you need.

The Lower Aid Station is located near the Start/Finish area where all runners check-in between loops before heading back out to complete the remaining routes. The Upper Aid Station is located at the top of West Tiger #2 summit and will be reached by all 3 ascents. Via the Pink Loop, Upper Aid Station is just under 4.8 miles from the start. Via the White Loop, Upper Aid Station is 2.5 miles. Finally, Upper Aid Station is 5.8 miles via the Yellow Loop. While the mileages may seem short, please plan on anywhere from 1-2+ hours to reach the Upper Aid Station. Carry everything that you might need.

Runners may be crewed at the Lower Aid Station and only within the designated areas to avoid route crowding and blocking of trail use. Runners cannot receive aid more than 100 meters outside of the Aid Station. The Aid Station Captain will oversea these specifics so please look and listen to them for any questions and direction. 2021 UPDATE - Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic, there will be no crewing allowed and spectators cannot congregate at either lower or upper aid stations.

We are a cup-less race so you will need to provide your own bottle/collapsable cup to use during the event.

ORGANIZERS

Tiger Claw is organized and staged by Ginger Runner, LLC. This organization reserves the right to make changes and amendments to the rules and regulations at any time. This organization reserves the right to add, change or cancel venues or events at any time. In the event that any changes are made, we will contact all registered racers with all the updates and details so that they may make the appropriate adjustments to their race prep.

On race day, racers must respect the direction and authority of the race director, race organization and volunteers.

PARTICIPANTS

We want to make sure you know that Tiger Claw is a very physically difficult event that could present numerous medical risks, many of which can be extremely serious or fatal.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older on race day; however we are able to accept runners 14 to 18 years old with a special waiver signed onsite by the runner and a parent/guardian.

RACE DAY

Tiger Claw features three distinct loops that runners finish in the order of their choosing. This can lead to some important time rules.

• You must leave the Lower Aid Station and start your final loop by 12:30pm (noon).

• You must be able to reach the Upper Aid Station and start your final descent by 2pm pst.

• You must complete all 3 loops and reach the finish by 3pm pst (9 hours).

• You must use your e-punch to check-in at the beginning of each climb, at the top of each climb, at the beginning of the blue descent, at the lower inter-loopal aid station and finally at the finish line for an official finish.

• All participants must complete an online waiver when registering. If for some reason a waiver was not completed, one must be signed and returned to Race Management prior to the race in order to participate – no exceptions. They will be accepted at the registration table on race day.

• Race Numbers must be visible and worn on the front at all times. All runners must be checked through each checkpoint by a race official. It is the runner’s responsibility to ensure that the official sees the number.

• Obey all Course Marshals.

• No outside aid (crew, family, hikers, etc) is allowed.

• No trekking poles are allowed.

• If a runner makes a wrong turn, the runner must return to the course on foot to the point on the course where the error occurred and then resume the race.

TRAIL ETIQUETTE AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPECT

While running (or power hiking!) Tiger Claw, you will be traveling through beautiful and historic forests owned by The Department of Natural Resources and Issaquah Parks And Recreation. The route is open to the public on race day so be courteous and aware of other users. Please be polite and respectful to all other trail users so as to minimize any disruption. We are all sharing the beautiful mountain, so please respect the shared space and be kind to everyone!

• No Pacing - Any non-­participant may NOT accompany registered runners (on foot or otherwise) along the course.

• Do not litter on the course. This will result in disqualification and lifetime ban.

• Please use bathrooms, portable toilets or use common sense, if you have to relieve yourself.

• Slow runners must yield the trail to others wishing to pass.

• Stay to the right. You are sharing these trails with many other outdoor enthusiasts. We ask that you stay to the right on all trails and yield to uphill travelers when necessary. Many trails are very narrow so please stay single file as often as needed.

• If you come across an injured fellow runner, please stay with that person until the sweep or medical attention arrives.

• No short-­cutting: this includes all switchbacks.

• Runners may not store supplies of any kind along the trail.

• No dogs, baby joggers, trekking poles, or other “accessories”: Your shoes, clothing, and nutrition/hydration/emergency supplies, carried on your body are all that you should bring on your run to ensure competition fairness and the safety of you and other runners.

• Headphones ARE permitted, but at volume that allows you to remain aware of your surroundings at ALL TIMES. We request that you only run with one ear bud in but if you chose to run with both in you MUST have the volume low enough so that you can hear other runners, mountain bikers, and crazy wild forest creatures at all times. Seriously, don’t crank your tunes to drown out the suffering - it’s not cool.

• Runners may not receive assistance outside of the designated area at the Lower Aid Station by anyone other than another registered active runner. This standard is enforced for fairness to all runners. Runners do not need to have a crew. You are allowed to receive assistance from a crew within the Lower Aid Station boundaries so long as your crew do not impede other runners or race staff.

• Dropping Out: If you find it necessary to drop from the race, you must do so at an aid station. Notify the aid station captain and have the captain remove your bib number. Failure to do so may result in ban from future races. If you feel you cannot get to the nearest aid station, stay on the trail and a sweep will assist you. Do not leave the course without notifying an aid station captain. If we can’t account for your whereabouts an expensive search and rescue operation will be initiated.

• Mandatory Drop Out: Medical staff and aid station captains have the authority to pull a runner from the event should they deem it unsafe for the runner to continue. The runner must comply with this decision.

INFRACTIONS

Participants are expected to behave in a sportsmanlike manner. Race Management reserves the right to impose sanctions for behavior not specifically mentioned here. This could be in the form of time penalties or disqualification.

Official protests must be made directly to the Race Directors. In the case of unclear or contested infractions, a jury of available racers, volunteers and race marshals will be assembled to provide an opinion to the Race Directors; however the Race Directors reserve the right to make the final decision.

INFRACTIONS THAT WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION

• Short-­cutting the course

• Littering. Seriously, don’t do it. Pack in, pack out. Leave no Trace. All of it.

• Missing a checkpoint

• Receiving aid outside of an Aid Station from someone other than a registered runner

• Getting in a moving vehicle

• Having a pacer

• Failing to remain at a checkpoint for medical evaluation on request of checkpoint personnel

• Impeding another runner

• having a dog or other animal companion on the course

• Disobeying the directions of Race Management and/or race volunteers

INFRACTIONS RESULTING IN DENIAL OF FUTURE ENTRY

• Running as a bandit (either unregistered or using another registered runner’s bib)

• Pacing or crewing for a bandit runner

• Having crews take cars to areas designated as off-­limits

• Disobeying rules regarding dogs off-­leash or mistreatment of the environment

• Littering

• Failing to respect private property

• Mistreating Race Management, Aid Station personnel, runners or crew. We take this one very seriously. Don’t be a dick.