The latest cue sheet for the Jim Thorpe 600K is version 7, and the latest RWGPS route was modified 2023-05-30 12:55:20 EDT. Both are available online. Note that some GPS units may have trouble with the size of a full 600K route. Please download and test-activate the 600K route data before the event to make sure your GPS unit can handle the full route. If not, a RWGPS route for Day 1 of the 600K is available here.
Day 2 of the 600K is the same as the edition of the Tscheschter Kaundi 200K that we will start at 6:30AM Sunday. The TK route was slightly modified from the route we rode last Fall because Cafe Metzler is unavailable. There is now a postcard control in Christiana. Make sure you have the latest version of the TK cues (Version 3) and the latest RWGPS data (last modified 2023-05-18 12:41:09 EDT). Both are available here.
Full information for the 600K. and 200K are on the respective event websites.
Course Notes
Although no full pre-ride of the Jim Thorpe 600K has been conducted, we believe the course is in good shape. Brad Layman conducted a partial pre-ride of the Day-1 600K route, verifying the routing over Penn's Peak, through Jim Thorpe, and back on the D&L. The day-2 600K route is the same as the TK 200K route we rode late last year.
Riders of the Jim Thorpe 600K should be aware that the Penn's Peak climb is a difficult, trafficky climb. After you pass Fairyland and begin the climb in earnest up Indian Hill and Maury Rd, you will encounter sections of road with narrow shoulders, very fast traffic, and limited sight distance. On a hot day, hyperthermia is a real possibility on the exposed sections. I have done this climb/descent several times myself and believe it can be completed safely if you take proper care. My recommended strategy for safely reaching the top is to ride in a gear that allows you to climb with your best climbing form. If your form starts to deteriorate, take advantage of the occasional side street or wide shoulder. Stop for a moment as necessary, have some water, collect your wits, regain your best climbing form, and power on up the mountain. This is not a climb for zig-zagging in a paperboy style or honking erratically like some leathery TdF sprinter. You want to channel your inner Johan Museeuw and climb smoothly and predictably on the limited shoulder so the drivers in cars going 100 mph can send their text messages while still missing you.
When you reach the top of the climb, reflect for a moment about how Edward Marshall might have felt when he reach the same spot, having just run about 65 miles doing his part in the great PA land swindle of 1737. One of his fellow runners, Yates, went blind then soon died. The other runner, Jennings, had serious injuries, lived, but never fully recovered. I don't fault the runners -- just hired hands (who were never paid). Nevertheless the Lenni Lenape felt differently and Marshall's family was killed in retribution a few years later.
These sobering thoughts in mind, prepare for the big decent into Jim Thorpe, PA.
My recommendation for the descent is to take the lane firmly. Using your best descending form, bomb down the hill at just under the top speed of your Guardian Angel. Again, do not be erratic. Take the lane smoothly and solidly to force passing vehicles to consider your existence. Remember that Jim Thorpe's grave, a control, is on the right, about 2/3 of the way down the mountain. Be ready to stop for this. It's well marked.
When you reach the bottom of the mountain, you'll cross the Lehigh River and T-left into the town of Jim Thorpe. Here the course turns right before the Molly Mcguire pub, and has a small tour loop of the town with a photo control at the Old Jail. Please be alert for car doors and nutty pedestrians when touring the town. Personally, I recommend the Marion Hose Bar over Molly McGuire's, particularly because the Hose Bar has good outdoor seating. There is also a bike shop in town, immediately next to MM's.
After finishing the tour-loop of Jim Thorpe, please walk your bike cautiously through the mess that surrounds the Train Station. Once you are past the tracks, turn right onto the D&L trail, cross the bridge over the Lehigh, and begin riding again.
The remainder of the course is a generally moderate return to the overnight control. Because there are no timed controls day-2 (other than the finish) almost all riders should be able to finish the 400K first day with enough time to get reasonable sleep and finish the scenic TK 200K on Sunday.
Bonne route et bon courage!
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