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Western States Trail Museum: Home in Auburn to preserve a long and storied history

The many tales of a storied and remarkable trans-Sierra trail will soon come alive with the opening of the Western States Trail Museum. Supported by the City of Auburn with a lease arrangement for a portion of the former City Hall in Auburn’s historic Central Square, and with tenant improvements underway, the Museum’s Board of Directors is hopeful the facility will open its doors later in 2025. The location is 1103 High Street, Suite 300, in Auburn, California.

In the mid-1960s, the Governors of Nevada and California encouraged preserving the Capitol-to-Capitol route between Carson City and Sacramento, along with its relevant artifacts and memorabilia. As a part of this history, the incredible lore of the Western States Trail stands ready to be shared with the public.

The mission of the Museum is to educate the public about the trail’s heritage through creative interpretive exhibits, artifacts, oral histories, docent-led field trips, speaker and film series, podcasts, and community engagements with modern day endurance events. The Western States Trail Museum archives will also serve as a research center for anyone who wants to learn more about this truly special trail. Please contact the Museum if you have something worth sharing.

The origin of the trail can be traced to the prehistoric era when Native Americans crossed the Sierra Nevada mountain range on trade routes to barter between the Nisenan, Washoe, and Paiute people, as well as to gather and hunt for food. By 1860, the Western States Trail route was well known as the shortest route over the Sierra Nevada from the gold mines of California’s Mother Lode to the Comstock Silver Lode in western Nevada.

In September, 1931, accompanied by five members from Parlor 59 of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Tahoe City, California Constable Robert Montgomery Watson and the group relocated and signed this early pioneer route that had been nearly forgotten. In 1955, Auburn businessman Wendell T. Robie led the founding of the annual Western States Trail 100 Mile One Day Ride, an equestrian event now known as the Tevis Cup. Robie established in 1974 what became an internationally celebrated crown jewel of ultramarathons, the Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run.

For more information about the Museum or to get involved, visit www.wstrailmuseum.org or email info@wstrailmuseum.org

Posted in General Interest, Trail Preservation | on: May 14th, 2025 by JohnT | Comments Off on Western States Trail Museum: Home in Auburn to preserve a long and storied history

Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Re-Route Project Update

The trail through Granite Chief Wilderness that we use on race day stretches for 6.5 miles. The western portion of the trail was rehabilitated several years ago when it was accepted into the wilderness. The eastern portion was developed long before modern trail building standards were set, and is being re-routed to improve user safety, avoid environmentally sensitive areas, improve sustainability, and provide commanding views.

GCW

We have actively been working on this project for the last two summers (only 10-12 weeks are snow free each year).  Work has been performed by USFS employees, a 20-person California Conservation Corp trail crew, and our volunteers.  The work has been funded by the Great American Outdoor Act ($1.2M), designed to cover most of the project. Although $0.5M in funding remains, and the USFS was poised to complete contracts to engage a trail crew for this summer, the funding for the project has now been frozen by DOGE and inaccessible, and we cannot hire a trail crew for 2025.

The USFS and our volunteers still plan to work on the project this summer, and we hope to complete enough of the re-routed trail that we can use about 2 miles of the new trail for our event in 2026, which will get us up and out of the bogs. But to get there we need your help.   To date our four scheduled trail work weekends are only about half full, so come join us on the weekends of July 26th/27th, August 16th/17th,  September 6th/7th, and/or September 20th/21st.

To signup please visit https://www.wser.org/volunteering/trail-stewardship/trail-work-opportunities/

Posted in General Interest, Trail Preservation, WSER Foundation | on: April 28th, 2025 by Craig | Comments Off on Granite Chief Wilderness Trail Re-Route Project Update

Western States, Broken Arrow Skyrace, and TrailCon Unite for an Unparalleled 10-Day Trail Running Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olympic Valley, CA – March 12, 2025 – This June, trail running enthusiasts will experience an unprecedented 10-day adventure in the stunning Palisades Tahoe as three iconic events—Broken Arrow Skyrace presented by Salomon, TrailCon presented by On, and the legendary Western States Endurance Run presented by HOKA—join forces to create an immersive and inspiring celebration of the sport.

Kicking off June 19-22, the Broken Arrow Skyrace presented by Salomon, will challenge runners with a three-day, nine-distance event, where elite and recreational athletes alike will experience the thrill of “where the mountains meet the sky.”

Following this, the inaugural TrailCon presented by On (June 24-25) will bring together thought leaders, industry brands, and passionate runners for two days of engaging discussions, networking, and community building. The event features keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions, a Vendor Village with 60+ innovative brands, and the debut of the TrailCon Hall of Fame Awards—all designed to inspire and elevate the trail running community.

The excitement culminates June 28-29 with the world-renowned Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run presented by HOKA, the planet’s oldest and most prestigious 100-mile trail race. A true test of endurance, Western States has captivated runners and fans since 1974, solidifying its place as the pinnacle of ultra-distance racing.

This historic collaboration underscores a shared vision to strengthen and unify the trail running community, transforming Olympic Valley into the ultimate global destination for trail running every June.

“Western States is honored to partner with TrailCon in creating a 10-day experience filled with running, storytelling, and knowledge-sharing that will inspire and unite our sport like never before,” said Craig Thornley, Western States Race Director. “Most importantly, we believe this collaboration will build an even stronger sense of belonging in the trail running community.”

Topher Gaylord, Western States Board President, echoed this sentiment: “With three independent, community-driven organizations working together, Olympic Valley will become the epicenter of the trail running world. TrailCon’s innovative approach perfectly bridges the excitement between Broken Arrow and Western States, creating an unmatched 10-day experience.”

Brendan Madigan, Founder & Race Director of Broken Arrow Skyrace, added: “Our vision has always been to complement the iconic Western States 100, ensuring that everyone—from runners to families, pacers, and crew—can experience the beauty of Palisades Tahoe. With the addition of TrailCon, there’s no better place to be in late June than North Lake Tahoe.”

With this powerful collaboration, Palisades Tahoe is set to become the Spring Trail Running and Ultra Capital of the World, offering an unforgettable experience for runners, fans, and industry leaders alike.

For more information, visit:

Broken Arrow Sky Race
TrailCon
Western States Endurance Run

Media Inquiries:

Rachel Christison
Rachel.christison@gmail.com

Posted in Race News | on: March 12th, 2025 by Craig | Comments Off on Western States, Broken Arrow Skyrace, and TrailCon Unite for an Unparalleled 10-Day Trail Running Celebration