Beaver Fire Tower Half

Those who complete the Half Marathon by the 12pm Cutoff receive a finisher medal.  

Top 3 finishers receive awards. No gender awards. Top 3 humans.   

This is not a chip timed event due to it being a Half Marathon course with only 70 participants. We anticipate large gaps between finishing times.  However, we will be recording finish times just as diligently as we would with any chip timed event.  We recorded by hand at Peak to Creek, but will be using a timing app to produce results that will be available online more quickly.  There will be a recorded split at the turnaround aid station as well. Remember to call out your bib number when approaching the turnaround aid station.  

We're eating afterward. Meal will be announced afterward. Bring a chair and join us for food and fellowship. 

We're working to reduce waste. This race does not automatically come with a shirt. Thus, the lower up front registration fee.  If you would like a shirt, you will need to order one as an "Add-On" in the registration process. This add on will cost $30 for the hooded sun shirt. You’re welcome to order additional shirts if you would like extra for family, friends, or crew. If you’re not able to attend the event, but would still like to show your support, shirts are also available in the Store tab. There is an option for $10 shipping on store purchases.  Shirt orders will be collected through Monday 1/20/2024. Want your shirt earlier than race day? Talk your family and friends into signing up early so the event sells out. The sooner it sells out, the sooner we order shirts. Shoutout to Travis at M&S Screenprinting for putting together the design for us. If you need shirts or hats, then give Dea, Emma, Tara, and the team a holler. 

This Half Marathon follows dirt/gravel roads, that are steep and technical in places. This is an out-and-back course with with about 2,200' of elevation. Trekking poles are allowed.  No water crossings are anticipated on this route. There will be a water station at the tower, roughy at mile 3 and 10.  There will be an aid station with calories and hydration at the 6.6 mile turn around. Much of this race you will not be able to see people in front or behind you. The course will be marked, but it is your responsibility to know the route. It is highly recommended that you use an app that sends live tracking data back to race staff and your emergency contact person. Watch Race Director Isaac Barnoskie’s video on how to use the Strava beacon feature to do this:  https://www.facebook.com/share/r/DkPiEYnBp1VuLmBk/?Course is not closed to vehicle traffic, but it is rare for vehicles to be in the area, as it is remote and some of it requires 4-wheel drive for passage. The only ATV's allowed on the course are those used by race staff to sweep the course and provide first aid or extraction if necessary.  If you encounter people on horseback, please be respectful of the horses and move to the far side of the road at a slower pace. 

GPX file of the course is available on Google Drive:

BeaverFireTowerHalf.gpx

Most intersections have road signs. There will be event signs telling you which way to go, and current location on the map. The Distance From Start/Finish column is the cumulative distance from the start. Water column is the distance from start. The blue water drops on the map correspond to the Water column on the table. Some of the water stops will have a few calories. Water stops are not supervised and are self serve. To Next Water is the distance from the current water stop to the next water stop. The Aid column is distance from start. Corresponding symbols on the map are the watermelon and cookie. Next Aid is distance from current volunteer supervised aid station to the next aid station. Aid stations will have hydration and calories. We’re talking cookies, candy, fruit, Hammer Nutrition, soda. First aid kits are at each aid station. To Next Aid is the distance from current aid to next aid. With a 5 hour cutoff across 13 miles, we recommend going for a 20:00/mi pace.

Early starts will need to evaluate pace independent of this table. For instance, you early start at 7am, and it takes you 2 hrs 40 mins to get to mile 5 by 9:40am, you’re probably not going to make cutoff. 

There is a porta potty at the start/finish. If using the bathroom along the course please step off the road and cover up your poo. Just remember to pack toilet paper in a plastic bag so your sweat doesn’t get to it. Feminine products will be available at the aid stations.  

The course will be marked with black and white directional signs at major intersections. The back side of each sign will have a course map indicating “You Are Here.”

White and blue striped confidence flags will be placed along the course to let you know you’re still on course. 

Do not go on any of the nonambulatory roads.

You are required to have an Oklahoma Hunting License, Oklahoma Fishing License, or Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Passport in order to participate as a runner/walker/hiker, volunteer, crew or spectator. You must have a current unexpired document with you at all times while on the grounds, including refuge parking area.  Children under the age of 18 are allowed in Cookson without an Oklahoma Hunting License, Oklahoma Fishing License, or Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Passport.

Annual Oklahoma Resident Fishing License $31

1 Day Oklahoma Resident Fishing License cost $11. It expires at midnight of the date of your choosing.

1 Day Oklahoma Nonresident Fishing License $26. It expires at midnight of the date of your choosing.

Any of these may be purchased online at https://license.gooutdoorsoklahoma.com/Licensing/CustomerLookup.aspx . More information about licenses and fees can be found at https://www.wildlifedepartment.com/licensing/regs/license-fees . You may have heard rumors that if you are Native American or Cherokee that you do not need a hunting or fishing license to be in Cookson. That is not true. Blu and I are both Cherokee tribal members and have our tribal photo ID's, but they do not stand in place of an Oklahoma Hunt/Fish license. We both still carry our Oklahoma Hunt/Fish license with us. You are required to acknowledge that you have one of these documents that will be valid for the day of the event in order to complete registration. Cookson WMA is under the jurisdiction of 2 game wardens.  You will be responsible for any citation fees for not having a valid document while on the grounds, and are subject to removal from the event without refund.

Coming south from Cookson: You will see a brown and yellow Cookson Wildlife Management Area sign on the triangle corner by Dollar General. Take a left onto Blue Top Road, and travel 5.5 miles south. You will see similar signs as you reach the refuge border. Keep driving until you see the main entrance on the left side of the road (east).

Coming north from Marble City School: Keep left at the fork in the road onto N 4600 Rd / Old US Hwy 10 / Blue Top Road. It is 4.5 miles from Marble City School to the refuge. You will see brown and yellow Cookson Wildlife Management Area signs as you reach the refuge border. Keep driving until you see the main entrance on the right side of the road (east). 

You may have to do a search for Cookson Hills Sate Game Refuge or Cookson Wildlife Management Area, depending on which app you use. The physical address is

34885 S Bluetop Rd, Cookson, OK US 74427

Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/5xEfZbg6TiqHK6T18?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Apple Maps https://maps.apple.com/?ll=35.679621,-94.846416&q=Dropped%20Pin&t=h

The main refuge entrance is on the west side of the refuge on Blue Top Road. If your mapping app sends you to the northwest area in Bunch, you’re in the wrong place. While there is fairly good mobile service within the refuge, the asphalt roads on the perimeter of the refuge can have limited to no service. Know where you are going ahead of time in case your phone goes offline. 

This is what you will see on the east side of Blue Top Road. This is the main entrance, and where we will have overflow parking. It’s a .15 mile walk to packet pickup and start line. Proceed past the archway to the pavilion for packet pickup and start. 

Proceed past the metal archway into the refuge .15 miles to the pavilion. The pavilion is also where the race will start/finish. Parking is limited near the pavilion. 

We need volunteers. Outlaw Trail Series has done an excellent job of leading the way and setting the standard for volunteers. We've participated in their events as volunteers, and also as participants. We love how the volunteers increase the quality of the experience. That is why we're taking a leaf out of the Outlaw book, and offering a 25% discount for volunteering a shift of 4-8 hours. This can be applied toward Lake Vian Hilltop Run or Peak to Creek or Spark In The Dark. Must be signed up as a volunteer before the event.  This includes volunteering at Lake Vian Hilltop Run or Spark In The Dark as well.  Volunteer discounts do not apply to Outlaw events, as Race Director Isaac Barnoskie does not direct those events. For more information on Outlaw, check out https://outlaw100.com/

We ask that crew and spectators not drive on the course. This is to protect our participants, but also to protect you the driver from getting your vehicle stuck. You are responsible for your own vehicle and it is not covered by Beaver Fire Tower Half in any way it if it gets damaged, stuck, rolls off the road, or cannot climb out of sections of Cookson Refuge. Even all wheel drive vehicles can get stuck on the drivable roads because of unforeseen washouts or terrain being too steep or rocky. Just stay off the roads. 

If you would like to cheer on your runner, walker, hiker, follow the yellow route south to 2 miles to the turn around aid station. Look for the yellow caution curvy road sign, there is a small triangle drive/parking area on the east/left side of the road.

Google Maps Turn Around Aid Station Parking

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kCH5EiitWgEoqAFr6?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

Apple Maps Turn Around Aid Station Parking 

https://maps.apple.com/?ll=35.656252,-94.829562&q=Dropped%20Pin&t=h

Overnight camping is not allowed at any time in Cookson WMA.  

There are no parking fees. Your Oklahoma Hunting License, Fishing License, or Wildlife Conservation Passport serves as your parking pass. 

All participants must wear a race bib so that it is visible to race staff. Participants must call out their bib number upon arriving at supervised aid stations. 

Riding in a vehicle is a disqualification (DQ). 

If you go off course, you must return to the course on foot at the same point at which you got off course. 

Not finishing by cutoff time is an Unofficial Finish (UF).

Not finishing is a Did Not Finish (DNF).

If dropping out of the event, you must report to the aid station captain and/or Race Director, Isaac Barnoskie. If we have to send search and rescue to find you, you the participant will be responsible for the expenses. This can happen if you get off course, or fail to let an aid station captain or race director know you are leaving. If you drop from a race, you will be there until the last participant passes through that aid station, and the aid station breaks down. If you do drop, the best place to drop is mile 6.6 so that you can get a ride with your crew, or call someone to come pick you up at the crew access point. But no one is going to drop, right?

Crew are only allowed to offer assistance at the start/finish area and the 6.6 mile turn around aid station area. Runners are responsible for their crew. Choose your crew wisely. 

Trekking poles are allowed. 

Pacers are not permitted, as Beaver Fire Tower is only a half marathon event. However, if you would like to pace off of another participant, that is allowed. 

Muling is not allowed. A participant may not carry items for another participant. 

Medical volunteers, race director, and aid station captains may pull the participant from the race if they feel they are endangering themselves or others. Basic first aid kits are at supervised aid stations. Blister kits are not. You are expected to provide your own self-care.