70 ultramarathon runners evacuated from Moab 240 after heavy rain

About 70 runners and volunteers participating in Utah's Moab 240 ultramarathon were evacuated from the race course on Sunday after being stranded overnight by a heavy rainstorm, authorities said. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office coordinated with race organizers to assist the participants, who were unable to safely leave the affected areas.

Race Cancellation and Evacuation

Destination Trail, the organization that manages the race, announced on Sunday that the remainder of the event had been called off due to bad weather. In a statement on Facebook, the organization said the weather had become too dangerous to safely continue, with conditions expected to worsen Sunday evening. Runners were held at their nearest aid stations and instructed to shelter there until crews could pick them up.

According to Destination Trail, buses were evacuating the final group of affected participants, who were stuck at an aid station near the Bridger Jack Mesa in the Bear Ears National Monument. "We know this isn't how anyone hoped Moab 240 would go," Destination Trail said in a social media post. "So many of you trained for months and traveled a long way to be here, and we're truly sorry the race ended this way. Sometimes the weather has other plans, and when it does, everyone’s safety has to come first."

The race, which started on Friday in Moab, Utah, was slated to end on Tuesday. While ABC News describes the event as a 241.8-mile ultramarathon, other sources refer to it as a 240-mile race or loop. The course takes runners through desert, canyons, slick-rock formations and two mountain ranges, surrounded by Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.

Weather Conditions and Runner Accounts

The heavy rain in Utah was fueled by the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel, which made landfall in Baja California and swept across the West, causing flooding in several states. Race officials stated that additional supplies, including heated tents, hot food, and water, were delivered to aid stations ahead of the storm.

However, accounts from participants varied regarding the conditions at the aid stations. Matt Van Horn of Farmington, who was pacing a competitor, told KSL that approximately 100 to 130 runners gathered around fires at the Bridger Jack aid station. "It was cold, windy, and heavy rain for most of the night," Van Horn said. He described the night as "miserable" but noted that he and his runner opted to run 15 miles to the nearest road to catch a ride back to town.

SFGATE reported that people present described having just 20 tents for close to 100 people, with runners piling together under emergency blankets. It remains unclear whether the additional supplies mentioned by organizers reached the station, as SFGATE noted organizers did not respond to a request for clarification.

Brian Jones of Spanish Fork, a participant in the race, told KSL that the event started as a "normal day" with hot and sunny weather before the storm hit. Jones, who said the race is named after his late brother, praised the organizers' preparedness, noting a mandatory gear check that required items like emergency blankets and ponchos. "You can't plan for everything," Jones said. "I saw a lot of people with a positive attitude. Pick your head up and look forward to the next thing that you get to do."

Matt LaJeunesse, a pacer for runner Ashley Paulson, described the conditions on the trail as a "war zone." He told SFGATE that he and Paulson ran through rain, sleet, mud, and wind gusts topping 50 mph, navigating close to 150 fallen trees across the trail. "A catastrophe was going to happen if they sent another 200 people in," LaJeunesse said regarding the cancellation.

Wider Regional Impact

The weather system affected other areas in the Southwest. The remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel contributed to major flooding along Southern California's coast and heavy rainstorms in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada. In Zion National Park, about 50 people were temporarily stranded between two flooding creeks on the Emerald Pools Trail. James Bevins, a visitor from Ohio, told SFGATE that the group created a human chain to cross one creek before rescue personnel arrived.

Other national parks also reported weather-related closures. Bryce Canyon National Park closed the Wall Street Trail, and Death Valley National Park closed sections of the Cottonwood Marble Loop. The men’s finals of the Red Bull Rampage in Virgin, Utah, were also canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

---

Sources

• abcnews.com: 70 ultramarathon runners evacuated after being stranded by heavy rain: Officials - ABC News
• ksl.com: Runners recount 'positive' experience at Moab 240-mile race despite weather cancellation | KSL.com
• sfgate.com: Desert flooding traps 70 ultramarathoners in 'war zone' conditions

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.