Event Logistics
Race Itinerary
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Starting at 7 am, volunteers will be staged throughout the transition checkpoints to guide participants as to where race gear can be properly stored. All turns will be clearly marked, and volunteers will be present throughout the course assisting racers.
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The course begins with a neutralized start, with 10 racers departing every 30 seconds. Because of imposed speed limits in the vicinity of Lake Cear, the timed start does not begin until after crossing the Conley Road.
During the initial 1.8 miles, racers must pace together until they cross the official start line.
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Once participants cross the official start line at Conley Road, the race begins with a westward 10-mile ride on the Adirondack Rail Trail until the Floodwood Outpost (paddle transition point). From here, the route progresses onto Floodwood Road until the hike transition point.
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Start at the pull-off on the Floodwood Road from Transition 1 / 2, run east on the Floodwood Rd for 60 yards, then turn right into the Floodwood Reservation. Pass the Floodwood Mountain trailhead parking, go around the yellow gate, and 0.6miles later turn right into the woods at the Floodwood Mountain Trailhead. The trail starts flat but then gets quite steep before summing at 1.0 miles from the trailhead sign. Yell out your bib to the volunteer at the summit, turn around, and head back to Transition 1 / 2.
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Bike from Transition 1 /2 east back to the Floodwood Outpost.
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Paddlers must carry their boat from the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost to the launch on Floodwood Pond.
All boats must be carried/portaged from Floodwood Pond into Rollins Pond.
Paddle around the western-most island in Rollins Pond; careful of the SW side, it remains very shallow far from the island’s shore.
Depending on water levels, racers will either paddle the small stream from Rollins back to Floodwood, or use the carry trail.
Once back to the launch, carry your boat back up to the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost.
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Participants head east on the Adirondack Rail Trail toward the finish line at Conley Road and then onto Charlie’s Inn for post-race activities.
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Celebrate your multi-sport enthusiasm with an after-party and award ceremony.
All racing participants will receive lunch following the event. Friends and family supporters may purchase food.
Event activities after 3:00 pm
Race Considerations
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Pedal / Bikers
Racer bike plate (provided at the Racer Meeting)
Properly working bike, no e-bikes allowed.
Helmet
Bell to alert you’re coming and passing
Patch kit with pump (not mandatory but heavily encouraged)
Hydration and Nutrition
Peak / Trail Runners
Race bib (provided at the Racer Meeting)
Trail-appropriate shoes
Please be courteous of the public using the trail.
Paddlers
Boat racer sticker (provided at the Racer Meeting)
A human-powered craft (canoe, kayak, SUP, guideboat) in good, safe condition
PFD fitted properly and worn at all times
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Pedal / Bikers
You must slow down when approaching any road crossing and yellow gate. Signs will alert you to an approaching crossing. We are guests on the Rail Trail and it is open to the public during the BC3P; please be courteous and equal users of the resource.
When passing, please signal ahead of time with your bell and pass on the left when it is safe to do so.
When arriving at a Transition area, dismount 10 yards away and walk/run your bike to the bike racks.
If you are on a team, the runner/paddler may not begin until your bike is put on a bike rack
Peak / Trail Runners
Please be courteous to other hikers on the trail; the trail is open to the public during the BC3P.
If you are on a team, your bikers many not begin until the runner is back in the transition area and high-fives the biker
Paddle / Paddlers
If you are on a team, your boat must be back on the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost before your biker can begin.
During the initial 1.8 miles, racers must pace together until they cross the official start line.
Race Day
October 17, 2026
Race Day
October 17, 2026
Race Considerations
-
Pedal / Bikers
Racer bike plate (provided at the Racer Meeting)
Properly working bike, no e-bikes allowed.
Helmet
Bell to alert you’re coming and passing
Patch kit with pump (not mandatory but heavily encouraged)
Hydration and Nutrition
Peak / Trail Runners
Race bib (provided at the Racer Meeting)
Trail-appropriate shoes
Please be courteous of the public using the trail.
Paddlers
Boat racer sticker (provided at the Racer Meeting)
A human-powered craft (canoe, kayak, SUP, guideboat) in good, safe condition
PFD fitted properly and worn at all times
-
Pedal / Bikers
You must slow down when approaching any road crossing and yellow gate. Signs will alert you to an approaching crossing. We are guests on the Rail Trail and it is open to the public during the BC3P; please be courteous and equal users of the resource.
When passing, please signal ahead of time with your bell and pass on the left when it is safe to do so.
When arriving at a Transition area, dismount 10 yards away and walk/run your bike to the bike racks.
If you are on a team, the runner/paddler may not begin until your bike is put on a bike rack
Peak / Trail Runners
Please be courteous to other hikers on the trail; the trail is open to the public during the BC3P.
If you are on a team, your bikers many not begin until the runner is back in the transition area and high-fives the biker
Paddle / Paddlers
If you are on a team, your boat must be back on the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost before your biker can begin.
During the initial 1.8 miles, racers must pace together until they cross the official start line.
Race Itinerary
-
Starting at 7 am, volunteers will be staged throughout the transition checkpoints to guide participants as to where race gear can be properly stored. All turns will be clearly marked, and volunteers will be present throughout the course assisting racers.
-
The course begins with a neutralized start, with 10 racers departing every 30 seconds. Because of imposed speed limits in the vicinity of Lake Cear, the timed start does not begin until after crossing the Conley Road.
During the initial 1.8 miles, racers must pace together until they cross the official start line.
-
Once participants cross the official start line at Conley Road, the race begins with a westward 10-mile ride on the Adirondack Rail Trail until the Floodwood Outpost (paddle transition point). From here, the route progresses onto Floodwood Road until the hike transition point.
-
Start at the pull-off on the Floodwood Road from Transition 1 / 2, run east on the Floodwood Rd for 60 yards, then turn right into the Floodwood Reservation. Pass the Floodwood Mountain trailhead parking, go around the yellow gate, and 0.6miles later turn right into the woods at the Floodwood Mountain Trailhead. The trail starts flat but then gets quite steep before summing at 1.0 miles from the trailhead sign. Yell out your bib to the volunteer at the summit, turn around, and head back to Transition 1 / 2.
-
Bike from Transition 1 /2 east back to the Floodwood Outpost.
-
Paddlers must carry their boat from the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost to the launch on Floodwood Pond.
All boats must be carried/portaged from Floodwood Pond into Rollins Pond.
Paddle around the western-most island in Rollins Pond; careful of the SW side, it remains very shallow far from the island’s shore.
Depending on water levels, racers will either paddle the small stream from Rollins back to Floodwood, or use the carry trail.
Once back to the launch, carry your boat back up to the lawn of the Floodwood Outpost.
-
Participants head east on the Adirondack Rail Trail toward the finish line at Conley Road and then onto Charlie’s Inn for post-race activities.
-
Celebrate your multi-sport enthusiasm with an after-party and award ceremony.
All racing participants will receive lunch following the event. Friends and family supporters may purchase food.
Event activities after 3:00 pm
Lodging
The Devlin Inn and Suites in Lake Placid is the official Lodging Sponsor of the Backcountry 3P
Backcountry 3P Frequently Asked Questions
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Why sure, our March 3P event is enough. But we’re not happy with just enough. The March race celebrates many of our local frontcountry recreational attributes; the BC3P attempts to celebrate our backcountry and the amazing backyard we call home. The BC3P is also a bit more laid-back, as it is not as logistically challenging for participants and organizers alike.
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Of course, your safety is very important to the race organizers. We are partnering with the Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Adirondack Amateur Radio Association, local EMTs, and an army of volunteers to provide a safety net around you and your fellow racers.
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Alert the closest volunteer, and we will get to you as soon as possible. Please assist fellow racers if you see them in distress and/or needing help, and use other racers to get the word out to nearby volunteers by sharing the bib number, the location, and the nature of the issue.
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If you have a gravel bike, we’d recommend you use that. While we allow all human-powered-only bikes, we recommend tire widths above 35mm.
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That’s a big resounding “no.” The Adirondack Rail Trail will be open to public users during the BC3P, the Floodwood Road will be open to normal traffic, the Floodwood Mountain trail will be open to the public, and the waters of Floodwood and Rollins Ponds will most likely have boaters on them that are not associated with the BC3P. Please be courteous and pleasant companions using these public resources.
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Each person on a relay team will have a bib for the segment they are participating in, so nothing will have to be handed off between team members during the race. At transition, please make sure the team member finishing a segment is fully finished (bike is on the bike rack, runner is back to the transition area, paddler has their boat back to the lawn) before the next team member begins their segment of the course. A good guiding principle is considering what a solo racer is doing during transitions – we do not want teams gaining any advantage at transitions just because they are on a team.
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We are leaving that fun work to you. Come up with a plan to get all your team members and their gear where they need to be, and there by the time they are needed. We are empowering all teams to make their own logistical plans. Please consider the most efficient way to do this, as we would like to have as few vehicles and as little traffic on the Floodwood Road as possible.
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Good places to cheer from include the Floodwood Outpost, on the Floodwood Road, and the crossing on Conley Road.
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Please! While some take competition very seriously, we encourage all manner of competition mindsets. Out for a leisurely Saturday stroll amongst peak fall foliage while being surrounded by a fun community-based camaraderie? We want you. Aiming to win this and prove that you’ve still got it? We will take you too. And everything between. For all those “racing” and looking to set FKTs (fastest known times), please be mindful of others who may have a more relaxed approach to the BC3P
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Some simple refreshments will be available at both transition zones, but we encourage all participants to carry their own nutrition with them on course.
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Certainly, and we take this very seriously. Electrical storms and other extreme weather may cause event delays and modifications; this will be messaged out clearly via our website and over email. But, we still ride in rain, cold, heat, and ….
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Once you’ve caught your breath, please make plans to drive back to T1 / 2 and T 3 / 4 to retrieve any gear you may have left behind. Race organizers will be NOT be transporting gear back to Charlie’s Inn afterwards.