100 miles with 4,300 feet of elevation gain*
Locate ride on interactive map.
[Interactive Course | enlarge]
[Route Profile]
Stagecoach Century - Counties Visited:
Imperial County and San Diego County
Stagecoach Century - Cities/Towns Visited:
Ocotillo and Shelter Valley
Stagecoach Century - Climbs:
Mile 34 (cat. 4) and 85 (cat. 4)
Stagecoach Century - Stops:
Mile 13 (Carrizo Badlands Overlook), 26 (Agua Caliente), 39 (Box Canyon), 55 (Shelter Valley), 74 (Agua Caliente), and 87 (Carrizo Badlands Overlook)
Stagecoach Century - Description:
The Stagecoach Century is a scenic desert century. The out-and-back course starts in Ocotillo and follows the historic Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849 to Scissors Crossing, passing through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Two short loops at the half-way point make it a full 100 miles. The first half of the course ascends slightly from below sea level to above 2,000 feet, which makes for a fast second half.
Stagecoach Century - Pictures:
[Ocotillo Tree]
[Sweeney Pass]
[2006]
[2007 - Bernd (l) and Bart (r)]
[2008 - Lisa (l) and Bernd (r)]
Stagecoach Century - Personal Notes:
2006:
At the lunch stop, I met Kenji F. from San Clemente and rode back with him. It turned out that I knew his dad Ken, whose swim clinic I attended three years ago. Ken is the person who got me interested in the Ironman triathlon.
2007:
Due to an arctic cold front, the temperature remained in the 30s and 40s for most of the ride. While the wind was not too bad this year, it contributed to the coldness.
I rode the entire ride with Bart B. from the Renegades. We did not stop at any of the aid stations except for lunch, which was served indoors in a heated building. On the way back, we ran into John U. and Susen S., also from the Renegades, who were riding their tandem.
2008:
This year the course was slightly different, turning around after 50 miles, as opposed to the two short loops at the half-way point in the previous years.
I was riding with Sandra and Lisa, and both did an awesome job. It was Lisa's first century attempt, and she completed 75 miles - probably the only 13 year old to go so far. We also met John U., Susen S., and Mike G. from the Renegades.
Stagecoach Century - Current Weather:
