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Castlewood FAQ

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Expect to have a great time, and be exhausted at the finish line! Check out the information on our AR101 courses to help you have a great time in the woods with your team. You can also read race reports from past races here.

Yes, although the minimum age to participate is 14. Waivers for racers under 18 must be signed by a legal parent/ guardian.

If you’ve already signed up, we’re sorry, but no, we do not offer refunds for any Off-Road Racing League events. However, we are happy to offer deferrals for folks that need to disqualify themselves due to injury or other unforeseen circumstances. Please reach out if you have any questions.

Unless the Race Directors declare otherwise, the race will proceed rain or shine. Severe weather may cause us to alter start times and/or the specific trails and/or areas used for the race. Absolutely no refunds will be issued for any race that is delayed, changed or cancelled.

Yes, of course! First, please note that the Castlewood 8-Hr Adventure Race is designed for beginners. Some checkpoints (CPs) will be located directly on a trail or road. Other checkpoints will be located off-trail, but with plenty of man-made features around it to help your team find it.

Also, please consider attending an Alpine Shop Map & Compass or Orienteering class to help you learn the basics.

Finally, our local Saint Louis Orienteering Club has a permanent orienteering course set up at Rockwoods Range for practice!

No. You can use outside maps (i.e. Google maps, GORC Trail Maps, or other maps you may have in your collection) BEFORE THE RACE ONLY to plan your route.

You may NOT use outside maps during the race unless they are completely hand-drawn by you.

Alpine Shop will provide each team with a set of maps at packet pick-up and those are the maps you must use during the race.

Yes, you may make copies of the race-provided maps, along with any notes you hand write on them, to use during the race.

Yes! Please be sure that your synthetic puffy top is a jacket or hoody, vests will not satisfy this requirement.

Yes, as long as both the shirt and arm warmers are wool or synthetic (i.e. NO COTTON) and are carried/worn for the entire race.

Yes, as long as these bottles are carried throughout the entire race.

Yes, that is the essence of teamwork in adventure racing and we encourage it!

Yes.

Yes, mandatory cell phones for emergency use that have GPS capabilities (i.e. all smartphones) must also be checked in at the start line, sealed in an opaque bag, and presented at the finish line to be opened by race staff in order for the team’s finish to be official.

Yes, this is encouraged! However, the camera must be a stand-alone camera with no GPS or location capabilities. Smartphones carried to satisfy the mandatory gear emergency phone must be sealed in an opaque bag before the race starts. Be sure to share your photos with us after the race! Use #CW8HR!

Carrie and Jeff Sona have stepped in after racing with the Alpine Shop team for years. Here’s a little bit about them:

Our desire to Adventure Race started after watching Eco Challenge together in the mid 90s. Jeff’s first AR was the inaugural 36 hour Berryman Adventure Race in 2001. His team was one of few finishing teams in a very cold race because they were, as they like to say, too stupid to quit. Since that first race his team changed over time, and 2 years later, Jeff finally talked Carrie into racing after she said she’d never do it. We love AR and were lucky enough to be sponsored by Alpine Shop and become Alpine Shop Adventure Race Team shortly after.  Our team worked hard and became successful by working together as a team and having fun. We have raced hundreds of races since, including every Castlewood AR.  Highlights of our racing career include swimming with alligators in the Florida swamps, seeing a rocket launch while climbing a never ending mountain in Santa Barbara after racing all night, hallucinating while paddling (and many other times- “do you see that?”), and all of the beautiful places you find in the middle of the woods with no one else around except your teammates talking about everything and nothing.  In our day jobs Jeff is an EP nurse and Carrie is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Critical Care. We are excited to take over as the race directors for CW 8 and hope to see you on the trails! -Carrie

Andrei Karpov will be the Course Consultant, assisting with design and setting/vetting. Andrei is a member of the Minnesota Orienteering Club and owner of Karta Racing, LLC, and adventure races with team WEDALI as well.

Have another question? Email Carrie or Jeff Sona at csona@alpineshop.com or jsona@alpineshop.com to get it answered!