Odyssey Off-Trail
September 26th, 2026
National Public Lands Day
Odyssey Off-Trail Race
CASH AWARDS
Tickets are 25$!
Race begins at Noon. Free shuttle from town will be available.
(shuttle details coming soon!^)
Men and Women age categories 10-40yrs and 41-80yrs.
Evening event at Eagles :
6-9 - Gear Swap + Band!
Only $10 per to run a table at the gear swap! You man the table and keep the proceeds.
Odyssey Off-Trail 2025 was amazing! Thanks to everyone who came out for a beautiful late summer day in the mountains!
Questions?
972-835-6039
End the summer celebrating National Public Lands Day in a one-of-a-kind race that kicks off at the Pass summit. Participants are challenged to find their way up to Little Odyssey and back without the aid of a marked course, putting their navigation abilities to the test in a race like no other. After the race, meet us at The Eagles in Valdez for a free community event 6-9pm. There will be a gear swap. You can man a table for $10 and keep your proceeds. Moon Doggies band will be playing!
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Last minute registration starting at 11am. Race starts at noon!
Park at the pullout on the north side of the highway on the far side of the Gap from town, just across from the Alyeska access gate. The starting line will be right by the Thompson Pass sign!
It may be rainy and foggy! We put up some markers just to let you know that you’re still in the right general area, but they are not trail markers because there is not a trail! They are generally on high points that can be seen from multiple directions.
There are some patches of snow remaining but not too many. The main hazards will be slippery rocks and bad footing, and the conditions will be favorable for cold injury if you cannot get yourself back down. Be careful! We do recommend some kind of beacon just in case, but there is better cell coverage in the area than in the pass.
We will start the race at noon and have a turnaround time of 2pm. If you have not made it to the top by 2pm you need to turn around! If for any reason you decide that you don’t care about finishing you still need to show back up at the start/finish line! If you are not back by 4pm and the summit checkpoint person has not seen you on their way down we will call search and rescue for you, so don’t wander off to pick blueberries or frolic with the ptarmigans! :-)
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Below is the waypoint taken at the summit. There will be two cairns: an older one that is clearly not at the high point, and a smaller new one that is at this waypoint. That smaller one is our turnaround point and you will need to touch the cairn to be checked off at the top! There will be someone at the checkpoint making sure you have arrived there! There are no other checkpoints! You make your own way to the top and back!
Below is a sample GPS track to show the general route, and a sample elevation profile. Remember that there is no official course and no trail. Find your way to the top and back however you wish!
