Alright cats and kittens, listen up! Put your hands together, dig it, for a real cool tomato who is about to knock your socks off with her righteous rhymes. It’s the one and only fabulous Co-RD MC Oakes! She’s gonna lay down some seriously groovy beats and drop some knowledge with her brand new jam all about, like, working hard and volunteering. So chill down and prepare to be amazed! At Eastern States, we treat our volunteer crew,With gratitude and ‘thank […]

A heartfelt thank you to the The First Frontier – Blair County, PA – (Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation) for featuring Canoe Creek State Park—home of the Ironstone 100K and Dirty Kiln Trail Races—as part of your new branding initiative that highlights the landscape and opportunity across our region. Though it may seem like a small gesture, to us, it’s a meaningful win. It’s a signal from our business community, elected officials, and residents that outdoor recreation matters. Fifteen years ago, the Alleghenies were largely overlooked—seen as geographic obstacles […]

Trail maintenance alert!!! Blackwell to Skytop is up for adoption, it’s 4.5 miles- minus some of what the amazing Lister family does approaching their AS. This includes Gillespie Point!! If you’re interested send an email to Lee Arbogast, Eastern States 100 Trail Boss

Sweepers still needed for this year’s ES100!!! I have one opening for the following: S-AS3 (Start to Lower Pine Bottom – 17.8 mi) start at 5am SatAS12-14(Blackwell to Barrens- 12.6 mi) start 9:15am SunAS14-Finish (Barrens to finish – 10.0 mi) start 1:30pm Sun And two people needed for the following:AS7-9 (Hyner Run to Big Trail – 13.4 mi) start 8:15pm SatAS9-10 (Big Trail to Tomb Flats – 7.3 mi) start 12:45 am Sunday. Interested?? https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/PA/Waterville/EasternStates100

Eastern States 100 sits deep in the PA Wilds—a vast, remote region of Northern Central Pennsylvania. If you’ve peeked at a map, you know it’s rugged, isolated, and dotted with deep hollows and canyons where cell service can vanish in an instant.Cell ServiceEven though coverage has improved in the last 10 years, it’s still hit or miss: AT&T? Forget it—just turn your phone off for the weekend. T-Mobile and Verizon? You’ll find some signal in the southern sections, but expect dead zones […]

We have 103 miles of trail we’re working on to get ready, top shelf, North Central Pennsylvania condition!!!! These are some of the best trails this state has to offer. The race course is split up into 4-8ish miles sections. We have some amazing people that are very dedicated, working on those sections. There are some sections that are open for adoption this year. Would you like to have a section? We will provide you with a custom Purple Lizard […]

As you may know, I was the co-RD for last weekend’s Worlds End Ultramarathon. With Eastern States 100 coming up, I want to clarify some key rules and policies: 1 – Be Respectful to Volunteers. Yes, the weather might stink, or you might miss a cutoff, or feel frustrated about a mistake. But don’t take it out on the volunteers. They give their time and energy to help everyone—not just you. If they remind you about a rule (e.g., cutoff […]

We’re thrilled to welcome the Ford Bronco Wild Fund and Neighborhood Ford Store as official partners with our friends at the 2025 Ironstone 100K! This collaboration brings vital conservation funding, public education initiatives, and outdoor recreation support to one of Pennsylvania’s most challenging and scenic endurance events and Pennsylvania’s important state parks. Join us July 12 for Bronco Wild Fund Days at Canoe Creek State Park — a free, family-friendly kickoff to race day! 12–4 PM | Race starts at 2 PM Bronco Basecamp Giveaways + […]

These are true labors of love. For months, we scour antique shops and flea markets hunting for the right axes. The handles can’t be too dry or too soft, and the heads must be made of medium-tempered carbon steel—strong enough to last, but just right for etching. Most likely these tools are 125+ years old, crafted in the golden era of Central PA’s edge tool industry, when towns like Bellefonte, Mill Hall, Reedsville, and Lewistown forged some of the finest […]

Dear Runners, We want to take a moment to remind everyone that the Eastern States 100 is an incredibly demanding race — one that requires a high level of preparation, experience, and respect for the trail.In October 2023, the Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance made the decision to remove the qualification standard of completing a 50-mile race for entry. Here’s who’s registered based on a random sample (100 runners) of this year’s registrations: 48% of participants would not have qualified under our previous standards. […]

We know many of you are wondering what we’re planning for those who registered for the Eastern States 100 2024, only to have your long-awaited plans upended by Tropical Storm Debby. We apologize for the delay in providing an update. We needed time to ensure all invoices and outstanding payments were settled; finalize our profit and loss statements, not just for Eastern States 100, but for our other events as well; and make sure everyone on our race team and […]

SCHEDULE PRE-RACE: Tuesday, August 6th7:00pm: Online Race Briefing and Q&A.* – On our ESTEA Facebook page and YouTube. Link in the pre-race email and shared on Facebook, Instagram. Can’t watch live? – Video will also be posted on our Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance Facebook page and website. RACE WEEKEND: Saturday and Sunday, August 10th and 11th Friday, August 9th5:00-8:00pm: Race bibs and swag bags****All runners must check in with picture ID to receive their bibs/swag and also must check in […]

Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance Teams Up with Purple Lizard Maps to Launch The PA Triple Crown Map [State College, PA – April 18, 2024] – The Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance is excited to announce its collaboration with Purple Lizard Maps to unveil The PA Triple Crown map. These meticulously crafted 24×36-inch maps, printed on waterproof paper, embody the renowned quality and detail synonymous with Purple Lizard. Featuring all three courses in the PA Triple Crown series—the Hyner Trail Challenge 50K, […]

Proposed PGE Okome Area Gas/Water Pipeline Route Pennsylvania General Energy (PGE) is proposing (Chapter 105 permit and Section 401 Water Quality Certification) to construct a gas/water pipeline through one of the more remote and primitive sections of the Mid State Trail between Little Pine State Park and Blackwell. This pipeline will not only have a significant impact on Eastern States 100, but all outdoor recreationists and the water quality in the area. The permit application appeared in the October 7, […]

Race Update (aid station changes) We’re pleased to announce two changes to the race for 2023: First, we’re closing the aid station at Slate Run (the old AS10, at mile 63.9) and moving it a mile downstream to Tomb Flats (mile 62.9). Now, as part of your ES100 grand tour of the Pine Creek watershed, you’ll finally get to dip your feet in Pine Creek. Actually you’ll wade across it (with a safety line and qualified safety personnel on-site) to […]

No parking at AS10 Slate Run! Now—->Park at Tomb Flats Campground (1.5 miles south on PA-144). We will provide a shuttle service back and forth from Tomb Flats to AS10 Slate Run during the entire duration the aid station is open. Thank you Pine Creek Outfitters for providing the shuttle service.

[Originally published in the Olean Times Herald, by Marcie Schellhammer, December 30, 2021] BRADFORD, Pa. — Another non-profit organization has made its opinion known as to the proposed low-fly zone over the Pennsylvania Wilds. While not coming out against the proposal, the Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance of Port Matilda listed a series of concerns and requested mitigation measures. The proposal, by the Maryland Air National Guard, is for jet pilot training at low altitudes — as low as 100 feet […]

The Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance submits the following comments on the proposal by the United States Air Force, the National Guard Bureau and the Maryland Air National Guard to modify the Duke MOA by reducing the floor of the MOA to 100ft above ground level (“AGL”), thereby establishing the Duke Low MOA. Please consider these comments in making final decisions concerning the proposed modifications. Click the letter to read our letter in its entirety.

A message from Jeff Calvert, President of the Eastern States Trail Endurance Alliance and it’s board of directors: With great sadness, I’m announcing that the Eastern States Trail-Endurance Alliance (ESTEA) has decided to cancel the 2020 running of the Eastern States 100. This is a moment we’ve been dreading for weeks, as we’ve watched peers across the country and around the world wrestle with the same difficult situation and arrive at the same painful conclusion.  We hoped to avoid that […]

Free Tenting Little Pine State Park has once again offered us free tenting space directly across from the start/finish line. There is no sign up – it will be first come, first served. In years past, we’ve had enough room to accommodate all those who wished to utilize this option. It is tent/car camping only and we will provide porta-johns. Tenting will be available during race weekend only. This means it will start Friday morning and conclude Sunday at dark. […]