Volunteer at Hardrock

The Hardrock Volunteer Manual

 

Welcome to the Hardrock 100 Endurance Run! If you have any special talents such as Emergency Medical training, loving to cook in the backcountry, having an amateur radio license, are a good computer operator, or anything else; let us know so we can make best use of your time and energy.

One of our biggest hopes is that you have a fun, rewarding experience and want to come back year after year.

The various Directors for Hardrock each work to recruit their own volunteers, but the easiest way to get connected is by filling out the Volunteer Form on the website. All Directors have access to this master list, and can easily see your profile to recruit you for the role(s) you show interest in.

The backcountry nature of Hardrock lends significant authority to the volunteers on the spot for any questions. Please try to solve problems locally, but use the radio network to contact your Director or the overall Run Director, , when local solutions don't seem to be working out.

We would very much like to make use of the experience you gain this year, so please provide any feedback about how to improve the Hardrock, its organization, or this manual to Aid Station Director . Also look for a survey to come out in the weeks following the run.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Aid Stations: Hardrock annually has 14 or 15 aid stations, depending on the direction of the run, and these together comprise the largest group of volunteers. Each aid station will have an Aid Station Captain (ASC) and crew of 6 to 30 volunteers. Some stations are right off a paved road, some require 4 Wheel Drive, and some can only be reached by hiking in. is the Aid Station Director.

Communications: The Amateur Radio Network has been an integral part of the Hardrock 100 since it was first run in 1992. Runners are timed in and out of each aid station and relayed Net Control, which provides overall tracking for each individual runner. Teams of radio crews are at each aid station, as well as a large contingent at Net Control in Silverton. & are the Communications Directors, along with , and . , & Shauna head up the live, online tracking.

Medical/Rescue: The post-graduate nature of Hardrock lends itself to more difficult terrain and greater risk to runners. An experienced medical staff is key to the runners’ safety. Each aid station will have at least an EMT-level person, and Headquarters provides additional staffing to key locations each year. is our Medical Advisor.

Trail Work: Each year, Hardrock coordinates a pair of official workdays on the area trails to “earn our dirt”. Typically occurring on the weekend prior to the run, director works with local trail groups to hit priority areas, which may or may not be part of the actual Hardrock course.

Course Clearing: The entire course is cleared over just a couple days during and after the run. Director says key skills are backcountry alpine experience and endurance while carrying a heavy load as she annually fills these limited slots.

Pre-Run Prep & Post-Run Cleanup: Want to be our absolute favorite? Inventorying aid station supplies, cooking soup, writing down names at check-in, taking down tables, washing out coolers and much more are the least glamorous parts of Hardrock, but the most appreciated! If you are available in the week leading up to or after the run, contact Aid Station Director to help out.

Volunteer Recognition

Hardrock wants to recognize the hard work and dedication of its volunteers, especially those who have given multiple years. All volunteers who reach 5, 10, 15, 20 (or more!) years of volunteering are recognized at the Awards Breakfast with a special pin. If you have reach this milestone, make sure your ASC or Director knows!

Service Tickets

Volunteering at Hardrock can improve your odds in the run lottery! Service Tickets count as an additional finish for the Else or Veteran lotteries, and an additional DNS for the Never lottery.

There are two types of service tickets: One-time and Perpetual

One-time tickets apply only for the next lottery held after they are earned and do not roll over. They can be earned by:

  • Aid Station Captain or their nominee: 1 Ticket
  • Trail Work (Both Days): 1 Ticket
  • Trail Work (Both Days) AND certified as a Trail Boss - 1 Additional Ticket to the Trail Work ticket
  • Course Marking and Clearing: Tickets are awarded by the Course Director to those volunteers who have most contributed. Not all course marking and clearing volunteers will receive a Service Ticket.

Perpetual tickets accumulate, do not expire, and can be used in more years than one. They can be earned by Hardrock volunteer work such as marking the course, working an aid station, helping at check-in, helping sell merchandise, and serving on the various Hardrock organizing committees. At least eight hours of volunteer work must be performed to have that year count. Pacing or crewing a runner DOES NOT count toward these tickets, nor does representing a vendor if you are employed by them. One ticket will be awarded for every five years of volunteer work:

  • 5-9 Years: 1 Ticket
  • 10-14 Years: 2 Tickets (and so on)

Additionally, Directors may nominate volunteers who have gone far above & beyond the call of duty for Service Ticket(s), subject to approval by the Hardrock Board.