Devils Backbone 50 Miler

Race completed

80 km Distance

3,500 m Climbing

9.3 Grit · Elite / extreme

45.6797° N, 111.0386° W © OpenFreeMap © OpenMapTiles Data from OpenStreetMap

What the course asks

Climbing rate 44 m / km Mountain. Significant climbing. Steep sections will require power hiking.

Time limit 18 hours 13:30 min/km average. Generous. Walkable throughout for most of the field. More forgiving than 77% of 50 mi races. Measured against 471 races of the same distance. Cut-off calculator →

Field size ~8 Tiny. You will run alone for most of it.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

Typical conditions, July

Daytime high 26°C

Night low 10°C

Rainfall Mostly dry

Daylight 15 h 29 m of light

Regional 2001-2020 average for July — NASA POWER, grid elevation 1997 m. Not a forecast.

Results history

Year	Race	Finishers	Men's winner	Women's winner
2025	50mi	8	Nicholas Dea · 12:38:00	Gracie Strasser · 16:49:00
2023	50mi	17	Jeffrey Garmire · 09:21:48	Erika Fox · 12:07:40
2022	50mi	9	Zachary Sayre · 11:09:00	Emily Sullivan · 12:07:40
2021	50mi	13	Zachary Cohen · 09:12:00	Jill Johnson · 12:48:00
2020	50mi	24	Nick Snow · 08:32:00	Brianna Russell · 11:18:00
2018	50mi	19	Jake Milligan · 09:40:00	Bridget Uzzelle · 13:16:00
2017	50mi	13	Jesse Doll · 10:46:00	Katie Gibson · 11:38:00
2016	50mi	15	David Ayala · 07:48:00	Eliza Eddy · 12:54:00
2015	50mi	20	David Ayala · 08:24:00	Emily Linton · 10:56:00
2014	50mi	23	Ian MacNairn · 09:44:00	Wendy Weaver · 14:48:00

The field shrank 53% between 2023 (17) and 2025 (8). 38% of the 2025 field were women.

DUV results for the 2025 edition (50mi) — finishers only. Starters are not published, so the field was at least this big and no finish rate can be given.

The Aid Station

Course-specific beta from the community

⛰️ terrain

This is a mountain course. Poles are highly recommended for the sustained climbs.

By UltraHub Expert

👟 gear

With trail terrain, choose a shoe with moderate cushioning for optimal performance.

By UltraHub Expert

Gear for this race

Chosen for 80 km of trail with 3,500 m of ascent.

Trail Running Shoes 44 m of climb per kilometre — grip and rock protection before cushioning.
Race Nutrition 80 km of self-supported fuelling between aid stations.
Hydration Vests Pole attachment and chest-strap stability on steep ground.
Trekking Poles 3,500 m of ascent to walk up.
Headlamps A 18 h limit puts you out there after dark.

Asics

Trabuco Max 3

★★★★★ 4.6

La Sportiva

Prodigio Pro

RunRepeat found the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro to have a secure, locked-in fit due to its premium upper, and also praised the shoe's energetic ride, particularly…

$225 ★★★★★ 4.6

Spring Energy