Skunk Ape’s Revenge 60k/30k!
When: February 10th, 2024
Distance: 60k, 30k, 30k Ruck (new)
Start Time: 8am! Rain or Shine.
Location: Green Swamp - West Tract
Address: 13347 Ranch Road, Dade City, FL, 33525
Pet Food Drive: Cindy’s Pets! (Scroll down to read more)
Awards: The Top Four Men and Women overall winners! Brie with Wicked Skins does such an amazing job time and time again.
Finisher Awards: HATS! We’ve got hats for y’all! New year, new logo for the hat. Those doing the 30k Ruck will also be getting the Hat and a special patch as a bonus!
STICKERS! Always. We will back again with a bunch of options for you to choose from!
Additionally, we also have shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, and so on available on the Merch Store: https://www.bonfire.com/store/skunkapeevents/
Aid Stations: Every 3 to 5 miles!
- Aid Stations will be stocked with Soda, Pickles, Gummy Bears or Worm..idk one of those, Chips, Snacks, Cookies, Produce, some brand of powder electro's. We will also provide band-aids and women hygiene products in a plastic box at all the Aid Stations.
Course Marking
We will have Pink Flagging and “turn here” arrow signs that will have self-correcting info on it in case you're concerned. If you don’t see Pink, you better Rethink! I know we all love an adventure, but, maybe not an unplanned one.
The Course
If you've done the Skunk Ape Night Run, it's the same course, only this time... you get to do it during the day! Woohoo!!
What else should I say? This is a classic Florida race that covers almost all of the terrains Florida has to offer. From pasture lanes, mug, dirt roads, single track trails on the Florida Trail, some hills, to sugar sand, fire berms, and more!
You’ll be listening to the drone of frogs from all over, hoots from the owls, calls from birds, buzzing of bugs, and the yips of coyotes in the distance. Part of that sound and also silence, will make you wonder if “just that sound” was from something else... perhaps, the Skunk Ape.
The Start will be between Ranch and Cumpressco Road. You will take off down Cumpressco Road, which will turn right onto a lane between two pastures that turns into a dirt road called Rangers Landing Road. You will follow this road for a few miles until you reach the Big Foot BSA campsite (just under 3 miles). Once reaching that point you will follow the loop and come back the way you came until you are directing to turn right onto the Florida Trail. There are two Florida Trail entrances, you will taking the second one that you will come across on the way back from the loop. (Both will be marked to not enter or enter).
Once on the Florida Trail you will follow the course markers (flagging, glow sticks, and tape). Watch out for the Skunk Ape, according to research it is “highly likely” that he roams the land.
This will then bring you across the Cumpressco Road and then over a small bridge, still remaining on the Florida Trail.
Nearing mile 8 you will cross Ranch Road and follow the markers turning onto the dirt road called Cedar Pocket Road.
Following that road for around half a mile you will then turn onto a pasture lane. This is where you follow the fire berm for mile 9 to 11. There used to be a ranch located here in the 1940's and is now long gone.
Then turning right back onto Cedar Pocket Road you will follow the road until meeting back up with the Florida Trail. You will again turn right and follow the Florida Trail until roughly mile 14 when you'll turn left back onto Cedar Pocket Road.
Following Cedar Pocket Road you will follow it as it goes from gravel and grass going straight. Then around mile Mile 17 you will turn right onto a grass horse trail and follow it for the last mile and a half of the course.
As you leave the grassy horse trail, you will be directed by tall flagging for the final turns and loop in the open fields until going back onto Ranch Road to the finish line.
Pacing and Crewing
There will be no pacers for the 30k, but you may have someone for the 60k. 60k pacers may join you on your final 30k loop!
All of the aid stations will NOT have crew access by vehicle, however, you’re more than welcome to bike or run out to the aid stations to see your runner. This goes for folks who are camping too, please do not drive around the course.
Crew Vehicles must remain parked in the parking lot behind the gate or stay at your campsite.
Drop Bags
Drop Bags: There will be one drop bag zone at the Berm Aid Station! So you’ll hit it twice, once at you get to the Berm Loop then again as you leave the Berm Loop.
Drop Bags must have your name written on it! Use duck tape and a sharpie marker. Please try to keep drop bags no larger the a standard draw string bag.
Drop Bags will only be returned to the Start/Finish after that Aid Station has packed up and left. So keep that in mind when choosing what bag you’re going to use. You won’t have access to drive out there.
Sponsors
Bib Sponsor: Alpha Safety Consultants! The mission of Alpha Safety Consultants is in the fact they recognize their ethical and social responsibilities of developing policies and programs in the interest to establish and maintain a strong Safety Culture for its clients. Their success is a consequence of the participation and full commitment of company personnel and customers alike.
PICKLE POPS!!! This year Pickle Pops will at the HUB and Fire Berm Aid Station. Pickle juice is always the way to go and Pickle Pop’s are the best solution.
The Florida Trail Runners Podcast is one of our race sponsors, this is new podcast for our community. Its mission is to represent and promote trail and ultra-running here in the state of Florida! Explore the state, talk to the people, and learn the history! You can find it on Spotify, Apple, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Audible, and on so many more!
Camping
Camping is FREE in the Green Swamp.
Sites have picnic tables, fire rings and/or grills.
A free reservation is required and must be displayed or available at campground.
The Ashley Campground or Cumpressco Campground would be the way to go.
Youll need to create a login at the Southwest Florida Water Management District website;
https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/user/login?destination=/recreation/green-swamp-west-tract/activities
2024 Skunk Ape Trail Series
The Skunk Ape Trail Series connects all four of the Skunk Ape Events trail races together into one challenge! This includes the Skunk Ape’s Revenge, the Skunk Ape 100 Mile Endurance Run, the Skunk Ape Night Run, and the Wild Boar Night Run!
It doesn’t matter which distance you choose, just as long as you show up and get that finish!
Everyone who completes the Skunk Ape Trail Series will be given a 2024 Jacket! This year for 2024, we’ll have a different color and design for y’all. Last year we had around 40 runners earn that jacket!
Cindy's Pets Pet Food Drive
PET FOOD DRIVE the Skunk Ape’s Revenge 60k 30k! Hey y’all, you know I love my three dogs. So one of my favorite local charities here in Pasco County is called Cindy's Pets.
They pack and deliver pet food for the pets of Senior Citizens who participate in the Meals on Wheels program, thereby assuring that both the Seniors and their pets have plenty to eat.
The volunteers deliver 2,000 pounds of cat, dog, and bird food to over 400 pets each month.
So if you’re coming out on race day and think, I’d love to help out, hey bring some dog food, cat food, treats and toys. It definitely means a lot to all the lives it touches!
Trail Sisters Approved Race
Skunk Ape Events is a come one, come all atmosphere. It doesn’t matter what pace you run, your size and shape, experience level. Whether you run the entire race, walk the whole thing, or crash and burn. What does matter is that you are experiencing a valuable and enjoyable time on the trails, surrounded by those who are supportive and empowering.
Trail Sisters was created to constitute for an equitable outdoors both recreationally and throughout the industry. Female voice and representation are essential in the future of our outdoors, impacting the role we play both on and off the trails.
To break through long-standing barriers, Trail Sisters generates educational content and resources, while fostering an inspirational community that encourages self-advocacy and life-long friendships.
Did You Know....
Did you know? Skunk Ape sightings date back hundreds of years, including during the Seminole Wars. During the Seminole Wars, people ran into Skunk Apes in their battles near the Miami River and Big Cypress. The same goes for the Green Swamp - West Tract near Dade City, Florida.
Reports of the skunk ape were particularly common in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, there have still been many sightings of a large, foul-smelling, hairy, ape-like creature, which ran upright on two legs in the Green Swamp area near Dade City, Florida.
The evidence comes in form of photos, audio responses from wood knocking, and also some other sounds that many Paranormal Investigators and Professional Bigfoot Hunting Teams believe, could be the Skunk Ape. They have also found what appear to be nests of some kind, made by a large animal in Pasco County’s deep woods... bears can also be seen, but rarely inside of Pasco County. How the Skunk Ape interacts with local wildlife is unknown.
Tracks were also observed as well. At the current time the creature in the Green swamp is still active according to researchers and locals there. Footprints of the Pasco County Skunk Ape have measured 17 inches in length and their depth implied a creature of tremendous weight, perhaps in excess of 600 pounds. There are other reported foot prints which claimed to be as large as 24 inches long and 8 inches wide.
The Green Swamp WMA has long been known to be home to the Florida Bigfoot, or Skunk Ape. Several investigations in many specific areas inside of the Green Swamp, have concluded that several investigators are “pretty sure” and are “very certain” that this creature does dwell inside the Green Swamp WMA, and has for a very long time.
Event's current local time: 8:32 AM ET
