What type of sleeping bag do I need for the Grand to Grand Ultra?
Written by Garth Reader
The Grand to Grand Ultra takes place in the high desert of the Colorado Plateau in the USA. The course, therefore, takes place in the altitude range of approximately 5000’ (1524m) to almost 8,700’ (2652m). Competitors can, therefore, expect to experience a large temperature range each day from a high of 30C (86F) during the day to lows overnight of 8C (46F) or lower. In fact, at the final camp at an altitude of around 7,000’ (2,134m), the temperature can drop overnight to below 0C (32F).
Given the unfamiliarity by most people with sleeping bag temperature limits, the following is a detailed explanation relating to the acceptability of sleeping bags (or quilts) for G2G. We do not wish to dictate specific brands of equipment for your use and we have found that many people have personal preferences. Accordingly, it is your responsibility to obtain appropriate equipment for a successful race.
It's (Almost) All In Your Head
How to prepare your mind to meet the challenges of a self-supported stage race
I had zero experience stage racing when I registered for the inaugural Grand to Grand Ultra in 2012, on assignment for Trail Runner magazine. I did, however, have a decent amount of experience as an ultra-distance trail runner, and through ultras I began to develop what’s arguably the most important trait to finish a self-supported stage race: mental toughness.
Eliminating Single Use Plastic Bottles
G2G will provide you with two valuable lessons to do with water.
The first is that water should not be treated as a free, unlimited resource. At G2G you will learn...
Magical Camps In The Desert
One magical aspect of the Grand to Grand Ultra is the camp. Each morning, the camp is erected in a unique location in readiness for the arrival of our competitors.
Taking Risk Management Seriously
We know that crossing 275 km on foot over desert terrain is tough and requires our competitors to be physically and mentally prepared. G2G takes place in remote terrain where there is very little mobile phone signal and where unprepared people do get lost. We want you to focus on the race and not to worry about other things that are the responsibility of the organisers.
Grand to Grand Ultra's Digital Detox
Digital Detox - (noun informal - a period of time during which a person refrains from using electronic devices such as smartphones or computers, regarded as an opportunity to reduce stress or focus on social interaction in the physical world).
Is a Stage Race for You?
Back-to-back-to-back long runs plus camping make for an unforgettable ultra experience. Imagine this: Yesterday, you ran a marathon-length trail ...
Heat Illness
An evidence-based review of heat illness for runners. If your body gets too hot then the biochemical pathways that keep your body running satart ...
Foot Care
"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." This quote aptly summarizes ...
Hydration and Electrolytes
An evidence-based review of hydration and electrolytes for runners. Back in 2010 I was deployed to California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range for cold weather and mountain warfare training ...
Fauna
Scorpions and Spiders are some of the critters you should be aware of during your time in the AZ/UT desert…
Self Care
ONE WEEK TO GO!!! You have put in the miles. Your gear and shoes are broken in. You have chosen your meals/snacks and everything fits in your pack. And, of course ...