The 35th running of the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run has been cancelled, due to the unprecedented amount of wildfires that have struck northern California in
recent days and the health risks that have been associated with these wildfires. Air pollution and wildifres in close proximity to the trail are the chief hazards.
More than 840 wildfires are burning across the West, with 312 wildfires in northern California and more than 3,200 lightning strikes in the Tahoe National Forest alone on June 21.
"Holding this year’s race would pose too great a risk to our runners, to our aid station personnel and to our volunteers," the Western States Board of Trustees explained. "Given the close proximity of at least two fires that are
within two miles of our race course and a critical access road, as well as the deteriorating air quality stretching from our start in Squaw Valley to Auburn, Calif., the board has determined that cancellation, rather than postponement or the use of an alternative course, represents the safest and most prudent decision for our 2008 event."
