Report To:
Packet Pickup Coordinator – Cheri Storkamp @ the Visitors Center

Volunteer Location:
Afton State Park Visitors Center – Adjacent from parking lots / Start – Finish line.

Responsibility:
Check runners in on race morning. The most important thing while checking runners in, is that we confirm that we have their age & division correct as this is very important in gathering and publishing race results. Their bib number with timing chip affixed will be issued to them and we will give them their race bag and the size T-Shirt or swag item that they asked for as listed on the spreadsheet you will be provided. Once packet pickup is closed, those who are not moving on to another position or have time prior to moving on to that position will help to clean-up the Visitors Center as we are mostly finished using the building for the day.

Positions Available:
(Minimum) Packet Pickup (8), T-Shirts (4), Merch (2)

Report To:
John or Cheri Storkamp @ the Visitors Center

Volunteer Location:
Afton State Park – under tents Adjacent to the Start / Finish line.

Narrative / Responsibility:
Those runners parking in the overflow parking area at Afton Alps will walk up to 15 minutes to the race start / finish area and may not have time to return to their vehicles before the start of the race.  Runners will need a place to securely store their race t-shirt, warmups etc.  Volunteers will accept warmup-drop-bags from runners, will label using provided tags with the runners race number, will organize and store drop bags.  When runners are done, they will pick up their bag from the same location.

Positions Available:
(Minimum) 4, in two shifts

Report To: Parking Coordinator / Robert Litchey @ the Visitors Center

Volunteer Location:
Parking Lots Adjacent to Start-Finish line and Visitors Center and at overflow parking lots on Afton Alps per THIS map.

Responsibility: 
Direct traffic as it enters the parking area – close off the lot directly in-between the visitors center and the start finish area and mark for Afton Trail Run volunteers – Also in the lot furthest to the north, block / leave open 15 spots from race parking for general public parking later in the day. Temporarily close off other lots near the start / finish area and work on filling up parking lots furthest away first. Help by guiding people to park cars as closely together as possible, if this is not done, people will park too far apart and we will run out of parking.  No parking is allowed on the road, overflow parking will be at Afton Alps Medows Chalet per THIS https://www.aftontrailrun.com/wp-content/uploads/Afton-Trail-Run-Parking-Map.pdf

IMPORTANT: Meet in visitors center @ 4:45 and look for the race director, please bring a headlamp or flashlight if you are doing this job – the race will provide a reflective vests.

Positions Available:
(Minimum) Parking (12 to 20)

Important: Note that the aid station open and close times listed below are projections based on current course record times – you should  plan to arrive at least 1 hour before the listed open time to allow ample time to setup your aid station and be ready for the first runner. That being said, it is best to arrive as early as possible as this is an art not a science – bring a book, enjoy the woods and wait for the first runner!
Report To:
Aid Station Captain (See Volunteer Assignments)

Description:
Aid Station 1 & 2 will be positioned at the “entrance” into the Back 40 Loop (aka Trout Brook), Immediately after the long gravel downhill.  Position the aid station in the middle of the 4 way intersection to separate incoming runners from outgoing runners.

Responsibilities:
Work the aid station – read AID STATION 101 if you have questions

Directions:
See Map HERE

Take 70th Street to the intersection where you can either enter the state park or go into Afton Alps Ski area.  Follow the road into Afton Alps and down the long hill into the ski area.  Once at the bottom of the hill park in the spots directly in front of the first ski hill.  Look for the spur trail into Afton State Park.  Once you reach the end of the spur trail, take a right onto the main trail and walk to the aid station.  In total, this walk will not take you more than 4 or 5 minutes.

Important: Note that the aid station open and close times listed below are projections based on current course record times – you should  plan to arrive at least 1 hour before the listed open time to allow ample time to setup your aid station and be ready for the first runner. That being said, it is best to arrive as early as possible as this is an art not a science – bring a book, enjoy the woods and wait for the first runner!

Report To:
Aid Station Captain (See Volunteer Assignments)

Description:
This is the first aid station that you come two once you come down from the Africa Loop to the river valley. The first time runners encounter this aid station it is considered aid Station 3.  After leaving AS 3 you climb out of the valley via the very long gravel hill, you then loop around come back down via the North Hill, loop under the bridge, climb to Campround, run down Campground Hill for your second trip to the aid station (AS 4).  Runners then proceed south on the rail trail following the river to Meat Grinder Hill.  DIRECTIONS:

Responsibilities:
Work the aid station – read AID STATION 101 if you have questions

Directions:
See Map HERE

Park all the way in the back of the main parking lot (furthest lot away from the Interpretative Center)  Head North out of the lot on foot following the paved paths down into the valley toward the river and the beach.  Once the paved path ends and you get on the gravel “Rail Trail” take a left, you will shortly come to the 5 way intersection where the aid station is.

Important: Note that the aid station open and close times listed below are projections based on current course record times – you should plan to arrive at least 1 hour before the listed open time to allow ample time to setup your aid station and be ready for the first runner. That being said, it is best to arrive as early as possible as this is an art not a science – bring a book, enjoy the woods and wait for the first runner!

Report To:
Aid Station Captain (See Volunteer Assignments)

Description:
Following the rail trail / river south from aid station 4 runners take a hard right at Meatgrinder Hill and climb out of the valley.  Shortly after reaching the top of the hill runners will arrive at aid station 5.

Responsibilities:
Work the aid station – read AID STATION 101 if you have questions

Directions:
See Map HERE https://www.aftontrailrun.com/wp-content/uploads/Afton-Trail-Run-Aid-Station-5-Volunteer-Parking-Updated-June-2019.jpg – Once you enter the park from 70th Street, and drive down into the valley, the aid station will be down the first gravel road on your right, there is a sign for Yurts, Camper Cabins and Yurts

Important: Note that the aid station open and close times listed below are projections based on current course record times – you should plan to arrive at least 1 hour before the listed open time to allow ample time to setup your aid station and be ready for the first runner. That being said, it is best to arrive as early as possible as this is an art not a science – bring a book, enjoy the woods and wait for the first runner!

Report To:
Aid Station Captain (See Volunteer Assignments)

Description:
The start finish area serves as the halfway point for the 50K runners.  This is a full aid station, however many of the runners have drop bags with their own aid items.  Aid station closes when the last 50K runners are through.  Leftover aid items are put in the finish line / food tent to get used up.

Responsibilities:
Work the aid station – read AID STATION 101 if you have questions

 

Report To:
Finish Area / Picnic Coordinators – Leads, TBD @ Start / Finish Area

Responsibilities:
Help with the post race picnic keeping food and beverages stocked, serving runners and keeping things tidy!

Positions:
Leads X 2 (individuals that other finish area / picnic volunteers report to.  Supervise entire operation, make sure hygiene practices are being met, ensure volunteers are taking breaks, etc.)

Cooks X2 (3rd party will do the cooking – not looking for volunteers for this position)

Food Prep X3 (making sandwiches, cutting fruit, etc.)

Servers X5 (serving the runners, we do not allow runners to serve themselves)

Drinks & Trash X 2 (make sure water, iced-tea and lemonade is mixed and available – make sure garbage cans are emptied)

Report To:
Race Director / John Storkamp by 5:45AM for a quick tour / run-through of what is entailed.

Responsibilities:
Direct traffic / keep an eye on intersection and small stretch of two way traffic.  This is also a decent place to snap pictures.

Considerations:
Fairly stationary job in the woods, consider bringing a chair and bug spray / bug protection.

Report To:
Race Director John Storkamp and / or Cheri Storkamp

Responsibilities:
Help cleanup and put race equipment back into rental truck at the end of the race.

Considerations:
By the end of the day most of our volunteers are getting pretty tired since most volunteers started very early in the morning.  We like to have a handful of “fresh” volunteers come in towards the end of the day to help with this critical / important task!  Please note that job entails a fair amount of lifting.

Trail marking will primarily take place on the Thursday before the race.  Trail marking is reserved for a core group of volunteers (which you are welcome to become a part of) that marks trail year to year / on a consistent basis – the reason being that this is such an important and technical job that we require volunteers to make a multi-year commitment to learn trail marking – a well marked trail is the hallmark of our event.   Please drop us an email if you are interested in learning.

Report To: Race Director John Storkamp and Trail Marking Lead Todd Rowe @ the Visitors Center exact time TBD (likely 8:00AM)

The Afton Trail Run has two cutoffs, an intermediate cutoff at Aid Station 6 which is also the 25KM point in the race and a finish line cutoff.  Course sweepers will begin taking down the course from Aid Station 6 / the 25KM point at 10:30AM / 4 hours elapsed time for the 50K.  Sweepers will follow the last runner(s) and will be responsible for picking up course marking flags and arrows, will pick up any trash left behind / dropped by runners and will keep an eye out and assist any runners under duress.  Course sweepers should be very fit and able to cover 25KM without issue.  Course sweeping is reserved for those that are interested / willing to make a multi-year commitment to the task as it is imperative that we have highly-skilled sweepers.  If you are interested in making this commitment please contact us via email before signing up and requesting to be a course sweeper.  The lead sweeper for the Afton Trail Run is Todd Rowe.  Report to the Afton Trail Run Finish line by 9:45AM and be ready to depart by 10:30AM

We are always looking for above average, semi-professional and professional volunteer photographers to provide coverage for the event – if you would like to volunteer as a photographer please indicate as much when you sign up.  Photographers will either be mobile / on course choosing their own spots to take pictures or stationed at the finish line.  You can work the entire duration of the event or just a handful of hours.

Portions of the park have little or no cell phone reception so we rely on a dedicated group of amateur / HAM Radio operators to provide communications for the event.  If you are a licensed HAM Radio Operator and would like to volunteer in that capacity there will be a spot on the form to indicate as much.

Primary medical and emergency support is provided by the local authorities having jurisdiction including Hastings Fire and Rescue / EMTs and Lower St. Croix Valley Fire and Rescue with the primary hospital being Hastings Aliina / Regina Hospital in Hastings, MN.  We do like to identify any volunteers who are also medical professionals who would be willing to offer assistance in a good samaritan capacity in the event of a medical emergency until emergency services arrive on scene.  If you are interested in volunteering and are a medical professional there will be a spot on the Volunteer Signup Form to indicate as much.

What, When and Where?
Help setup for packet pickup, the start / finish area and the aid stations on the Friday / one day before the race.  We typically meet at 10AM and are done by 3PM – meet at the Afton State Park Visitors Center HERE / 6959 Peller Ave S, Hastings, MN 55033.  Report to Race Director John Storkamp.

What?
Help clean and put away all of the race gear at the race directors home on Sunday / one day after the race.  We typically start at 10AM and are done by 3PM – if you sign up for this job we will email you directions and additional details the week of the race.