[Author’s Note: This is the eighth article in an 11-part series celebrating legendary aid stations. You can read about the series here.]
Last year, as part of my Under the Radar Races series, I wrote about a fantastic point-to-point race in the Crazy Mountains of Montana, the Crazy Mountain 100 Mile. The Crazy Mountain 100 Mile celebrated its fourth edition last month, and it has quickly and quietly cemented itself as one of the unsung, old-school heroes of the North American ultra scene. Boasting over 23,000 feet of climbing on some of the most unspoiled land in the contiguous U.S., the event is a true adventure.
The course crisscrosses remote cattle ranches and deep wilderness in the sparsely populated south-central Montana, providing runners with a 100-mile tour of high alpine peaks and extensive prairie grasslands. Runners pass through the Cow Camp aid station twice, first at mile 33 and then again at mile 55 after a grueling journey up and over Conical Peak, the high point on the course.
The Cow Camp aid station in the Crazy Mountain 100 Mile. All photos: Crazy Mountain 100 Mile
According to long-time aid station volunteer Kelly Meeker, in order to provide runners with support deep in the backcountry, “Cow Camp aid station combines the expertise of cowboys/cowgirls, outdoors people, and grizzled ultrarunners to create a horse- and mule-supplied wilderness aid station that serves hot pizza, cold sodas, and ass-shaking dance moves.”
The statistics with respect to what the aid station provides are dizzying, as each year approximately 15 volunteers and 10 horses pack in over 1,000 pounds of supplies, including satellite dishes, Sodastreams, hundreds of pounds of ice, solar panels, holiday lights, and stereo speakers. The horseback trek to the aid station is over 10 miles each way on remote trails, and the volunteers set up camp for three days. To entertain the runners, Meeker notes, “The volunteer team creates a ‘legen-dairy’ aid station in a [traditional] high-country rancher’s camp, which includes cow costumes, cow puns, and abundant cow decor.”
Over 1,000 pounds of ice, food, and gear is packed into the Cow Camp aid station.
Three-time Crazy Mountain finisher Stuart Chutter had this to say about the Cow Camp aid station: “You might envision an aid station that has to be packed in on horseback would be minimalist and simple. Not at Crazy Mountain! If you thought ultrarunners were crazy, wait till you meet the volunteers at Cow Camp. The aid station alone is worth running 100 miles for.”
The 2026 Crazy Mountain 100 Mile is scheduled for July 24 and is limited to 200 runners. It will certainly fill up fast, so if you are interested in joining the legendary fun of the Cow Camp aid station, register on December 14, 2025!
Bottoms up!
Cow Camp volunteers subtly embrace the cow theme.
AJW’s Beer of the Week
This week’s Beer of the Week comes from Crazy Mountain Brewery in Denver, Colorado. Colfax Pale Ale is a classic American pale ale brewed with just the right amount of hops balanced with sweetness. Weighing in at 6.5%, Colfax is the perfect way to end a long day in the Crazy Mountains, or any mountains!
Call for Comments
- Have you visited the Cow Camp aid station? Is it as fun as described?
- Have you been moooo-ved to try the Crazy Mountain 100 Mile?
