Skillman, NJ (August 5th, 2022) – All are welcome to participate in the 11th annual Sourland Spectacular to enjoy natural beauty, fresh air, and fun to “Save the Sourlands.” Registration is now open for the in-person “kickoff” event on September 10th and self-paced cycling, hiking, and running September 11-17th.

“I hope everyone will join us in September on the trails, roads, and social media. We have worked on developing some fun ways to connect with your friends, share your experiences, and challenge each other, all while enjoying the beautiful landscapes the Sourland Mountain region has to offer.” said event co-chair Jim Andrews, who is also an avid cyclist.

The Conservancy will be offering our traditional event with some slight modifications to accommodate those riders who may not feel comfortable riding in large groups, promoting a full week of riding the routes and hiking our trails with rest stops and water stations still in place. The kickoff event on September 10th will feature both staggered starts and lunches. Pre-event coffee and breakfast will be followed by lunches served from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.

The routes are designed with road bikes in mind, and the routes include only paved roads. Many mountain bikers would find it enjoyable as well. In fact, participants are welcome to ride any human-powered contraption permitted by law - including electric bikes.

Early bird registration fee for the kickoff is $45 and ends on Wednesday, August 17th. The regular adult registration is $60. For participants who would prefer to ride on their own from September 11th–17th, they may donate what they can.

Kickoff ticket price includes lunch, swag (sporty salamander socks) and rest stops with snacks. Small World Coffee (Princeton) will provide coffee, and the Bagel Barn and Deli will provide bagels at the registration tent. New World Pizza will be preparing a variety of pizzas on site in their truck-mounted wood-burning oven, as well as delicious subs. And dessert, of course, is our signature brownie sundae, with award-winning ice cream from the Bent Spoon, home-made brownies, and our special Sourland chocolate sauce.

SAG (Support And Gear) service is also included in the kickoff ticket price. Each rider will be provided with a phone number that they can call if they need to be picked up and brought back to the Otto Kaufman Center.

Rest stops, located at the Larison’s Corner Presbyterian Church in Ringoes and the Black Shed in Stockton, will have all-natural peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruit, among other snacks. Port-a-potties, hand washing stations, and water refill stations will be located at both rest stops, where they will remain during the “At Your Own Pace” portion of the event.

Cyclists, hikers, and trail runners who opt for the “At Your Own Pace” registration will also be able to use the port-a-potties, hand washing, and water refill stations at the church throughout the week. The Black Shed restrooms will also remain open during business hours.

There are three routes, ranging from 29.3 to 62.4 miles. Arrows of different colors will be affixed to the roads, marking every turn. Participants can download draft cue sheets from the website as soon as they become available (within a week of the event), https://www.sourlandspectacular.com/routes-1. Course markers will remain in place throughout the “At Your Own Pace” week of the event, as well.

The Spectacular is offering an additional challenge for participants! Riders and hikers can opt to be sponsored and those who solicit $250 or more in donations will receive a sporty wind jacket commemorating the event. Alternatively, participants will be able to purchase wind jackets for $95. Visit the website for more information, www.sourlandspectacular.com/fundraising.

Proceeds from the Sourland Spectacular will support the Sourland Conservancy - a local nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect, promote and preserve the 90-square-mile Sourland Mountain Region. Their work is more critical than ever as the forest is on track to lose over one million trees due to the invasive emerald ash borer. Proceeds from the event will help support their tremendous forest restoration effort, now underway. The Sourland Conservancy hopes to plant 10,000 trees and shrubs again this year!

“Our staff, volunteers, and community partners are doing all we can to restore the forest. We need help,” said Laurie Cleveland, Sourland Conservancy’s Executive Director. “Millions of people in Pennsylvania and New Jersey rely on the forest to provide clean air and drinking water, habitat for endangered species, carbon sequestration, and more. Now, the forest is facing a serious threat. We will all need to work together to protect it.”

The Sourland Spectacular kickoff event will be held September 10th, from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. Hikers, cyclers, and trail runners are invited to participate “At Your Own Pace” September 10th thru the 17th on Sourland region roads and public hiking trails. When posting, please be sure to include the hashtag #sourlandspectacular2022. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.sourlandspectacular.com or email [email protected].