Lost Forester Charity Race Cloquet MN

The Lost Forester Runs of Pine Valley provides community and visiting runners a family friendly trail run on Saturday August 23, 2025 morning and a fund raiser for the Blue House Orphanage for 30 girls in Kazoo, Uganda.

The Lost Forester Runs of Pine Valley run is a trail race with 2 options — 5.5K on the ski trails that run through Pine Valley’s scenic pines and hardwoods, or 12.5 miles that run on the trails and off the trails.

A word to the wise, being lost means distances may vary a bit from the posted distances.

Your participation in this race helps girls and young women grow in a safe, caring environment, and receive more education. With the support from Blue House, they can become independent adults, with a chance to beat the poverty that they faced as young, vulnerable children and orphans.

Date, Time, and Location

The Lost Forester takes place on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 8:30 am at Pine Valley Recreation Center in Cloquet, MN.

Rules

1. Have fun and stay safe.
2. Stay on the mowed ski trail or mountain bike trail or follow the orange ribbons.
3. Unused trails are blocked at intersections..
4. Finish the race by ringing the Lost Forester’s dinner bell.
5. Stay afterwards for the Lost Forester’s favorite breakfast – flapjacks and maple syrup.
6. Plaid is the shirt of choice.
7. Eye protection is highly recommended for the 12.5 miler.
8. Be aware of the bear.

Lost Forester – 5.5K

1. 1) One clockwise loop on Pine Valley ski trail

1. 2) Don’t go on the mountain bike trails

• a) The turn off to the mountain bike trail is well marked, don’t take it

3) The turn off to Pine Valley West is mowed and well-marked, don’t take it

1. 4) Go straight through intersections

1. 5) Stay on mowed ski trails

1. 6) Mostly red flags sticking in the ground block no go intersections

• a) There are some yellow flags blocking turn offs in the back loop

7) Ignore orange ribbons hanging from trees and brush

8) Go through the finisher chute

Lost Forester – 12.5 miler

1. 1) Be safe

1. 1. a. You should have a compass

1. 1. b. Bring your own water and energy while in the woods

1. 1. c. Ground is very uneven

1. 1. • • i. Be careful of hidden holes, logs

      d. Brush is very thick

      • i. Be careful of twigs in or near your face

1. 1. • • ii. Glasses sun or safety are highly recommended

      e. Run in a group or with a partner if you are unsure of your wood skills

1. 1. 1. f. You might get wet

   2) Follow the yellow flags on the ground and orange ribbons hanging from the trees and brush

   1. a. Pay attention to the yellow flags with Lost Forester logo and text “11k & 8 miler”

1. 1. b. Yellow flags will ALWAYS be on your left

1. 1. c. Follow the yellow flags around the corners of intersections

1. 1. d. On top of the ski jump hill there is a short section of two-way trail marked with yellow and orange flags

1. 1. e. There may be some pink paint arrows if the rain didn’t wash them out

1. 1. f. The yellow flags kind of blend in with the green leaves

1. 1. g. Whenever you see orange two orange Killer Tree ribbons about a foot apart, follow them

1. 1. h. 1 ribbon keep going straight-ish – may be just a plain orange ribbon

1. 1. i. 2 ribbons make a sharp turn or go off or on a trail

1. 1. • i. When going off trail – there will be two orange Killer Tree ribbons

1. 1. • • ii. When getting back on trail – there will be two orange ribbons and one orange ribbon about 20 feet away to indicate the direction to take on the trail

      j. 3 ribbons pick up a data card

      • i. Data card must match your bib number. If you have the wrong number and you are finished before the person with your number, you will be docked.

1. 1. • ii. Data cards are in VERY inconvenient locations

1. 1. • iii. Data cards are visible and well-marked but you might miss them

1. 1. 1. • iv. Follow the instructions in the white mesh bag

   3) When you find the Lost Forester, he will provide you with a treat

1. 4) For a clean finish

1. 1. a. Bring back all data cards – runners don’t know how many

• i. Data card must match your bib number

b. Start at the timing shed and go up the ski jump landing hill

1. 1. c. Ring the forester’s lunch bell

1. 1. 1. d. Under 180 minutes

   5) All runners will get a time, except those that don’t finish or don’t have all their data cards

1. 6) There will be a muddy spot in a swamp

• a. You might get muddy

7) There will be 3 road crossings – be safe,

• a. Nobody will be watching for cars

8) There is a patch of poison ivy on the course

• a. The ribbons go around it

9) There is a lot of buckthorn

• a. It is prickery, watch out for it