Great Columbia Crossing

2007 Results
View the 2007 Great Columbia Crossing race results.

2007 Images
Race photography is available at Evan Pilchik Photography

About
Experienced athletes and amateurs alike will enjoy the rare opportunity to cross the mighty Columbia River on foot during the 26th Annual Great Columbia Crossing 10K walk/run. Participants will start the race in Washington, cross the 4.1 mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge – typically open to vehicular and cycling traffic only – and finish in Oregon. The longest continuous truss span bridge in North America, the Astoria-Megler Bridge rises 205 feet above the river, offering a challenging incline as well as beautiful views of the historic Astoria and Warrenton communities below. An awards ceremony and chowder lunch for participants immediately follows the race.

Course
The Great Columbia Crossing is a 10K run or walk. Its centerpiece is the 4.1 mile long Astoria-Megler Bridge, which spans the Columbia River near its mouth. Runners and walkers start on the Washington side of the river at Dismal Nitch rest area to cross the bridge into Astoria. The finish line is at Tapiola Park, with post race activities taking place at the High School. The course is mostly flat, with a challenging incline at the ship channel.

Number & T-shirt Pickup
Registration confirmation, bib number and voucher for T-shirt will be mailed to you at the end of September. If you choose to pay the mailing fee of $4, we will mail your shirt out to you. (This option is no longer available due to time sensitivity.) Vouchers can be redeemed at AHS on Saturday from 11am-9pm or on Sunday after the race.
If you register in person after August 20, you will receive your full packet at that time. If your online or mail-in registration is received on or after October 5, you can pick up your race materials on-site on Saturday or Sunday.

Please register by October 1st to help us ensure that everyone will receive a T-shirt, we cannot guarantee a shirt will be available in your size after this date.

Parking
Parking will be at the Port of Astoria and at the Port of Ilwaco. You may park as early as 6am, please have your car moved by 2pm.

Race Headquarters & Finish Line
On Saturday and Sunday the race headquarters will at the Astoria High School located at 1001 West Marine Dr. Award ceremony, T-shirt voucher redemption and chowder feed will take place at this location. There is no parking available at this site for participants. The official Finish Line will be at Tapiola Park, just a short walk from the high school.

Starting Line
The starting line this year has been moved slightly nearer to the bridge to accomodate the new finish at Tapiola Park. Shuttles will drop participants off at the Megler Rest Area where port a potties and water will be available. A truck will be onsite to take extra layers of clothing over to the finish line for you. Back by popular demand, we will have pre-race warm ups this year.

Shuttles
You may not board a shuttle to the starting area without your race bib number. Shuttles will leave from two locations on Sunday morning:
Astoria – near Basin and Industry streets (between Red Lion and Cannery Pier Hotels), a short walk from the parking at Pier 1. Shuttles will depart beginning at 7am and leave every 20 minutes. The last shuttle will leave at 8:10.
Ilwaco – Howerton Way (across form Port of Ilwaco parking lot) This shuttle will depart twice, at 7:30 and at 8:10.
Shuttles will run regularly from the high school back to parking until noon.

Bridge Use & Traffic Impact
Only registered event participants are allowed on the bridge – your race number must be visible at all times. Since one lane remains open to traffic on the bridge during the race, for safety reasons all participants must remain in the race lane. Citations will be given for those crossing into the traffice lane. Children under 8 must be with an adult at all times during the course.
No dogs or bicycles are allowed on the bridge as a part of the event. Strollers will be allowed, as long as they are collapsed while on the shuttle.
Traffic will be stopped for about 15-20 minutes at 9am while the participants move from the starting area to the bridge. Traffic will then be lead onto the bridge alternating directions for the next 2 hours. A ‘sweep bus’ will pick up any pedestrians that are still on the bridge at 11am, opening the bridge back up to normal traffic.

Race Results, Awards and Chowder Feed
The awards ceremony will be at Astoria High School – awards will be given to overall male & female and top male and female runners in all age divisions. Only runners will be timed. A chowder feed preceeds the ceremony, free to all participants and volunteers. The results will be posted on this website Monday morning.

Race Photographer
Race photos will be taken by Evan Pilchik photography. The photos will be uploaded to their site www.backprint.com/evanpilchik after the race where you can purchase if you’d like to. You can locate your photo their by entering your bib number, so be sure to keep those numbers visible! Photographers will be in a couple locations along the route in addition to the finish.

Register via our online registration form.

Info | Register | Results

Photography

Race photography is available at Evan Pilchik Photography

Race Shirts

If you’d like to purchase an additional race shirt, we do have them available. Please call 1-800-875-6807 or email to inquire about sizes. Shirts are $15 each, $4 if you’d like it mailed to you.

2008 Great Columbia Crossing

Next year’s event will take place on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Registration will be available in July.