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People running a race in the desert
Rain can theoretically be a welcome sight when you’re running an ultramarathon that takes you through the middle of the desert. However, it caused an issue at the Moab 240, as dozens of people needed to be rescued from the course due to weather that led to the race being called off.
Anyone who signs up to participate in an ultramarathon has decided to subject themselves to some serious adversity, and you need a special type of mentality to take a look at a regular marathon that spans 26.2 miles and think, “That’s not enough for me.”
The Moab 240 certainly offers a challenge as one of the most imposing ultras on the planet.
The race, which was held for the first time in 2017, features a loop that runs through the heart of the Utah desert with an elevation gain of nearly 32,000 feet, and competitors can experience temperatures that can surpass 90° and fall below freezing during a gauntlet they have 112 hours to complete.
Strong winds, snow, and rain can also come into play, and that last form of precipitation ended up derailing this year’s Moab 240 after it kicked off last week.
The Moab 240 was canceled after rain led to 70 people needing to be evacuated from the course
The 2026 edition of the Moab 240 kicked off on Friday, October 9th, and officials were keeping a close eye on the forecast as Tropical Storm Rachel made its way toward the West Coast. Southern California took the brunt of the blow, but its impact was firmly felt in the area of Utah where the race was held.
On Sunday, organizers released a statement in which they announced they’d been forced to cancel the remainder of the race “after severe weather created unsafe conditions across multiple areas.”
That included parts of the course near the Bridger Jack Aid Station at the 96-mile mark (which is located near the butte in Bears Ears National Monument that it takes its name from), which were hit with flooding that made the trail too treacherous to cross.
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That was thankfully one of the pit stops that offer shelter and sleeping accommodations for runners who need some time to refuel, and the ones who arrived there on Saturday evening were forced to remain there overnight (along with the volunteers staffing it) as officials coordinated with emergency responders to formulate a plan.
They were able to get vehicles to Bridger Jack on Sunday morning, and approximately 70 people were successfully evacuated from the area and brought back to the primary base camp.
According to Canadian Running Magazine, Aaron Kubala was 35 miles away from the finish line and leading the race when it was called off, while Ashley Paulson was ahead of the women’s pack. However, no official winners will be declared this year.