THUNDER CHICKEN SQUATCH jamboree
SUNDAY AUGUST 10, 2025
It's time to GET STOKED AT STOKES! This Trail Party is at the beautiful Stokes State Forest in Branchville, NJ. Join us on Sunday August 10, 2025 for the Thunder Chicken Squatch Jamboree! Runners and hikers of all ages and paces can sign up for a 5K, 10K, or 17 miler. We will honor the individuals who have sacrificed so much to service our country by offering 50% off entries to all Active-Duty Military, National Guard, Reserves, and Veterans! If you are in the Military or are a Veteran, please use the code THUNDERCHICKEN to save 50%! We will recognize all of our military runners/hikers before the race.
TRAIL PARTY DETAILS
THUNDER CHICKEN
So what exactly is... "Thunder Chicken"? We are so glad you asked! Long story short, one of our runners serves in the US Army and when we invited her on our podcast in 2021, we found out that her "call-sign" in the Army is THUNDER CHICKEN! And as we mentioned before, we are honoring our military runners/hikers with this trail party, so "Thunder Chicken" was the obvious choice for this race's name! You can check out that podcast episode HERE. The Thunder Chicken Story is at the 54 minute mark! Remember, if you are serving in the Armed Forces right now or you are a Veteran, please use the code THUNDER CHICKEN to save 50% as a small way for us to say thank-you!
CHARITY PARTNER
We are proud to partner with Bigger Than The Trail . BTTT is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that is using trail running as a platform to advocate for mental health. BTTT's mission is to enrich the lives of individuals struggling with mental health. Through their fundraising efforts, BTTT provides free therapy to those in need! Please consider making a donation to BTTT: Bigger Than the Trail to provide cost-free therapy for folks in need.
TRAIL PARTY LOCATION
Please use the following address: 1 Coursen Road, Branchville, NJ and this GPS LINK to get to the park: When you enter the park, the park office is on your right. Continue straight on Coursen Road ALL the way to the end, without making any turns. When you reach the end of Coursen Road at the "T", turn left and park in the parking lot that is next to Kittle Field. If that parking lot is full, you can turn right at the "T" to park at the Stony Lake Parking Lot. Please allow a few extra minutes to walk from this parking lot to the Kittle Picnic Area, where the race start/finish is located. The start/finish is at the Kittle Picnic Area where there is a large covered pavilion, restrooms, and plenty of picnic tables. Interested in carpooling? Check out the Sassquad Carpool Assist Program!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Check-in: 8:15am-8:45am
Start: 9:00am
17M Cut-off at the 7.65M Aid Station: 11:20am
(no on-course cutoff for the 10K or 5K)
Race cut-off for all events: 3pm
We have a 6 hour cut-off for all events. This comes out to about 21 minutes per mile for folks who are completing the 17M. 10K participants need to maintain a 58 min per mile pace and the 5K participants need to maintain a 119 min per mile pace to finish by 3pm.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Much of course is very technical - this means that there are a lot of rocks and roots! Again - there are a lot of rocks and roots! The 17 miler is not recommended for kids under the age of 14. Trekking poles could be helpful for some folks. We recommend a sturdy pair of trail shoes that have good grip/lugs. There is about 1,500 ft of gain in the 17 mile loop. There is about 600 ft gain in the 10K loop; the course is a bit long, closer to 6.6 miles! The 5K has roughly 325 ft of gain.
AID STATIONS
We always have an AED at Squatch HQ + fully stocked first aid kits at each aid station (our first aid kit includes menstrual products and wipes). Squatch HQ has real restrooms with flush toilets and sinks.
17 Milers: the start/finish area will have water and snacks. There will be an aid station with water and snacks at the Steam Mill Camping Area, mile 7.65. Snacks include items like bananas, granola bars, fruit snacks etc. (and maybe ice pops if its hot!). The water-only aid station is at Shotwell Road, mile 13.5.
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10K: the start/finish area will have water and snacks. There will be a water-only aid station at Shotwell Road, mile 3.
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5K: the start/finish area will have water and snacks; there are no on-course aid stations for the 5K.
nature
Branchville, NJ is home to a variety of critters. So this is your "nature disclaimer". Yes, there are snakes. Yes, there are Black Bears. Here is what ya need to do if you see a bear during the race (this is from the Dept of Environmental Protection): If you see a bear, make it aware of your presence and use common sense. Never approach the animal; observe it only from a distance. Clapping, talking, singing, or making other noises lets the bear know you are nearby. Remain standing, avoid direct eye contact, back up slowly, and speak in a calm, assertive voice if you encounter a bear at close range. Do not run.... More information on Bear Encounters.
COURSE MARKINGS
Both events use the very well-marked Blue Mountain Trail. We will only be adding large red directional arrows at each of the turns. Runners/hikers will use the existing blue blazes that are maintained by our friends at the New York New Jersey Trail Conference. The 10K course will have additional ribbons to aid with navigation. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to learn how to read the trail blazes! To learn more about how we mark the course and what the ribbons and signs look like, squatch on over to the Sassquad Trail School to watch the information video about our course markings!
VOLUNTEER DREAM TEAM
Our Volunteer Dream Team is what makes all of the Trail Magic happen! Join us as a Volunteer at this trail party as we support our squatchtastic running community. We have many Volunteer opportunities available such as Check-In, Aid Station Crew, Course Sweepers, etc. Click here to Volunteer!
pacers and crew
As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please pre-register your pacer with us before the start of the Trail Party. Pacers are not allowed for folks under the age of 60 and who are not an AWD.
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This is not a crewing-friendly event as there is no access to see your runner/hiker on the course (there is not enough parking at the mile 7.65 aid station for the 17M).
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BUT- the start/finish at Squatch HQ is an awesome spot for friends and family to hang out! Plenty of picnic tables to use, a playground, and a large field for kids to run around. We have a range of fun games that your family can enjoy: corn hole, connect four, a giant rainbow parachute, and the Squatch Hunt. Don't be shy, join in on the fun!
GETTING TO THE RACE
When you enter the park, the park office is on your right. Continue straight on Coursen Road ALL the way to the end, without making any turns. When you reach the end of Coursen Road at the "T", turn left and park in the parking lot that is next to Kittle Field. If that parking lot is full, you can turn right at the "T" to park at the Stony Lake Parking Lot. Please allow a few extra minutes to walk from this parking lot to the Kittle Picnic Area, where the race start/finish is located. Interested in carpooling? Check out the Sassquad Carpool Assist Program!
Q: What's so great about Stokes State Forest?
Look around, look around at how lucky we are to be alive right now! History is happening ... at Stokes... and we just happen to be in the greatest city in the world! In the greatest city in the world!
Q: Can I bring my dog?
A: Sorry, but Einstein has to stay at home for this race. Our liability insurance does not cover dogs at our events; thank you for understanding!
​Q: Me and my friend aren't registered for the race, but we're still planning on coming to run. We won't eat from the aid station or take a medal or swag. This is okay, right?
A: NO THIS IS NOT OKAY. This is called being a "race bandit" and it is stealing. Not paying for a race and running the race is stealing from the race organization (even if you're not taking food or swag). Don't do this at a Sassquad trail party or ANY other race. It's not okay. If you bandit a race, you will be banned from registering for any of our Sassquad events.
Q: Thanks for answering my questions... Do you have any other advice?
A: Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da da da dat dat da ya da! Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da da da dat dat da ya da!
Q: Will there be an aid station at the park for me to get food or water?
A: WERK! WERK! Yup! We'll have a full station and a water-only aid station on the 17M course. There is a water-only aid station for the 10Kers.
Q: Tell me about the SWAG!
A: Were you paying attention when we told you the first time? Go ahead, sing Thomas Jefferson's song... "So what did I miss? What did I miss?!" All runners/hikers will get a handcrafted wood medal that's made locally in the Squatch Shop! Runners/hikers will also choose a swag item from our Squatch Shop.
Q: Can I sign my kids up for the Trail Party?
A: Yes! We want the WHOLE family to come out to our events! We have a special discount code for families registering 3 or more Squatches in the same household. Please email us (trailpartydirector@sassquadtrailrunning.com) before you register so we can give you the code! Once you have the code, be sure to register your child separately and agree to the waiver for minors. And make sure to keep track of your kiddos before during and after the race. We only have 1 search-party and they're already out there looking for Sasquatch.
Q: What's the story behind "Thunder Chicken"?
A: It's the call-sign for one of our runners who is active-duty Army!
Q: Can I have a pacer?
A: As with all of our events, Squatchers over the age of 60 and AWD (athletes with disabilities) can have a pacer/guide at any time. Please fill out the pacer registration form ahead of time and be sure to pick-up a pacer bib during check-in! Pacers are not allowed for other runners and hikers without prior approval from the Trail Party Director.
Q: Are there restrooms at the start/finish area?
A: There are restrooms at the start/finish area.
Q: I'm military. What code can I use to save 50%?
A: Please use the code THUNDERCHICKEN
Q: I don't feel like reading the course description. Will the course be marked?
A: Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room? Soon that attitude may be your doom. It's always a good idea to be over-prepared. So read the course description and know that the course will be well-marked.
Q: I can't come to the Trail Party anymore, can I get a refund?
A: ​Like many other race organizations, we do not offer refunds for our events. Please take the time to double check your calendar before registering for a Trail Party. Please understand that we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. If you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) more than 21 days from the date of the Trail Party, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. If you sustain an injury less than 21 days from the race date, we will extend a deferral if you come to that race to volunteer for at least 4 hours. If the race that you want to drop from is sold-out with an active wait-list and are able to fill your spot: if you notify us via email (not through social media, text or phone call) at least 3 days before the race, we will extend a deferral to any of our events that fall within one calendar year of the Trail Party that you were registered for. The race credit is the amount that you paid for the race (not including UltraSignUp fees) so you will need to cover any difference in fees; refunds will not be issued if the deferred event costs less than your race credit. You can only defer one time so please doublecheck that you can make the race you're deferring to.