Salt and Sulfur 420

09/01/2026

S&S Post Mortem David Kaufman

1. Did you achieve your goal?
Yes, I got to run one of the toughest races in the world and I got to see a part of America that I’ve never been to before.

2. What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
Favorite part: Cache National Forest, running down the mountain towards Paris.
Least favorite part: Second to last night, coming in to Grant Village. Cold, wet, dead phone, sleep deprived, mentally wanting it to be over.

3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Be prepared. Due your due diligence. Read the maps, have the proper information and equipment.

4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
That I need to remind myself to keep my composure and to keep going. I can do this.

5. What advice do you give to others?
The most important factor in finishing this race is to be able to adapt to the variables, and the variables change minute to minute.
Also, never give up, keep pushing forward.

08/31/2026

S&S 2026 Post Mortem Jessica Labelle

1. Did you achieve your goal?
This being my third year, one of my biggest goals this year was to explore the course at different times. See what different sections look like in different lights.
I was so happy to take on Fairy Falls Trail at sunrise - it’s such a different place from the midnight hours.

2. What were your favourite and least favourite parts?
Fairy Falls Trail used to be my least favourite. Taking it on exhausted in the middle of the night always made the section feeling eerie. And my tired mind was actively
paranoid. The sunrise changed that this year.
Snake River climb to Jackson is a tough but gorgeous section. I hate watching people raft and not being out there with them hahah.

3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Don’t stress those “hard” parts based on past experiences. Take in each section as it comes and try not to think ahead too much.
Good news, you’re going to have your first close tango with a bear & you handle it effectively.

4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
Continue to do what scares you and stray from your comfort zone. There’s so much of this beautiful world to experience.

5. What advice do you give to others?
Embrace the chaos. Believe in yourself - you are capable of far more than you can ever imagine.
Dance a little, and embrace the chaos that will inevitably come.

08/30/2026

S&S 2026 Post Mortem

1. Did you achieve your goal?
I focused on process rather than outcome goals, as I can control the process. My main goal was to be open to the journey and its lessons. Despite surprises, I maintained that openness. Traveling with Jeremy and getting to know everyone on the course was unexpectedly rewarding. Spending time with my friend was a huge part of what made this fulfilling; we traveled a good distance together, shared great laughs, and connected in a deeper way through the highs and lows.

2. What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
Easily Snake River Canyon between Alpine and Hoback Jct. Brutally hot, non-stop traffic, noise, and frenetic energy of people trying to pass each other, tailgating, spraying us with diesel exhaust, and crowding us out on the shoulder was a lot! Too many favorites; truckers moving a lane over and giving us a wave, energy of the climb over to Paris, road beers from two kind strangers , laughs of getting pulled over by the cops for being black, digging deep to leave Afton and Jackson, beauty of the parks, coming upon the geysers in Yellowstone, the quiet of the road in the middle of night, and most of all connecting with all of you!

3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Future you has already completed the journey - you just have to figure out how!

4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
Don’t forget to be open to the journey from here on out. Participate more than observe. Beauty is everywhere even on the road. Kindness of strangers is inspiring - be inspired and inspiring.

5. What advice do you give to others?
No advice, just know you are beautiful in every sense of the word.

08/29/2026

S&S 2026 Post Mortem Zack Lever

1. Did you achieve your goal?
Yessss!! And all the sub goals.
✔️ #1. Finish
✔️ #2. Don’t compete against others, only the course. The course is hard enough!!
✔️ #3 Be more social with other runners, enjoy the beauty, slow down and soak it all in.

2. What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
Favorite the 45 mile desert in middle of race. It was surreal, beautiful, desolate, very few humans and maybe 3 cars. Plenty of water to filter. Just bring 5 sammiches like I did.
Least favorite, The 20 mile VOL STATE section between Logan and Franklin I believe. Approximately 23 miles of vol state. Tons of services, millions of cars and people and all on an exposed to the sun with no shade shoulder.

3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Don’t ditch the rain poncho Zack!! Oops!
4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
Just keep going. Every step counts and just moving will get you out of a funk….eventually. Keep the mantra, “I can do hard things” on repeat over and over in my mind

5. What advice do you give to others?
Get out of your comfort zone or not I suppose. But doing the same races, (albeit I imagine they can be hard) in all likelihood you will finish because you have finished it before!! Do a race that clearly gives you pause and makes you get get chills just thinking about the challenges you WILL most definitely face and then tackle them full on with all YOU got!! The 2026 Salt and Sulfur did just that for me and more!!

08/28/2026

S&S 2026 Post Mortem

1. Did you achieve your goal?
I did not achieve my goal of going as far as I could, but I did spend some amazing time with my daughter so that was a win.

2. What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
Favorite parts: interactions with other people, and also the time alone! Pushing when I was tired. Least favorite part was the day after I quit, knowing I could be out another day and feeling like I gave in and gave up.

3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Past me: don't fret, you won't see any snakes going over the divide

4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
Future me: either all in or all out next year! Can't have the option to call for a ride home

5. What advice do you give to others?
Advice for others: This is a ridiculous adventure, mental prep is probably more important than the physical!

08/27/2026

S&S 2026 Post Mortem Melissa Soper

1. Did you achieve your goal?
Yes! I saw amazing things, had miles and miles to learn more about myself, had my ass kicked, reached the buffalo, and ultimately ended with a smile on my face.

2. What were your favorite and least favorite parts?
My favorite part was the journey itself, the challenge, the uncertainty, and everything I had the privilege to experience along the way. The miles were tough, but they were also filled with moments that reminded me to appreciate what my body and mind are capable of. My least favorite parts were definitely the sidewalks, haha! Especially once my feet really started feeling the miles. And the traffic at times was not my favorite, but it made me appreciate those quiet, peaceful night miles even more.
3. What advice would you give to the "past" you? (The you standing on the start line)
Don't doubt yourself. You'll be just fine.

4. What do you want to tell the "future" you?
There is more of life to see and experience, so be open and ready for the next adventure!

5. What advice do you give to others?
You are more capable than you think. There will be moments when the miles feel long, the challenge feels overwhelming, and you question whether you can keep going. But if you can slow down enough to notice the beauty around you and find moments of joy along the way, it can make even the hardest parts feel worthwhile. The struggle becomes part of the experience rather than something that takes away from it. Trust yourself, keep moving forward, and remember to appreciate the journey and not just the finish line.

08/22/2026

Salt and Sulfur 420 featured in the Jackson Hole News!
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/sports/outdoors/runners-stop-through-jackson-on-journey-run-from-salt-lake-to-west-yellowstone/article_b2dfc969-0bf7-4a19-9437-a86227e5baf5.html

Jackson Hole News & Guide is the leading print and online newspaper in Jackson Wyoming.

08/20/2026

A somber section of the course Seeing the impact of our roads on wildlife is difficult enough, but experiencing it on foot was especially hard.

08/18/2026

Too soon??

August 4, 2027: Crewed race in Salt Lake City, UT. Register now on UltraSignup.