MK Ultra Gravel

Why MK Ultra?100 miles — 3,595 ft elevation gainThe CIA ran Project MKULTRA from 1953 to 1973. It was a covert program of illegal experiments on unwitting human subjects — testing LSD, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, and psychological torture. Subjects included mental patients, prisoners, drug addicts, and ordinary citizens who never consented.The program funded research at 44 colleges and universities, 15 research foundations, 12 hospitals, and 3 prisons. CIA Director Richard Helms ordered the destruction of all MK-Ultra files in 1973. A cache of 20,000 documents survived because they had been misfiled in a financial records building, and were discovered during a 1977 Freedom of Information Act request.This ride borrows the name as a nod to the Upper Peninsula’s own history of isolation and endurance — and to route creator Mark Kransz, whose initials gave the ride its name. 100 miles of gravel through remote forest roads will test your mental fortitude. No mind control required — just legs and grit.Grinduro FormatThis isn't a time trial. It's a mass-start sufferfest with structure.Seven gravel sectors are timed — rated 1–5 stars by surface brutality, Paris-Roubaix style. Three KOM/QOM climbs are timed separately — fastest up takes the segment.Everything between? Challenging, remote, and utterly untimed. Ride your own ride. Race the sectors. Suffer together.Scoring SystemGravel Champion — lowest cumulative elapsed time across all 6 timed sectors wins. Gender categories: men, women, non-binary.KOM/QOM Champion — top-10 points per climb (10–1). Three climbs. 30 points max. Most total points wins. Gender categories: men, women, non-binary.Results submitted via Strava activity link after the event. Full leaderboards published here once submissions close. Gravel sectorsBAA??Mile 12.92.5 miSandstrom???Mile 23.45.9 miAkkala Rd???Mile 39.51.4 miHaavisto????Mile 431.4 miForest Service Rd??Mile 50.76.5 miC4?????Mile 58.75.7 miDown Jeep?????Mile 83.550.6 mi KOMsBillie HelmerMile 21.90.69 mi6.4% grade236 ft gainLeaving ChathamMile 37.60.38 mi4.1% grade72 ft gainSilver CreekMile 78.551.60 mi4.4% grade373 ft gain