Tour de Graves (TdG)

Tour de Graves (TdG) is an urban challenge with the goal to visit all 14 Metro Historic Cemeteries in the Portland metropolitan area on foot. The cemeteries span Multnomah County, from scenic Corbett to the top of Sylvan Hill in southwest Portland.

The Cemeteries

Here are the official street addresses of the 14 Metro Historic Cemeteries:

1. Columbia Pioneer Cemetery, 9780 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
2. Douglass Cemetery, 1300 S Troutdale Rd, Troutdale
3. Lone Fir Cemetery, Southeast 26th Avenue and Southeast Washington Street, Portland
4. Mountain View Corbett Cemetery, 35450 SE Smith Rd, Corbett
5. Pleasant Home Cemetery, Southeast Bluff Road and Southeast Pleasant Home Road, Gresham
6. Powell Grove Cemetery, 12200 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
7. Brainard Cemetery, Northeast Glisan Street and Northeast 90th Avenue, Portland
8. Escobar Cemetery, 200 SW Walters Dr, Gresham
9. Gresham Pioneer Cemetery, 200 SW Walters Dr, Gresham
10. White Birch Cemetery, 185 SW Walters Dr, Gresham
11. Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery, 9002 SW Boones Ferry Rd, Portland
12. Jones Cemetery, 5765 SW Hewlett Blvd, Portland
13. Mountain View Stark Cemetery, 25851 SE Stark St, Troutdale
14. Multnomah Park Cemetery, Southeast 82nd Avenue and Holgate Boulevard, Portland

Note that Escobar Cemetery and Gresham Pioneer Cemetery are at the same address and that White Birch Cemetery is just a step away.

The Route

You pick your own route on how you want to link up the 14 cemeteries. The only route condition is that the start and finish have to be identical. The start/finish does not have to be one of the cemeteries.

Means of Transportation

This is s human-powered challenge. You are not allowed to use any other means or devices of transportation, such as bikes, scooters, public transport, roller blades, skateboards, etc. Hiking/running poles are allowed.

Guidelines

• This is not a race. You do not need to register or qualify or anything. There are no fees. Anyone can do it anytime of the year.
• You must tag the entrance of all 14 cemeteries. You chose the route.
• You can start anywhere, but you have to finish at the same location. I.e., start and finish have to be identical. The start/finish location does not have to be one of the cemeteries. You can start/finish anywhere.
• To make this challenge a bit more interesting and challenging, the start time must be after sunset and before sunrise, i.e., you’ll be doing a good part in the dark.
• The clock starts when you leave the start location and stops when you arrive back at the same location.
• The clock does not stop if the individual or team sleeps, rests, etc.
• The challenge can be done individually or in teams. If completed in a team, all team members must do all parts of the route. Relays do not count.
• The challenge must be completed in a single push. Sleep, rest, etc. along the route are allowed. No leaving the route and returning.
• Each and every part of the route must be covered with human muscle power only. No motorized form of transport is allowed on any part of your chosen route. In particular, you are not allowed to use bikes, scooters, public transport, roller blades, skateboards, etc. Hiking/running poles are allowed.
• Crews and stashing of gear, food, and water are allowed as long as city and other regulations allow them. All stashes must be retrieved.
• The challenge can be completed in an unsupported, self-supported, or supported way.
• Announcing your intentions is encouraged, but not mandatory.
• The challenge must be tracked and documented in order to be listed in the results.
• All federal, state, and local laws must be strictly followed.
• You must respect private land and property.

FAQs

• What’s in for me if I complete this route? Fame. Pure fame.
• How can I announce an attempt? Use your personal Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or post in some running-related group/forum/page.
• How can I submit my data to be listed on this page? Use this form.
• Do I need to write up a trip report? No, it’s not mandatory. Yet, reports allow to share knowledge and to inspire others, so they are encouraged.
• Do I need to carry a satellite tracker? No, but you need to submit solid evidence that you completed the challenge. A GPS track (e.g., recorded with GaiaGPS) provides reasonable evidence. So do links to Strava or other activity websites. And of course photos and movies will provide additional evidence.

Attempts and Records

Submit your Attempts and Records

Click here to get to the form.

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