Overview

Cascadian Wilderness Endurance Company LLC proudly presents the UltraPedestrian Wilderness Challenge, a multimedia adventure blogging contest for outdoor enthusiasts. These self-supported/unsupported events are open to trail runners, backpackers, fastpackers, and hikers, and each event features a unique and defined route which participants must complete on foot and in one push. Unlike traditional endurance races, there are no course markings or aid stations along the way, providing participants with the freedom to create their own adventure. It’s all up to you! Participants can choose to tackle the route solo or with a couple friends. There are no cutoffs, so participants can take as much time as they need to complete the route without pressure. This unique event is not just about the physical challenge or exploring wild and beautiful places, but also about the opportunity to capture and share the beauty of the wilderness through captivating multimedia content.

1. After finishing your route, share your trip report about your experience. You can do this by posting in the Facebook group, tagging us in an Instagram post, making a YouTube video, creating a photo album, or any other artistic endeavor you can imagine.

2. Submit your time via the event page on Ultrasignup. If you have a GPS track, please include it. If you happened to get the FKT for the year, you must provide GPS proof.

3. Each year a meetup will be held in Seattle to wrap up the previous year, kick off the next year, make any big announcements about new routes or changes, and hand out patches, awards, and prizes for the previous year’s participants. If you are unable to attend the event, arrangements can be made to mail your patches to you.

We strongly encourage all entrants to join the CWES Facebook Group and/or follow the @CascadianWildernessEndurance Instagram to ask questions about the routes, gather and share trail beta, connect with other participants, scope out the competition, and keep up to date on the most recent news, information, and general goings on.

Oh deer, last ferry is at 10:30 pm!

Designed by 2020 Badass of the Year Winner Amanda Mazzenga!

The goal of choosing this route was to make it logistically easy (loop course), make it approachable (possible for most to complete as a day trip including drive time), make it accessible (my Buick can make it to the trailhead with no issue), and pick a meaningful location/trail (ONP is my favorite National Park!). This route is based on a backpacking trip I took with my partner in 2014 before I knew anything about trail running or the possibility of being able to cover 25+ miles in any less than 2.5 days. The route includes both mossy forest and sweeping views of the Olympic Mountains, as well as my favorite bathroom signage at Moose Lake. I hope this route has you fawning over the mountains of Olympic National Park!

Route

Start/Finish: The route can be started at any point on this loop, with the two most obvious spots being the Deer Park Trailhead or Obstruction Point Trailhead. The description below starts the route from the Deer Park Trailhead.

Description: Start at the Deer Park Trailhead and immediately drop 3,000+ feet of elevation on the Three Forks Trail knowing that you'll have the next 20+ miles to climb back to the start. After crossing Cameron Creek near the Three Forks Campground/Shelter turn right onto the Cameron Creek Trail. The Cameron Creek Trail wanders through a mossy forest, crossing over Cameron Creek in a few spots along the way as you gradually gain elevation with rolling hills and you prepare for the climb to Grand Pass. The Cameron Creek Trail intersects with the Grand Pass Trail and the climbing begins as you hoof your way back into the mountainous terrain (don’t forget to stag-er your breaks!). Once you reach Grand Pass, take in the views of the mountains/lakes and it's a "choose your own adventure" to get to Obstruction Point. From Grand Pass you have the option to take the Lillian Ridge Trail or continue on the Grand Pass Trail with the option to take the high route (staying on the Grand Pass Trail) or to connect to the Badger Valley Trail. Any route is in as long as you pass by Obstruction Point. My recommendation is to pass by Gladys and Moose Lakes so that you have a chance to use the most inviting pit toilet at Moose Lake along the way. From Obstruction Point make your way back to the Deer Park Trailhead and close the loop. Try not to get distracted by the views but make sure you look down at the lakes you just came from. This can be done by sticking with the herd to the Deer Ridge Trail or staying high and tagging a few of the peaks on the ridgeline along the way.

https://www.strava.com/routes/3076589432235284284

Note: Closest Derry Queen to the trailhead is in Sequim (I recommend the cookie-doe blizzard).

Bonus Points/Challenges (to-doe list):
Take the ferry from the mainland to the peninsula and back in one day. Don't forget, the last ferry leaves at 10:30 pm!*
From Obstruction Point, take a detour (7.8 miles one way via Obstruction Point Road) to the Hurricane Ridge visitor center to fill out paperwork for your ONP junior ranger badge. Food at Hurricane Ridge is in if you choose to take the 15.6 mile detour!
Count the number of deer you see along the way for the trip report. Most deer spotted along the route for the year will win a special prize!
*Disclaimer: At the time of writing this description, the last ferry departing the peninsula left Bainbridge at 10:30 pm. Please remember to check the WSDOT website for the most up to date information.

Rationale

Why should you pay $20 to complete one of the endurance challenges? A small part of the fee will go to cover website maintenance and domain registration, as well as getting patches made and other small goodies/swag. The majority of this fee will be donated to trail maintenance organizations.

Why are we even doing this? To get people out into the wonderful wilderness areas that we have here in the Northwest and to build the community of adventurous people! The trip report is just as important as actually finishing the route, and we love it when people come up with creative ways to share their experience. Information isn't always readily available for these areas, and maps can be scarce and not always reliable (especially the Pasayten and Frank Church/Selway Wildernesses.) That can intimidate some that aren't as experienced outdoors-people. The goal is to empower people to get out into these wilderness areas and hopefully to protect them into the future.

Event's current local time: 1:41 PM PT