Overview

The Cascadian Wilderness Endurance Series events present an exciting opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to participate in a multimedia adventure blogging contest. 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. This contest is brought to you by the Cascadian Wilderness Endurance Company LLC.

The Purple Rainbow 100k

The Purple Rainbow 100k encompasses everything I love about the Cascades. It climbs to alpine terrain, crossing over sub-alpine passes. It also descends to the open pine forests and arid Eastern slopes. Thick forests, plunging rivers, rocky passes, expansive lakes and challenging climbs (and crushing descents) are all included!
Stehekin, my favorite trail town of all the trails, provides a respite in terms of food and/or lodging for those that want to complete the route over multiple days or get supplies along the way.

-Heather "Anish" Anderson

Route

Start: Bridge Creek TH Hwy 20
End: Bridge Creek TH Hwy 20

Leg 1: Bridge Creek Trail S .8mi to poorly marked junction to Copper Pass. Stay left.
Leg1A: *Do not cross Bridge Creek. Do not take trails up to Copper Pass, Stiletto Peak or Twisp Pass. Parallel the creek to intersection with McAlester Pass Trail: 2.2mi
Leg 2: McAlester Pass Trail SE to South Pass Trail jct: 5.3mi
Leg 3: Rainbow Creek Trail S to Boulder Creek Trail: 9.4mi
Leg 4: Boulder Creek Trail E to War Creek Pass: 9.8 mi
Leg 5: Purple Creek Trail to Purple Point/Stehekin: 8.1mi
Leg 6: Stehekin Valley Road NW appx 3mi to Rainbow Falls Trail
Leg 7: Rainbow Falls Trail and Rainbow Creek Trail N to Rainbow Lake Trail: 5.4mi
Leg 8: Rainbow Lake Trail to Pacific Crest Trail: 11.5mi
Leg 9: PCT to Bridge Creek TH: ~6mi

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: 9:08 AM PT