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.
Route Description
It is actually 45 miles
The good news? This route only has two big climbs. The bad news? They’re doozies. This route is mostly contained within the Mallard-Larkins Pioneer Area in the Clearwater Nat’l Forest. While it doesn’t have official Wilderness designation, the Pioneer Area is a roadless district and is still managed as such. This special area is at the southern end of the largest inland temperate rainforest in the world, and it's home to many species that don't exist anywhere else east of the Cascades. Worth the drive from anywhere, the landscape is characterized by steep mountains rising out of lush, green forests. This double lollipop route includes the Black Mountain Trail #396, a tag of the Black Mountain Lookout (one of the last staffed fire lookouts), Black Lake Trail #685, Nub Trail #399, Isabella Creek Trail #95, Elmer Creek Trail #96, Smith Ridge Trail #240, Hearts Pass Trail #65, and back to The Nub Trail #399 until you get down to North Fork Road 247. Turn right and finish with 2.75 miles on the road to get back to where you started.
25 Miler
The shorter distance option just consists of the northern loop. You miss all of the primitive and difficult to follow trail except for one short section during your climb back up the Elmer Creek Trail (if you go clockwise). Start and end at the Smith Ridge Trailhead on County Rd 700.
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: 10:00 AM MT
