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Manning Park,
BC,
Canada - September
- 50K
- Trail Race
- Event Website
Willa
Agassiz, CanadaOverall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This race is the definition of EPIC!
Thrilling scenery through the magnificent Manning Park. The first half of the course climbs from the day park area at Lightning Lake up through the forest to the highest peak of the park- Mt. Frosty. 17km of climbing to a height of 2408 metres. You get to experience some fire roads, gorgeous soft mulch trail, and an epic burn section (complete with eerie "ghost" trees) before hitting the exposed ridgeline scramble to the summit.
From the top you can see 360 degree views of mountainous loveliness. You then get to pick and choose your route over the boulder field through a field of golden larches and lovely switchbacks that swap between ridgeline views and shaded forest.
The 27 km mark gets you back to the lake, where you wrap around it and then head up again to begin the second climb of the course- Skyline Trail. This is the tougher of the two climbs, even though it is less elevation (2300 metres or so). This is a long series of switchbacks to reach the exposed ridgeline to the top. Don't be fooled- there are about 6 or 7 false summits before you start your descent! Just keep expecting to climb until you finally go down! You are treated to another lovely burn section here as well!
The views are so unbelievably stunning that you will almost forget how badly your quads are killing you!
The last 10 km of the route is a nice undulating route through fields of large leaf plants and around the back side of the lake, through a campground (where you will be offered marshmallows and high fives), and finally winds its way back to the start and through the finish archway where the race director and volunteers are manning a BBQ for all finishers!
A dip in the lake is the perfect way to end it all! Love this race!