Brigade Race

Race Details (Cancelled 2024)

Date

TBD September 6, 2025 depending on trail conditions. We are currently checking with the ministry responsible to see if repairs were done.

Special Perks 2025

Former Mountain Madness trail clinic members get 30% off the 50 mile event. Just ask for your code.
Photo contest on race day: best 3 photos of Manson's Ridge.
Encourage 3 NEW racers to register and get a free entry for yourself! Send the 3 names by email BEFORE they register.

Why Do This Route?

Experience the route of the fur brigade packhorse trains crossing the North Cascade Mountains on the Hudson’s Bay Company Heritage Trail of 1849, originally used by First Nations. Run through five of the original fur brigade camps between Tulameen and Hope. Great single track. Experience Manson's Ridge! This was the first commercial trade route in British Columbia. "Learn some history through the soles of your feet," Harley Hatfield.

Distances

50 mile (80 km), Tulameen Brigade
19 mile (30 km), Jacobson Brigade

Difficulty

Challenging 50 mile.

Start

50 mile starts in Tulameen, BC at 6 a.m. at the Tulameen Arena.
19 mile starts at 12 noon at Jacobson Lake trailhead on HBC Heritage Trail.

How to Get There

Hope: from Vancouver, take Hwy 1 to Hope.
Tulameen: from Vancouver, take Hwy 1 to Hwy 3 turnoff just outside Hope, go to Princeton on Hwy 3, at Princeton take Hwy 5 a short distance, then turn left onto Coalmont Road to get to Tulameen (25 km from Princeton).
Peers Creek finish: from Hope, take Hwy 5 east from Hope for 10 km and turn off at Exit #183. Drive 1.5 km on Peers Creek Forest Service Road (FSR).

50 Mile Schedule

TULAMEEN BRIGADE
NOTE: be prepared to have someone take you to Princeton on Friday and drop you off at the race start on Saturday at Tulameen Arena.
Friday
6:30-8:30 p.m. package pickup/bag drop to be determined.
Saturday
5:35 a.m. pre-race briefing at the Tulameen Arena.
6 a.m. the race starts at Tulameen Arena.
6 p.m. cutoff at Sowaqua.
10 p.m. race finishes. Shuttles will transport you to Hope.

Sign In

19 Mile Schedule

JACOBSON BRIGADE
Saturday
7:00-8:45 a.m. at Mountainview Brewing package pickup in Hope. Drop bag for finish.
9:00 a.m. To be confirmed if bus is available. You may need to get dropped off at the race start at Jacobson Lake.
12 noon the race starts at Jacobson Lake. Leave your finish line bag on the bus or with race crew members.
8 p.m. race finishes. Shuttles will transport you to Hope.

Parking in Hope

Park on side streets. Do not park on Wallace Street because the parade goes there.

Finish Line Where to Stay

Hope has many motels. Book your motel as soon as you register. For camping, you can camp near the finish.

Awards

Sun 10 a.m., awards ceremony in Memorial Park at the band shell (not far from Blue Moose). Medals for 50 mile as you cross the finish. Prizes for top 3 in each race by gender, plus draw prizes. History quiz.

Post Race

If on the same weekend, Hope Brigade Days festivities take place in town. You can get a discounted Brigade Days bracelet that allows you to attend all activities like the Saturday evening concert and Sunday demolition derby. TBD if Brigade Days takes place in 2022.

Sustainability

Carry your own portable cup.

Contact

Send an email to info at mountainmadness.ca

Registration

Online

Registration opens January 6, 2023 on Race Roster at link provided here. Deferrals from 2022 will be able to register with the link and coupon provided.

Special Offers

Mountain Madness former trail clinic members get 30% off for the 50 mile event.

Fees

50 mile: $145 early bird/$170 May 1.
19 mile: $65 early bird/$90 May 1.

Requirements

Experience. For the 50 mile, you must have completed at least a 50 km race.
Trail Work. Participation in trail maintenance is a requirement and may be done anywhere. Time required for 50 mile = 8 hours, for 19 mile = 4 hours. You can substitute any volunteer work or volunteers on race day if there is no trail maintenance available in your area. Or make online donation to Mountain Madness Trail Maintenance Fund at $45 when registering. Complete this form and send by email by September 1. Rename the file using your full name. Check for your name on this list (to be posted here).

Mandatory Gear

Carry your own water cup. Have suitable gear for crossing 3 mountain passes (cold), at high elevation: hydration pack, waterproof jacket, survival blanket, cap or bandana, gloves, whistle, extra fuel in pockets. Headlamp and spare batteries needed for 50 milers leaving Jacobson Lake.

Refund Policy

If we have to cancel, you can chose a refund. You can transfer to another person. You can switch from 50 mile to 19 mile. If you withdraw from the race but volunteer on race day, you can have a deferral for the following year. If we have to cancel the race, you will be given options to get a partial refund or defer to the following year.

Deadline

You must register online by September 5 at midnight. No race day registration.

Package Pickup

50 mile Friday 6:30-8:30 p.m. at location to be determined.
19 mile Saturday 7:00-8:30 a.m. at Mountainview Brewing in Hope, 390 Old Hope Princeton Way.

Route Details

Start

50 mile starts in Tulameen, BC at 6 a.m. at the Tulameen Arena. There may be a staggered start.
19 mile starts at 12 noon at Jacobson Lake trailhead on HBC (1849) Heritage Trail. TBD if bus transport is available from Hope.

Maps and Profile

Brigade Trail Race Distance Guide.
Jacobson Lake locator map (from Coquihalla).
Jeff Pelletier's fastpacking (done in Oct in 2 days).

50 Mile Route

TULAMEEN BRIGADE
Elevation gain: 3157 metres
Elevation loss: 3890 metres
Route details. Start at the Tulameen arena. Run 3 km along paved road to Tulameen River Road to trailhead. Cross Tulameen River (low level). From Tulameen signed trailhead, follow HBC (1849) Heritage Trail to Lodestone Lake (aid), and Horseguard (aid), continue to Jacobson Lake (drop bag, out and back to aid), continue through more camp sites to Sowaqua Camp (aid), Colvile (aid), continue to Peers Creek. Then head down the new trail (if possible) or unpaved road to the finish. Shuttles will transport you to Hope.

Drop Bags

50 mile drop bags can be labelled for Lodestone aid station, Jacobson Lake aid station and finish line. No bigger than size 14 shoe box!

19 Mile Route

JACOBSON BRIGADE
Elevation gain: 1305 metres
Elevation loss: 2480 metres
Route: start at jacobson_19_mile_route and follow HBC (1849) Heritage Trail through camp sites to Sowaqua Camp (aid), Colvile (aid), continue to Peers Creek. Then head down the unpaved road to the finish. Shuttles will transport you to Hope.

Cutoff

50 mile: overall 16 hours (10 p.m.). Jacobson Lake 4 p.m. target time, Sowaqua 6 p.m.
19 mile: overall 8 hours (8 p.m.).

Pacer and Pets

Neither pacers nor pets allowed on the race route.

Crews

50 mile crew access ONLY at Jacobson Lake. Driving instructions available here.

Aid Stations

Lodestone Lake, Horseguard, Jacobson Lake, Sowaqua, Colvile. Typical foods: gels, bars, Alete hydration drink, bananas, oranges, watermelon, cookies, chips, gummies, hot soup if cold day. Finish Line beef and veggie burgers, bannock.

History

Hudson's Bay Company Heritage Trail. Originally a First Nations route for hunting and trade, the HBC Trail played a key role in British Columbia’s early development. Completed in 1849, the HBC Trail built by First Nations.Stó:lo, Nlaka’pamux (Thompson), and Similkameen used trails over the Cascade Mountains to gather plants, hunt, and trade with each other. They helped Hudson Bay Company build the trail to link the Fraser River at Fort Hope with Fort Kamloops and other important fur forts farther north to Stuart Lake. For more than a decade, the HBC’s fur empire in western North America depended on this trail.
Hundreds of pack animals and men crossed the Cascade Mountains on this trail from 1849 to 1860. Hudson’s Bay Company “Brigades” were essential for getting valuable furs to world markets, and for re-supplying HBC Forts in the BC Interior and far North. BC’s early economy developed around this trail and the fur industry it supported.

Weather (typical)

Tulameen (for September)
Avg Max = 22 C / 72 F
Avg Min = 5 C / 41 F
Highest precipitation = 7.8 mm

Hope (for September)
Avg Max = 23 C / 73 F
Avg Min = 11 C / 51 F
Avg precipitation = 1.07 mm

Trail Work

Requirement

Trail Work. Participation in trail maintenance is a requirement and may be done anywhere. Time required = 8 hours for 50 mile, 4 hours for 19 mile. You can substitute any volunteer work or volunteers on race day if there is no trail maintenance available in your area. Or make a donation to Mountain Madness Trail Maintenance Fund at $45 online when registering.
Send proof of your involvement by September 1. Rename the file using your full name and send it by email. The proof list will be posted here.

Schedule

Always check the location before driving; we may need to move the location.
June. Time TBD. Location: TBD. Brush clearing. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.
July. Time TBD. Location: TBD. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.

Volunteers

Vollies Needed

Results

Records 50 mile male: Mike Sidic 9:12:20, female Corinne Legault 12:50:05
19 mile female Ellie Greenwood 3:21:31, male Scott Meacham 3:26:41

FKTs

Female supported: Marina Striker 12:44:17 Tulameen to Peers Creek (race route).
Katie Mills and Hilary Spires 11:35 Peers Creek to Tulameen (opposite direction to race route).

Race Results

2018 50 mile results, 19 mile results.
2017 inaugural results are here: 50 mile and 19 mile.