Race Details
COVID Safety
News: Race cancelled for 2021 for permitting reasons. (Here is the Safety Plan we would have followed if the race went ahead.) Registered racers have been given the choice of deferral or refund.
Date
Why Do This Route?
September 10, 2022
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.
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).
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; buses may not be available.
Friday
6:30-8:30 p.m. package pickup/bag drop at Library Meeting Room 107 Vermillion Ave in Princeton.
Saturday
5:35 a.m. pre-race briefing at the 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
Sign in 30 minutes before your race starts.
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.
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 2021.
Sustainability
Carry your own portable cup.
Contact
Send an email to info at mountainmadness.ca
Registration
Online
Registration opens January 6, 2022 on Race Roster at this link. Deferrals from 2021 will be able to register with the link provided.
Special Offers
Mountain Madness former trail clinic members get 30% off.
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. 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 for 50 milers leaving Jacobson Lake.
Refund Policy
No refunds, 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.
2021: If we need to cancel due to coronavirus, you get the choice of a refund or deferral.
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 Princeton Library (meeting room) at 107 Vermillion Ave.
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
HBC Heritage Trail (74 km of 80 km/50 mile race route).
Brigade Trail Race Distance Guide.
Jacobson Lake locator map (from Coquihalla).
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 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 was 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.
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. Driving instructions. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.
Volunteers
Vollies Needed
Register as a volunteer using the Race Roster registration site Volunteer tab, or send us an email.
Results
Records
FKTs
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
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 to race route).
Results
2018 50 mile results, 19 mile results.
2017 inaugural results are here: 50 mile and 19 mile.
Partners
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact us about our package.
Hope Mountain Centre
Mountainview Brewing Hope BC
Distance Runwear
Alete Sports Hydration
Artisans Attic and Fudgery Gift Shoppe
Kristina Benson Art
Bremner Foods
Canada Wide Communications