Brigade Race

Race Details

Date

September 11, 2021

Why

Experience the route of the fur brigade packhorse trains crossing the North Cascades 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
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

19 Mile Schedule

JACOBSON BRIGADE
Saturday
7:00-8:45 a.m. at SLUMBER LODGE 250 Fort St. package pickup in Hope. Drop bag for finish.
9:00 a.m. race bus leaves SLUMBER LODGE 250 Fort St. in Hope to go to race start at Jacobson Lake.
12 noon the race starts at Jacobson Lake. Leave your finish line bag on the bus.
8 p.m. race finishes. Shuttles will transport you to Hope.

Parking in Hope

Park on side streets near the SLUMBER LODGE 250 Fort St. 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. Also, check out these two links. More.

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.

Sustainability

Carry your own portable cup.

Contact

Send an email to info at mountainmadness.ca

Registration

Online

Registration opens January 2021 on RaceRoster.

Special Offers

Mountain Madness former trail clinic members get 30% off. Fat Dog volunteers get an entry for only $45.

Fees

50 mile: $150 early bird/$170 May 1.
19 mile: $70 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, no transfers. 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.

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 Slumber Lodge Motel meeting room, 250 Fort St in Hope.

Route Details

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 (1849) Heritage Trail. Bus transport available from Hope.

Maps and Profile

HBC Heritage Trail (74 km of 80 km/50 mile race route).
Profile link.
Brigade Trail Race Distance Guide.
KMZ file showing full route on Google Earth (start and finish to be updated).
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 details. Start at Jacobson Lake Camp, 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 donation to Mountain Madness Trail Maintenance Fund at $45 online.
Send proof of your involvement by email or snail mail by September 1. Rename the file using your full name and send it by email. The proof list is posted under What's New.

Schedule

Always check the location before driving; we may need to move the location.
May. Time TBD. Location: Peers Creek. Peers Creek boulder toss. Lunch provided. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.
June. Time TBD. Location: Upper Sowaqua, Manson's Ridge. Brush clearing. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.
July. Time 10 a.m. at Tulameen Forest Service Road. Location: Olivine Mountain. Driving instructions. Please email us so we know to watch out for you.