The ninth annual Sea2Summit Adventure Race will take part this weekend with an estimated 300 solo and team members taking part in a two-day, 160-kilometre trek that starts in Squamish on Saturday morning, Sept. 18, and finishes in Whistler on Sunday evening.
The race includes trekking, paddling and mountain biking, as well as a wide variety of special timed challenges along the way.
Day one of the race gets underway in Stan Clarke Park in Squamish at 7 a.m., beginning with a six kilometre trek/run to the boats and a 750 metre portage to the put-in at the confluence of the Squamish and Mamquam rivers. From there solo competitors and teams of two or four will jump into kayaks and paddle 19 km down the Squamish River, finishing at the Squamish Yacht Club. The first special event will be waiting for participants on shore, as will their mountain bikes for a19 km ride to Alice Lake on the Crumpit Woods trails. From there participants will make a 12 km trek/trail run with a modest 400 metre elevation gain, before returning to their bikes for another 26 km of riding up and down logging roads, doubletrack and singletrack.
If the water levels are high, the first day of competition could be a little different, with paddlers taking the usual route to Squamish with a 7 a.m. start at Porteau Cove Provincial Park.
The second day is mostly on the bike, with riders making a 75 km mountain bike from Squamish to Whistler. Riders will have to reach Highway 99 at the Cheakamus Canyon to take advantage of a highway lane closure, or will be forced to take a shuttle.
After the ride, participants will make an 18-km trek from Whistler Creekside to Whistler Village, gaining and losing 650 metres of elevation. You must be at Whistler Creekside by 4 p.m. to make the cutoff.
For more information on the race, visit www.sea2summit.com.
