For runners, there are a number of must-do races in this part of the province. Among them - and it's been called the most spectacular run of its kind, anywhere - is the annual Rubble Creek Classic.
The course is about 25 kilometres from start to finish, starting at the Cheakamus Lake parking lot and finishing at the Garibaldi Park parking lot at the south end of Daisy Lake.
Runners gain 1,338 metres and lose 1,592 metres from start to finish, with most of the climb in the first third of the race on the Helm Creek trail, and most of the descent in the last 8.5km on the Rubble Creek trail. The middle part is the highlight, winding up into high alpine meadows and across the cinder flats behind Black Tusk.
The men's record was set by Phil Veilleneuve back in 2009, a blistering fast 1:56:10, although most runners take more than two hours and sometimes over four hours to reach the finish.
The women's record was set the same year with ultra runner Ellie Greenwood finishing the course in 2:19:32.
Because the race takes place almost entirely within Garibaldi Provincial Park the number of entries has been capped at 80 to limit the impact on the trail and the other hikers using the trail. At press time the event was about half sold out.
"A few weeks ago it looked like it was going to be an interesting race with some snow still on the trail, but all that has cleared in the last two weeks," said race director James Retty from Escape Route.
"It's always an interesting race. I'm looking forward to it - it's such a stunning run and we get the same people coming back every year for it. We have good prizes again and we're just excited to make it happen. As trail runs go, I think this is one of the best."
This is the 25th year for the event, although for the first 20 years or so it was more or less unofficial with local trail runners doing it for fun.
Registration is available online for $39, which includes the entry and a memento.
Racers are responsible for getting themselves to the start line, and back home from Garibaldi.
The mandatory sign-in is at 7 a.m. on race day, with a soft start at 7:15 a.m. for runners expecting to take over four hours. The mass start is at 8 a.m.
