Aspire Adventure Running: North Cascades Trail Running Festival and Symposium

Delicious blueberries. Enjoyable company. Foggy trails. Fascinating speakers. That was my fantastic weekend in the North Cascades with Aspire Adventure Running! I attended their North Cascades Trail Running Festival and Symposium, which is a celebration of fall with like-minded trail enthusiasts. The event description states “we hope that these few days spent together will deepen your connection to the wilds of this mountain range and to fellow sojourners who share a passion for the alpine.” Sounds pretty idyllic, right?

It was basically adult sleep-away camp for trail runners. And it was SO MUCH fun. Despite the rain. But what would the PNW be without rain?

Instead of giving you an exact play-by-play of the weekend’s itinerary, I’ll break it out into topics for easy perusal. Read on!

Trail Runs

Each day a shuttle was offered to one trailhead, but there were also trails accessible directly from the lodge. Everyone was welcome to choose-their-own-adventure, which allowed adjustment for personal needs and desires. This resulted in endless (and cheerful) discussion of proposed routes while poring over topo maps and refreshing weather reports on our phones. There are so many great trail options there, and we were spoiled for choice.

My first run with the group was on Friday, Excelsior Ridge (which can be done as an out-and-back, or a point-to-point with a shuttle.) As anticipated, it was a rainy run, but the moss and ferns were vibrantly green on our way up to the ridge. We spotted (and sampled) a few different types of blueberries along the way, which resulted in purple, chilly fingers, but happy runners. When we finally gained the ridge, the fog in all directions lent a mysterious vibe to the run. We also made it up to Excelsior Peak. Can’t beat those views – ha!

We bombed back down to the trailhead where the Aspire crew had salty chips, sweet grapes, and some delightful homemade pickles at hand. We cheerfully munched on our treats before heading back to the lodge where warm showers and dry clothes awaited us.

On Saturday, the group run went to Hannegan Pass, but I was intrigued by the Chain Lakes Loop. I had done it as a sunset hike in mid-August, and was interested in seeing in the daylight. The rain and fog continued for the whole run, but it allowed us to focus on the small, yet delightful, details at our feet: the fading wildflowers, the dripping bushes, and of course, the blueberries. Now and again we caught glimpses of the green valley below or a scurrying pika above us. The diffuse gray light overhead made the colors of the landscape pop. We still ooed and ahhed over the views, even without the mountains dominating the landscape.

Speakers

For me, part of the draw of this festival was the post-dinner speakers each night. Running on new trails with friends is always fun, but learning about the flora and fauna of the area was a new and welcome bonus.

Our first guest was Abe Lloyd, who spoke about North Cascades alpine ethnobotany. I had no idea that so many plants in the PNW were edible or how the gathering of these plants fit into the native cultures in the area. It was all fascinating, but Abe really grabbed our attention with the discussion of berries. They were the trail snack of the weekend! Fun fact: Fireweed, a tall, pink flowering plant found all over the PNW, is edible, and is a good source of vitamin C and A.

Our second guest was Katie Moriarty, who spoke about Washington’s rare native carnivores. She focused on martens, but also talked about fishers, lynx, fox, and wolverines. As trailrunners who have a tendency to run ridiculous miles out into the wilderness, we are more likely than the average person to see these rare creatures. And if we did see any of them, we should take a picture (even if it’s just tracks) and send it to her. Fingers crossed I can someday email her photographic evidence of a rare carnivore sighting! Fun fact: Animals like martens and wolverines have voracious appetites due to their metabolisms and must eat massive amounts of food to survive. Something like an equivalent of 100 hamburgers a day for humans. (Sounds like an ultrarunner, lol.)

Our final speaker was Jeremy Wolf, an ultrarunner from Bellingham who recently completed the “Backdoor to Baker” run from Bellingham to Mt. Baker’s summit. Creating a unique endurance challenge for oneself, like he did, was something that resonated with all of us. It was a reminder that you don’t always have to travel hundreds or thousands of miles away to find a challenging and satisfying adventure. Just look at what’s around you!

Care and Feeding of the Runners

Before the trip, Aspire sent out a packet that was extremely helpful to prepare/pack/know-what-the-heck-we-were-getting-into for the weekend. It included an itinerary, lodging information, weather forecast, trail descriptions (with linked maps), directions, packing list, and other helpful information. As someone who manages logistics professionally, and harbors Girl-Scout-like tendencies, I really appreciated this information.

We stayed at the Baker Lodge (maintained by the Mountaineers), which had everything a trail runner could require in the mountains. Bunks, bathrooms (including showers), a kitchen, a lounging area with a fireplace, and… a gear drying room. <ooooOOOoooo> This gear drying room, which featured racks and hot air vents, came in particularly handy given the incessant rain during our visit. It kept our clothes and shoes from creating new life of the fungal/bacterial variety. I don’t know how I existed in the PNW before the luxury of a gear-drying room, just saying.

After hours on the trails, we runners were a hungry lot, and the Aspire team treated us to delicious homemade meals. Lasagna, breakfast burritos, enchiladas, breakfast sandwiches, hearty soups, and delectable sweet treats were all on the menu and kept us fueled and happy. There were some vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free folks among us, and there were options to meet everyone’s needs.

Of course, like any self-respecting trail running event, there was also beer available, and kombucha on tap! Hydration was not a concern. I brought my own whiskey because what’s better than whiskey to help warm you up after a wet run?

The People

Trail runners tend to be adventurous, polite, thoughtful, relaxed, but intense. This fun group was no different! Trail running events often provide the opportunity to befriend people that I wouldn’t ordinarily cross paths with in the world. There were a wide range of careers and locales represented, but our love for trail running was the common thread between us all. Every afternoon/evening involved sitting by the fireplace, swapping trail (or life) stories. Usually with an adult beverage and/or sweet treat in hand. This led to great conversations and newly minted friendships.

Conclusion

This entire weekend reminded me that trail running isn’t about running on a tree-lined treadmill. It’s about having the opportunity to visit a living, breathing ecosystem and connect with it through running. What does the terrain say about the natural history of these mountains? What do seasonal changes mean for the animals (human or non-human) that live there? How does weather impact the flora and fauna in the area? Encouraging curiosity about our surroundings and applying any knowledge we gain just deepens our connection to the place. It’s even better if you can do it with like-minded folks who are looking for more than just a workout. Thank you, Aspire Adventure Running, for such an incredible weekend!