2011 Trail Running - Heartland

Our last trail run of 2011 was out on the Heartland mountain bike trails. From Mount Work parking lot, there is an easy wide trail that climbs gently around the north ridge of Mount Work and takes you into the mountain biking area. We ran to the top via Sidewinder and the followed the trails along the upper part of the park to the South End, then back along the bottom. The steepest climb is on the regional trail back up to the ridge as you leave the park. Trails are well marked, but a map of the Mountain Bike Park is a must if you don't want to get lost on the many many winding trails. Easy running as all of the trails are gentle slopes and very soft on the feet.

2011 Trail Running - Mount Doug

A Christmas Eve run on Mount Doug. This is a fairly small park to run, but has some excellent trails around and up and over Mount Doug. The front side trails are easy - the north side a bit rough and the trails to the top steep and rough. Start at the beach parking lot.

2011 Trail Running - Francis King/Stewart Mtn

This is a 22km trail run combining the loop to Francis/King and the loop to Stewart Mountain via McKenzie Creek Trail. This is a hilly run, with some swamps and small streams to cross (feet wet), muddy, loose rocky sections and some very steep sections on Stewart Mountain. McKenzie Creek is a rough trail but fun trail to run.

2011 Trail Running - Elk Lake/Bear Hill

Running the trails at Elk Lake, this time adding on a climb up Bear Hill to the view point near the end of the run. Elk Lake trails are generally flat and easy to navigate. Allow 1.45 for this run if you include the run up Bear Hill. Start at Hamsterley Beach for this run.

2011 Trail Running - Three Peaks Run

The Three Peaks Run is a one-way run from Goldstream Park to Mount Work. While it is only 17km in length, it climbs over three mountains and takes over three hours - allow 3.5 hours to do this run. The start is an easy 1km warm up in Goldstream Park, followed by a vertical 420m climb to the top of Mount Finlayson (this is impossible and dangerous to run). After a nice easy run down the backside of Finlayson, we follow the ridge trails on Gowland Tod Provincial Park to Caleb Pike, then over Holmes Peak and Jocelyn Peak and finally down to the parking lot at Mount Work (Ross Durrance Rd). Fantastic views from the top of the three peaks, well worth it.