Once again the time has come for local outdoor enthusiasts to participate in a popular rite of spring, the Marathon Shuffle. Tying up boot laces and heading out on the trails, hikers and runners will set foot on the 29-kilometre route joining sections of the Sunshine Coast Trail, Sunday, April 17.
Starting from Malaspina Road, the trail heads along Thunder Ridge, down onto the Toquenatch Trail, climbs up Marathon and onto Appleton Canyon. Downhill past waterfalls, participants skirt the sides of big and little Sliammon lakes, scramble over Scout Mountain and finish with refreshments at Shinglemill Pub and Bistro.
The trail, which takes between six and eight hours to hike, has been groomed and marked by members of Powell River Parks and Wilderness Society (PRPAWS) and the Bloody Old Men’s Brigade (BOMB Squad). Brand new kilometre markers and nearly a thousand new fluorescent squares have been installed that will keep participants from straying from the route. In addition, chalk lines at junctions will take the guesswork out of which way to go.
As some participants prefer to run, the course record is under three hours. In 2009, Powell River resident Kevin Sigouin captured the Tom Mills Marathon Shuffle trophy with a time of two hours, 57 minutes and 13 seconds.
This is a free, fun event. Donations to PRPAWS would be gratefully appreciated. Participants are asked to register online by clicking on Marathon Shuffle on the home page, then Event Details under the picture, and Registration at the top of the next page. This allows the organizers to know in advance how many people to expect and to prepare for the event, and for participants to view pages of details, from free trail descriptions and maps to listings of past records.
Shuffle participants who have pre-registered will meet at 7:45 am at the Shinglemill parking lot to arrange for carpooling, and receive their participant numbers. Last-minute registrants are asked to come earlier, at 7:30 am, to fill out their registration forms. A limited number of seats are available on a small bus and must be reserved by calling Lita Biron at 604.414.0708. Carpool departure is at 8 am with an 8:30 am Shuffle shotgun start at the Malaspina trailhead, a kilometre east off the Lund Highway.
There will be five water and fruit stations at logging road crossings that can also serve as emergency exits and participants take part at their own risk. They are asked to carry rain gear, good footwear, some snacks and extra water to stay hydrated.
For those wishing to participate, but not ready for so much endurance, the 12-kilometre Half Shuffle is gaining popularity as it takes only three to four hours of moderate hiking. It begins six kilometres up Wilde/Tomkinson Road at 10 am and encourages a more leisurely pace. Participants in this shorter version sign in at the Appleton Creek parking lot and follow the well-marked trail past vistas and swimming spots.
All registered participants are asked to report at the finish line at the Shinglemill to sign out, receive their standings, and receive a ticket for prizes to be drawn after the award presentations.
