The WILDness

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Overview

Experience the thrill of trail running like never before at Panorama Mountain Resort. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Purcell Mountains, we challenge your spirit with a 2-day back-to-back racing design.

2 different challenges, 2 different courses, 2 different opportunities to be WILD.

We wind you on single track through the beautiful Whitebark Pines with breathtaking views at every turn. This is your chance to conquer rugged terrain, push your limits, and celebrate the spirit of adventure. Whether you're a seasoned trail runner or new to the sport, The WILDness offers something for everyone. Sponsor support will be announced soon!

Day 1 is where you test your endurance and your overall ability to climb to the mountaintops, traverse the ridgelines, descend the talus and stay fierce in the pine tree forests. You get to the high point of our resort and have a serene 360 degree view of the Purcell Mountain Range and the Columbia Valley with Kootenay and Banff National Parks off on the horizon. 

Day 2 is a shorter course, but it is a spicy one! It is designed as an “All Climb, All Descent” route but has an extra challenge with a designated section for a “Timed Ascent” route for a “race within the race.” What will you do, go for the overall split or get to the timed ascent and hammer the section? Either way, it should be a fun challenge. 

Both days will end in the heart of the Panorama Village and you will be greeted with finish line cheers and a welcome to hang out and enjoy the celebrations with others! If you’re staying on the resort, it offers several means of recovering between the 2-Day event, such as getting a big burger at one of our restaurants, soaking in the hot pools, or simply getting an extra comfy night’s sleep at one of our lodges.

Event Highlights

• Scenic and challenging courses designed by expert trail runners.
• Aid stations stocked with hydration and snacks to keep you fueled.
• Finisher T-shirts for participants.
• Medals and prizes for category winners.
• Post-race celebration featuring live music, and local craft beer.
• Opportunities to connect with like-minded runners and outdoor enthusiasts.
• Stay right at Panorama Mountain Resort with our lodging packages or limited campsites. Access our outdoor pools, hot tubs and saunas.

The Courses

Stage 1 – Saturday June 28^th, 36km with 2,600m elevation gain.

Starting out from the base area you will head out on a clockwise course starting with some single-track making your way onto the Taynton Trail. Making your way off Taynton Ridge a new challenge awaits with a steep climb up our ski run Stumbock's. This challenge ends when you hit the summit and a well deserved reward with an amazing view. Running from the summit out towards Goldie Peak you will come across your first full aid station at 8.5km into your race, a great time to fill up and refresh yourself before the scramble up to Goldie Peak. Amazing views of endless mountain tops await. From here we will take you down a fun descent on the Hopeful trail, just as we tested your legs on the climb we will work those quads on the downhill. Hitting your second aid station at 25km we will turn you back up the ski hill on the dirt road for one last leg burner up the ski hill and around Elkhorn Cabin. This will get you to your last high point and then you can bomb down the road to the finish back where it all started at Panorama base area.

Map & GPX File will be posted here soon.

Stage 2 - Sunday June 29th, 13K with 850m of elevation gain.

We are starting out at the Panorama base area again for this stage. We will be heading out counter clockwise this time. Heading out the same way you finished Saturday but we will be heading up the green single-track bringing you all the way to the top of the Mile One chair. This is where the only aid station on the course will be. This is also where the timed ascent challenge will start, this section is a 2.5km long and will have a separate timing challenge for you during the stage. Taking you to the high point at the Elkhorn Cabin you will make your way back down to the Cox Creek trail that is a fun flowy single-track bringing you back around to the finish once again at the Panorama base area.

Map & GPX File will be posted here soon.

Race Weekend Schedule

The WILDness will take place from June 27-29, 2025 at Panorama Mountain Resort.

Registration:

• Friday June 27^th from 4:00pm-9:00pm - Upper Village
• Saturday June 28^th from 6:45am-7:15am - Upper Village

Stage 1, 36km: Saturday June 28^th, start time is 8:00am, we have a 10 hour course cutoff time.

We will have 1 water station and 2 aid stations located on the 36km course. The water station is early on before you begin the big climb up to the summit. The water station will be setup at the 2km mark, this will be water only, mainly setup as an emergency in case something was to happen to your water supply shortly after the start of the race.

Aid station 1: at 8.5km into your course. The cutoff here will be 1:00pm, we will have a fully stocked aid station here.

Aid Station 2: at 25km from course start. The cutoff here will be 3:30pm, this is the second and last aid station.

Awards will take place at 5:00pm in the main base area of Panorama Mountain Resort.

Stage 2, 13km: Sunday June 29^th, start time is 8:00am, we have a 4 hour course cutoff time.

There will be one aid station on the course at the highest point on the stage. This is at 7.5km from the start of the stage.

Awards will take place at 11:00am in the main base area of Panorama Mountain Resort.

Mandatory Gear

These will be required for the Saturday 33km course. The items that you will need to have with you before you will be allowed to start the stage: a running pack or belt with vessel for liquids with a minimum of 500ml, a hat(head covering), gloves, jacket and an emergency blanket (or bivy). Bear spray will not be mandatory but recommended.

The WILDness will be a cup-less event, you will need to bring with you some type of drinking vessel for the aid station.

Registration Opens March 3rd!

Don't miss out on this epic trail running adventure! Spots are limited and will be released on March 3rd at 9:00am PST. 

Register Here

Categories for the event:

• Open Men & Women
• 40+ Men & Women

Top 3 in each category will be called to the podium for awards. Each stage with award the top 3, after stage 2 there will also be a General Classification award ceremony for the top 3 in each category for combined time of the 2 day event.

Cancellation Policy

No refunds will be issued for this event. Deferrals will be available with a fee. Up to 2 weeks before race date there will be a 75% deferral to the following year, from 2 weeks before to 1 week before the race there will be a 50% deferral to the following year event. Any cancellations the week of the race there will be no refund or deferral available. We thank you and hope you understand the need to enforce this policy.

Event Rules

Here is a short list of rules that we at The WILDness would like to share to make sure everyone had a safe and fun experience.

1. No littering will be tolerated. This will result in disqualification from the event.
2. Volunteers are important to have an event run, please treat them all with respect. They are following the guidance of the Race Director so any issues should be brought up with this person. Any disrespect shown towards a volunteer or staff member will result in disqualification from the event.
3. Bibs must be visible for aid stations to see as you are coming through, please do not alter them making them unreadable. In keeping with timing, please wear the timing chip at all times so we are able to provide you with a time for each stage.
4. Please show respect to your fellow runners, this means asking to pass on the left when needed. Staying on the trails to show respect to nature and your fellow runners. This also is meant to allow passing, please be respectful and not hold up other runners if you are able to be off the course briefly in a safe area.
5. Earbuds can be worn in one ear only. We understand that people like to run with some motivation, if you are caught with a device in both ears you will be disqualified.
6. As mentioned on the site, mandatory gear must be shown and your bib number checked off before you will be allowed to start the Saturday 33km race. There are no exceptions to this, these items are for your safety as the weather in the high alpine can change instantly and these items can become life savers.
7. Staying on designated trails at all times is required. No cutting any switchbacks or corners. We need to keep the integrity of the trail system that has been developed and your respect for the trails is expected. If a situation arises, a fallen tree for instance, that requires you to make a detour this is permitted.
8. Cutoff times are not debatable, this is for the safety of you and the volunteers that are out on the course to help the event operate. If you miss the time please respect the aid station volunteers and do not continue along the course.
9. If you have abandoned your race please inform a race official. This could be at the aid station or at the finish line by letting the announcer or timing team know that you have left the course and thus will be receiving a DNF.
10. If you come along a fellow injured runner and you stay with them please keep track of your time spent with them and an adjustment will be made to your time.

We hope to see you celebrating WILDness with us at the end of June, so we can share our passion for adventure, celebrating independence and the beauty of the Purcell Mountains.

Accommodation

Accommodation discounts for stays at Panorama Mountain Resort will be provided to all participants! Details TBA.

Stay Connected

Follow us on social media for updates and a behind-the-scenes look at The WILDness. Facebook & Instagram: @runthewildness