Banff-Jasper Relay Course Description March 17, 2005 The course description is general, although the distances are reasonably precise. The object is to give teams a sense of the conditions they will meet at each stage of the Banff-Jasper Relay, to help them choose the most appropriate stage for each runner. And, of course, each runner will want to know what to expect in his/her stage. All distances are in kilometres. Southern Phase: Stage S1: Banff Start – 16.9 km (10.5 MI) The race start will take place on Vermilion Lakes Road just off of Bow Avenue across and down from the Banff Recreation Centre. Support vehicles are not allowed on the Bow Valley Parkway from the southern entrance to the Castle Mountain Junction (see Stage S1 and S2 Bus Procedures). This stage, as well as stage S2 will each have 1 water station near the midway point. It is strongly recommended runners consider carrying water themselves. The “IA tagged” support vehicles (see Race Rules: Traffic and Safety rule #3 and #5) proceed to Castle Mountain Junction (end of Stage S2) to pick up their stage S1 and S2 runners. The race starts on and heads west on Vermilion Lakes Road for 4.5 km where you will take a short trail to get onto the Trans Canada Highway for another 1.5 km. You will stay on the left shoulder facing traffic and will be directed down an entrance ramp to enter the Bow Valley Parkway 1A. The next 2.8 km is a winding rolling road with great views all around. The road splits here and you enjoy a downhill grade for 0.5 km at which time the road becomes two-way once again at the 9.8 km point. Copyright The Alberta Centennial Jasper to Banff Relay: General Information Page 1 of 8 Revision Date: October 2005 You finally get to do some climbing for 1.1 km where you will pass the Muleshoe picnic area and then you go downhill for another 1.1 km. It flattens out for a short while and then continues to drop to the 9 km mark. You can stretch out your legs for the final 7 km over a winding and undulating road. Stage S2: Sawback - 12.7 km (7.9 MI) The stage starts at the Sawback picnic area. Stage S2 runners will be bused to the start of this stage and stage 1 runners will use those same buses to be moved up the course (see Stage S1 and S2 Bus Procedures). Remember, there are no support vehicles allowed on this stage;runners are to be self- supporting. One water station will be supplied near the midway point. At the “Y” you will go left (the road is one-way here) and climb to the 2.7 km mark. There is a noticeable drop to where the road becomes two-way again at 5.2 km. The road is relatively flat, with gentle undulations from this point on. At the Johnston’s Canyon Resort you will begin a 1 km decline to the Johnston Creek Trail at 7.5 km. The Bow Valley Parkway frequently has wildlife along the route. As you pass Moose Meadow at 8 km you may see one of these critters grazing. Stage S2 finish is at the Castle Mountain Junction. Parking is very limited in this area. Only the “1A” tagged support vehicles are to proceed to this stage exchange area (see Race Rules: Traffic and Safety rule #3 and #5). Stage S3: Protection Mountain - 14.8 km (9.2 MI) The start of stage S3 rolls gently down. At 5.6 km you get to test your hill work for 2.2 km. The highway divides once again at 7.5 km for 1.7 km where you will be reaping the rewards of your climb until the 9.8 km mark. This stage is marked with twists and turns. At 11.5 km you will pass the Protection Mountain Campgrounds running through a beautifully treed area. Stage S3 finish is at Baker Creek cabins. Once again parking is extremely limited. Note: Only the “1A” tagged support vehicles are allowed to proceed along the balance of the Bow Valley section of the race course from this point (see Race Rules: Traffic and Safety rule #3 and #5). Stage S4: Storm Mountain - 17.7 km (11 MI) Note: All runners must wear a reflective vest on this stage. This stage starts off fairly flat for 6.7 km followed by a gradual drop for 1.3 km. Copyright The Alberta Centennial Jasper to Banff Relay: General Information Page 2 of 8 Revision Date: October 2005 At the 8.3 km point you will pass the Corral Creek picnic grounds and cross a bridge at 9.3 km. You arrive at a “T” intersection at 11 km where you will turn left and, at the direction of a course marshal, cross over, maintaining the right side of the road. As you come down the hill you will keep right along the entrance ramp to the Trans Canada Highway 1. You are to stay on the shoulder going with the traffic. Note for support vehicles: Please do not assist your runner on this portion of the highway. Wait until he/she gets onto the Icefield Parkway Highway 93. Through this section you will have the Wapituk Range in sight. You may also be treated to views of mountains Victoria, Lefroy, Fairview and Temple. You will exit Highway 1 at the 14.3 km mark turning right up the entrance ramp for Highway 93. As you gain some elevation you will be directed to cross the highway by race officials and the balance of the southern portion of the race will be on the left side of the highway facing traffic. As you maintain a steady incline you will come to be above Herbert Lake where your stage ends at 17.7 km. Stage S5: Herbert Lake - 20.3 km (12.6 MI) This is the longest stage in the race, and is virtually all uphill. The first half of your stage will see you gaining elevation and then at the 10.5 km mark the road undulates for next 3.5 km. At the Hector Lake Viewpoint, Km 13.3, you get to ascend for another 2.7 km and then get back to “undulating”. At 16.8 km you get a short reprieve and can stretch your legs out before you start your last climb. With 1.1 km the road levels out and you finish off strongly, aided by a final decline to the end of your leg at the Mosquito Creek Campground. Stage S6: Mosquito Creek - 16.1 km (10.0 MI) Leaving the Mosquito Creek Campground behind, you will warm up on 4.2 km of generally level road with gentle undulations. At that point you will cross a bridge and climb for 3.4 km. Now at the 7.6 km mark you will descend to the Crowfoot Glacier Viewpoint at 8.7 km and pass Helen Lake on your way to the Bow Lake Viewpoint at 10.1 km. Are you taking in the natural wonders all about? You begin your last ascent up to the Peyto Lake turnoff where you achieve level ground to the end of the stage at Bow Summit. This is the highest point of the race at 2069m. Good job! Copyright The Alberta Centennial Jasper to Banff Relay: General Information Page 3 of 8 Revision Date: October 2005 Stage S7: Bow Summit - 17 km (10.5 MI) One will be awe-inspired by the surroundings, so be careful not to head off too strongly. You will be dropping rapidly for 5.9 km, after which you will encounter a slight rise for the next kilometre and then drop for yet another 3.5 km to the Silverhorn Campground. You will climb again after passing the campground and the road levels off until the 12.9 km point, where you drop over the next 2 km to the Mt. Chepren/Howse Peak Viewpoint. From here to the end of your stage just 0.6 km past Waterfowl Lake Campground you will cruise in on a basically flat road with a 0.5 km drop midway. Stage S8: Waterfowl Lake - 18.4 km (11.4 MI) As you roll away from the Waterfowl Lake Viewpoint you begin a slight climb for 1.4 km where you can cruise on a long slow decline for 4.8 km. There is a small incline at the 6.2 km mark. You will continue on your long steady decline for the next 7 km of this stage. As you pass the viewpoint at 11 km you have Mt. Murchison to the right, Sarbach and Kaufman to the left, and a quick glance back to Chephren. At 13.1 km you level out as you pass the Mistaya Canyon/Howse Pass Viewpoint. There’s smooth sailing as you pass the Warden Station at 16.3 km and a bridge at 16.7 km. With any luck you will see the resident herd of mountain sheep as you pass the intersection for the David Thompson Highway. This also tells you there is only 1.1 km to go to the finish of the southern phase of the race. It is a bit of an incline to get there though. Copyright The Alberta Centennial Jasper to Banff Relay: General Information Page 4 of 8 Revision Date: October 2005 Northern Phase: Stage N9: Saskatchewan River Crossing - 16.4 km (10.2 MI) We will gather at the Saskatchewan River Crossing for 7:00 a.m.