Long Course - ~16 - 20(?) km
Please print out the course description (scroll down for printer friendly version) and bring it in a plastic baggie to the start. Printing the map is also Quite Helpful.
CELL PHONES DO NOT WORK IN EAST SOOKE PARK, not even in the parking lot.
Hosts will have a radio; if you have a radio or walkie-talkie, please bring it - we'll choose a frequency on the day. Hosts will be sweeping the course. PLEASE BE CAREFUL & please make sure you have enough water, sustenance & a space blanket in case you get hurt and are waiting a while for help. Check out Action Jackson's "the ten essentials" list modified for trail running here: http://www.clubfatass.com/blog/ean-jackson/baggers-essential-companion.
LONG COURSE
| 0m | Anderson Cove parking lot, the trail begins just to the right of the big trail map. |
| 216m | The first part of the trail heads uphill, there is a signpost at the top – turn LEFT towards Coast Trail (straight ahead is Park Boundary / Private Property) |
| 720m | Go through a big old (hopefully) dry riverbed, signpost points back towards Anderson Cove and onward towards Coast Trail – head onward! |
| 1.7km | At T-intersection at the top of the hill, turn RIGHT towards Mount Maguire. Signpost also points towards Coast Trail to your left and back towards Anderson Cove. |
| 2.2km | Signpost with lots of signs: Coppermine Trail, Anderson Cove, Pike Rd, Mt Maguire; perpendicular: Interior Trail. Keep going STRAIGHT, don't turn onto Interior Trail. |
| 2.5km | Signpost pointing back towards Anderson Cove, forwards to Mt Maguire, left to Swamp Bypass Trail; turn LEFT onto Swamp Bypass Trail. |
| 2.8km | Swamp Bypass Trail opens out onto a big wide trail, turn LEFT towards Coast Trail. Signpost also points right to Coppermine Rd and Mt Maguire. |
| 3.3km | Look to your right to see incredible mine shaft openings. There are at least two that we know of. Explore at your own risk!!! |
| 4.0km | Don't step on the banana slug! |
| 4.5km | A rushing creek crosses the trail, look to your RIGHT and find a bridge across it. Just past the creek a signpost points back towards Coppermine Rd, and both right & left towards Coast Trail. Keep to your RIGHT. |
| 5.0km | Important intersection! Signpost points back to Anderson Cove, straight to Coast Trail and right towards Coast Trail, Iron Mine Bay & Pike Rd. Don't turn right! Stay STRAIGHT towards Coast Trail – do NOT cross a bridge. If you cross a bridge you went the wrong way, turn around! |
| 5.1km | Very soon you'll see the ocean, there's a really nice lookout off to your right. A good place to stop for an energy bar or whatever :) Watch for seals! But most of it is just giant bull kelp... |
| You're now on the Coast Trail, this is where you want to watch for yellow reflective markers to keep you on track. Other friendly trail-users have put piles of branches & rocks in the way of the “wrong” trails (the trail has changed due to windstorms), so if you are having to jump over major obstacles you're probably not on the right trail! The yellow markers are always on the correct trail; sometimes it's easier to find them if you look behind you. | |
| 6.1km | Signpost points left towards Coppermine Trail, back towards Iron Mine Bay & Pike Rd and forward towards Cabin Point. Stay STRAIGHT heading towards Cabin Point. |
| 6.5km | After crossing a rocky creek, head uphill into the land of Spaghetti Trees! |
| 7.0km | Watch for the bottom sections of 3 old metal fence poles on your right, you may also hear an occasional deep booming sound. Head towards the water, carefully look over the black rocky cliff into the crevasse & recognize the intense power of the open ocean crashing into a very narrow channel. BOOM! |
| 7.2km | Important intersection! This is where the SHORT COURSE (~12km) and LONG COURSE (~16km) divide. Just after crossing a small wooden bridge, LONG COURSE stays STRAIGHT / SLIGHT RIGHT along Coast Trail towards Cabin Point & Aylard Farm, immediately crossing another wooden bridge. SHORT COURSE turns LEFT uphill (signpost points toward Park Heights Rd). |
| 7.5km | The trail is difficult to find here: fallen trees on either side, trail heads straight up & over mossy rocks. No yellow markers around (until after you're up & over & look behind you) |
| On this part of the Coast Trail, keep looking for yellow trail markers and don't cross over piles of branches / rocks – these probably indicate you're going the wrong way! | |
| 8.3km | There is a well-defined trail off to your left but it's WRONG! Stay straight ahead down some mossy rocks, you will be very unbelieving that you're on the correct trail (look behind you & you'll see yellow markers to help convince you). Don't worry too much, if you take the wrong trail here you'll still end up in the same place, you'll just end up running through a very overgrown salal-y trail. |
| 8.5km | Signpost: you're on Coast Trail, back the way you came is Iron Mine Bay & Pike Rd, to the left uphill is Babbington Hill, and to your right is Aylard Farm & Cabin Point. Turn RIGHT towards Cabin Point. [If you took the wrong turn at the previous instruction, you'll have to turn left down the wide trail to get to this signpost – it's fairly obvious] |
| 8.8km | Cabin Point... head down to the cabin & take a look. We think it's a little freaky! When you're done, come back & turn right (left if you didn't bother heading down to the cabin). A little ways along the trail will be another signpost indicating you are on Coast Trail, back toward Cabin Point, forward to Beechy Head and left to Aylard Farm. Turn LEFT toward Aylard Farm. |
| 8.9km | Signpost: points back toward Cabin Point, slight left to Aylard Farm. Turn LEFT toward Aylard Farm. |
| 10.1km | Signpost: points back toward Cabin Point, right to Aylard Farm, left to Babbington Hill. Turn LEFT toward Babbington Hill. |
| 11.0km | Signpost points forward & back along Interior Trail, to your right is Babbington Hill. Unless you're really bustin' for a challenge, we recommend NOT climbing Babbington Hill. Stay STRAIGHT along Interior Trail. |
| 11.2km | Confusing intersection!! Signpost with lots of signs: Interior Trail, Coast Trail, Cabin Point, back to Aylard Farm, right to East Sooke Rd. Take a SLIGHT LEFT, then RIGHT to basically stay STRAIGHT on Interior Trail. |
| 12.1km | Signpost points back the way you came for Interior Trail & Babbington Hill, right toward Anderson Cove & Park Heights Rd, left toward Coast Trail. Turn RIGHT toward Anderson Cove, in less than 100m (at next signpost) turn LEFT towards Anderson Cove. |
| 13.3km | Signpost keeps you on track, points you to the left towards Anderson Cove (there aren't any turnoffs here). |
| 14.6km | Signpost where you've been before! Points back towards Coast Trail, straight ahead towards Mt Maguire & right to Anderson Cove. Turn RIGHT. |
| 15.3km | Last signpost! Turn RIGHT towards Anderson Cove & head downhill into the parking lot. You're done! Time for burgers & beer :) |
