Run the Spearhead Traverse?

The Spearhead Traverse is a 25km horseshoe-shaped route in the back country between Blackcomb and Whistler. The route is mostly within Garibaldi Park, and meanders through some of the most breathtaking scenery on the planet. Much of the route is across glaciers or snow-covered terrain (even in the height of summer). With ski touring equipment, the route can be done in a day. But what about running the route, using snow shoes when required? It seems to me that the traverse could be done in a manageable day by trail runners. I have not covered the entire route myself on foot, but the other day my daughter and I completed 17K of the route (from Russett Lake to Whistler Village) in an easy walk across mostly firm ground. In summer, the entire stretch from Singing Pass to Whistler Village (14K) is well-maintained single-track trail. Singing Pass, by the way, has fileds of summer wildflowers right out of the Sound of Music. The last stretch of trail (Singing Pass to Whistler Village) may not be included in the 25K estimated length typically provided in descriptions of the traverse. So, the actual length may be something closer to 40K. But either way, the route is not longer than what could be done by most trail runners in a managaeable day.

The Spearhead Traverse could be a great community running event next spring or summer. It's close enough to Whistler and Blackcomb that safety can be easily-handled, yet it's a route through true wilderness. Also, the combination of running and snow-shoeing would add to the appeal of the event. Of course, the route does cross glaciers (with names like "The Rip Saw" and "Shatter"), and some mountaineering (actually, it would technically be "scrambling') skills would be required. Participants would have to carry rescue gear and other kinds of safety equipment for the conditions. But I think that the spectacular scenery, combined with the fact that this route has not been completed by a group of runners (as far as I know, we would be the first, but please do correct me if you know of someone who has done this), would make this a cool and fun event.

What do you think? Is running across glaciers and avoiding crevasses the kind of thing you'd want to try?

I have included an image of the route to this post (with thanks to Matt Gunn).