Races
Easton to Chinook Pass. Cascade Crest. Norse Peak ridgeline. Twenty-two thousand feet.
Field, 2026 · 27-year sampleresults
Geometrycourse math
Course records
The cruxNorse Peak Wilderness ridge traverse (near mile 65)
Course DNA
Cascade Crest runs 100 mi through Washington. +14,175 ft gain and -14,175 ft loss. Surfaces skew 90% trail / 10% forest road. Norse Peak Wilderness ridge traverse. High point near 5,685 ft. Low near 2,147 ft. July temps run 35°F to 85°F. The course rewards patience early and punishes rushed descents after mile 50.
Train for 14,175 feet of climbing across 100 mi. Back-to-back long runs on trail. Practice power-hiking grades above 15 percent. 34 hours total means limited margin: rehearse fueling every 45 to 60 minutes and downhill eccentric work weekly. Technicality 6/10. Build a block that simulates the crux near mile 65.
July in Washington: plan for 35°F to 85°F. Mandatory shell if rain is in forecast. Headlamp with spare batteries if 34 hours pushes past dark. Poles help on sustained climbs above mile 25. Vest capacity for 2 liters minimum. Shoes matched to 90% trail: lugs for mud, rock plate if the course turns technical after mile 50.
Hold effort through mile 25. The field often splits on the first big climb after mile 50. Norse Peak Wilderness ridge traverse near mile 65 is where time is won or lost. Walk the steep pinches. Run the flats and gentle downhills. Crew at major aids: socks, calories, ice if hot. Transitions under 5 minutes when possible. Final third is 33 miles of fatigue management. Finish with reserve for the last descent.
Results
Official siteBack to racesPredict your timeTrain for this raceCheck readinessFoot care plan