Vancouver VK Courses

General Information

• This series has 20 Vertical KM courses with most coming under the ISF (International Skyrunning Federation) certification benchmark of 1000m ascent in less than 5km. All our courses are under 6km in total distance. A Vertical KM series with so many courses in one location – on the doorstep of a major population center – is unique and a world first.
• The courses are classified into six distinct groups:
  • Grouse group (5 courses) - Easy
  • Skyline group (3 courses) - Easy/Moderate
  • Cypress Group (2 courses) - Moderate
  • Mt Fromme group (3 courses) - Moderate
  • Headwaters Group (3 courses) - Difficult
  • Sea to Sky Group (4 courses) - Difficult
• Courses will only open when conditions become 100% safe for fast efforts and when most or all snow has cleared from the trail. Courses may temporarily close during the year if poor weather impacts on safety or through other events such as closed trails (trail work, landslides etc..). When our series closes a course, no times will be accepted. Furthermore, not all of our courses will be open when the series begins in June. Typically the Skyline and Grouse courses will open first in June, followed by Cypress and Fromme around July, and then the Sea to Sky and Headwaters courses typically won't open until August (all this depends on snow melt speed which is unpredictable).
• All courses attempt to avoid high risk situations. While some courses are challenging, our goal was to avoid participants facing exposure or relatively high accident risk. The courses are primarily Class 1, and go no higher than Class 2 on the Yosemite Decimal System which is defined as, “Simple scrambling, with the possibility of occasional use of the hands. Little potential danger is encountered.”
• Almost half of the 20 courses finish at or nearby the Grouse Mountain chalet where competitors may take the gondola down to the base to avoid returning downhill on foot. If descending on Grouse Mountain it is recommended participants take the BCMC, Larsen, McKay Creek or Jetboy trails to get down the mountain. The Jetboy descent will be the easist on your knees and most runnable way down but adds more distance than just going down BCMC for example. If you are unfamiliar with the downhill routes at Grouse Mountain please sign up to one of our free orientation runs.
• Participants are expected to have some experience in the North Shore mountains. VK racing is not recommended for absolute beginners or novices to the mountains or trail running. Participants unsure should begin with the Grouse Group courses and if feeling comfortable on those, can progress to the other courses.
• The Headwaters and Sea to Sky group courses are more technically challenging than those in the Grouse, Skyline, Cypress, Mt Fromme Group, and participants will have to return back down the course on foot - making for a long day out. Some of the backcountry courses require a hike or bike ride into the starting location. Please start early in the day on days with good weather if attempting any of these courses. Always take a headlamp just in case you are delayed. Please leave a trip plan with a loved one if you are attempting any of the courses. A satellite safety device like a Garmin InReach is highly recommended since cell reception is typically not available in the backcountry and can't be relied upon.

Full Course Summary

* Courses are subject to change up until series opening June 4 2022.

CYPRESS GROUP

FROMME GROUP

GROUSE GROUP

HEADWATERS GROUP

SEA TO SKY GROUP

SKYLINE GROUP