Showcasing amazing routes
Hurt'n Bear
Distance
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When
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Where
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Cost
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Contact
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5km, 10km, and Hagen Half (21.3km)
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Saturday, May 25, 2024
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Pidherny Recreation Site
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PGRR members free!
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Race Director
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Trail Race
*portion of proceeds go to PGCC for trail maintenance |
8:40a Kids Race 9am 22.2k 9:15am 10k 9:30am 5k
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Upper parking lot
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Register In advance!
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The Hurt’n Bear Trail Race showcases some of the amazing routes that make up the extensive trail system at the Pidherny Recreation Site – a 620-hectare recreational gem nestled within city limits above North Nechako Drive.
The area is managed by the Prince George Cycling Club, through an agreement with Recreation Sites and Trails BC. The Road Runners are grateful to PGCC’s Mountain Bike Association for allowing us to host the Hurt’n Bear at Pidherny.
Cost
PGRR Members: Free
Early Registration: 20$ 5KM | $25 10km | $35 Hagen Half
NO Race Day registration, online registration closes on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6pm
Our goal is to highlight the trails unique to the eskers and glacial kettles that have shaped this beautiful spot along the Nechako River.
For decades, this growing network of trails has been a labour of love for a few dedicated souls and has opened the area to mountain biking, walking, hiking, running, snowshoeing, and skiing.
The Hurt’n Bear’s Hagen Half is meant, in small part, to say thank you to two of those individuals – Dr. Barry and Thelma Hagen. The Hagens are the literal ‘trailblazers’ behind some of the most beloved single track trails in Prince George. From the alphabet trails at Otway (AC/DC thru to Mocha) to Easy Street, Park Avenue, Shady Lane, and the Tool Circuit (Chainsaw, Pulaski, and Screefer) at Pidherny, the Hagens have quietly dedicated countless hours to enriching the fabric of this community. It’s a legacy that’s taken close to 30 years to painstakingly plot and carve; and one PGRR hopes to shine a light on by taking runners on some of the Hagens’ Pidherny routes.
Route Description
The Hurt’n Bear features 5km and 10km distances and the 2023 routes are very close to those exact distances, but remember it’s trails and your watch may show a slight variation in the distance. Trailforks is measuring the 2023 Hagen Half marathon route at 21.3km. The start and finish lines will be set up 30m into the rec site from the Upper Pidherny parking lot off Foothills Boulevard.
***2024 IMPORTANT NOTES***
- The 2024 race routes have been updated
- There is NO Race Day registration, online registration closes on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 at 6pm
Route Details
Route Difficulty | Route Length | Elevation Gain | Surface |
Intermediate to advanced (10km & Hagen Half) | 5km, 10km, 21.3km | see elevation maps below | dirt/gravel |
The 5km out-and-back
Racers head into the trails on the New Access Trail/Upper Papa Wood. At the 2km mark, it’s a big climb for approximately 250m to the top of New Access/Upper Papa Woods. The halfway point is 250m along the Ridge Trail, where racers will turnaround and come back out to the finish line along the same route.
The 10km loop
2023 route map can be viewed by clicking on map below.
Racers head into the trails on the New Access Trail/Upper Papa Wood. At the 2km mark, it’s a big climb for approximately 250m to the top of New Access/Upper Papa Woods. The 10km route continues on Ridge Trail for 448m before turning onto Northern Lights. You will stay on Northern Lights for 2km, coming out onto the Pidherny Forest Service Road (where there is an aid station). Racers remain on the Pidherny FSR for 1km, before turning onto Bush Chicken. From there it’s an 812m stretch through Skid Row junction to Carcass – you’ll climb up Carcass to the Ridge Trail for the return trip out along New Access Trail/Upper Papa Wood. Enjoy!
The Hagen Half – 21.3km
2023 route map can be viewed by clicking on map below
Racers head into the trails on the New Access Trail/Upper Papa Wood. At the 2km mark, it’s a big climb for approximately 250m to the top of New Access/Upper Papa Woods. Hagen Half racers continue on Ridge Trail for 448m before turning onto Northern Lights. You will stay on Northern Lights for 2km, coming out onto the Pidherny Forest Service Road (where there is an aid station). In under 200m on the Pidherny FSR, you’ll be directed to turn right onto Sally Housecoat and through Lazy Susan to Pidherny FSR 2. Turn right onto FSR 2 for 325m, turn left onto the Ridge Trail/Lookout Access for a 600m run before heading down Ridge XC for a 400m downhill stretch. ***Watch for trail markers at the bottom of the hill*** It’s a sharp, left-hand turn onto Sidewinder. At the end of Sidewinder, racers cross Pidherny FSR and head back into the trails via Flowjob, turning right onto Skid row junction to Carcass – you’ll climb Carcass to Ridge Trail and head back down New Access/Upper Papa Wood until you reach Valve Job, where a course marshall will direct you to the lower loop. This is a cut-off point. Racers must reach Valve Job by 11:00am to continue down to the lower loop. Racers head down Valve Job to Pidherny FSR 6. Turn left onto the FSR for approximately 135m before turning left into Toolbox junction (aid station). Once there, course marshalls will direct you onto the lower loop that includes some of the trails built by the Hagens. The loop consists of a newly modified Screefer, Back Door, McLeod and Pulaski, back to the Toolbox junction (aid station). Then you’ll make the return run up Valve Job to the finish line. WAY TO RUN!
Aid Stations:
- ONE – 5km – at the end of Northern Lights (for 10km and Hagen Halfers)
- TWO – 12km – entrance to Toolbox Junction
- FIVE – 18km – exiting Toolbox Junction (same as aid station two)
‘Bear’ Essentials for Race Day
- The Hurt’n Bear Trail Race is a BC Athletics-sanctioned event, but will be manually timed by race officials.
- It is recommended that runners participating in the Hagen Half marathon carry cell phones.
- All race participants must sign in and out at the registration table.
- This is a trail race in a wilderness setting – while bear spray is not mandatory, it is recommended.
- Runners participating in the Hagen Half marathon must reach the trailhead for the lower loop (approx 11km at the top of Valve Job) by 11:00am (2hrs). (Any participant arriving after this time will not be allowed to complete the lower loop and must head out to the finish line – this time limit is in consideration of our volunteers and allows us to honour our User agreement with the Prince George Mountain Bike Association).
- Runners participating in the 5k – there are no aid stations, if you need water please bring your own.
- First Aid provided by members of the Canadian Ski Patrol
- the race routes will be well marked with flagging stakes and tape, meaning that if you haven’t seen a flagging stake in 200-metres or so, it’s time to backtrack!
- This is a public recreation area that will not be closed to others during the race, please be courteous to other trail users
- Parking in the upper lot is limited.
- PGRR reserves the right to alter the race or route in the event of poor trail or weather conditions – thanks for your understanding!
- For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Race Director Emily Pallard at pgroadrunners@gmail.com
Important PGRR Information
- PGRR members participate for free, but still need to register online to receive a bib number
- Non-members can participate by registering online.
- The entry fee is non-refundable and non-transferable between participants
- a portion of the race proceeds will be going to the Prince George Cycling Club to support trail maintenance efforts at the Pidherny Recreation Site
- all PGRR races include a free Kids Race
- Please leave your dog and headphones at home due to liability and safety issues
Route Maps
Click on maps for Trailforks routes
5km Route 10km Route Hagen Half
Elevation maps
The seeds for the Hurt’n Bear Trail Race were planted in the summer of 2017 when a group of friends started running at Pidherny, marvelling at the beauty, and talking about ways to respectfully ‘share’ our find with others. We hope you enjoy this race!
Heartfelt thanks to our Title Sponsor, IRL Supplies Ltd. – Rob, Martha and the IRL team – for their generous support and ongoing support. IRL helped to make the Hurt’n Bear a reality!