Posts Tagged ‘Bellingham’

Annually, the Bellingham Traverse roster is predominately filled up with local “Hamsters”, which is why I believe the event has such a grassroots “This is what B’ham is all about” feel to it. In addition to a great course that is able to highlight our urban greenways, abundant parks, challenging trails and a protected bay- the people are really what make our race a Northwest Rite of Passage.

As advocates for regional recreation, we also like to see out-of-town guests come play with us as well. While, we have people come from all around for the race, we are always excited to introduce more people to our beautiful city. In order to help make that happen, we have created a special relationship with the Lakeway Inn this year. If you are coming to town to TRAIN for The TRAVERSE or planning to stay the weekend for race day you can receive a 15% discount at Lakeway Inn on your room nights. Simply call and say, “I’m coming for the Bellingham Traverse”, and they’ll take care of you. That’s right, not only the weekend of the race, but anytime during the year!

Hope to see you here.

Go FISH!

Todd Elsworth, Director

Over the years, we have had the opportunity to raise money and awareness for a great group of local and regional non-profits. One of our objectives was to “Connect Active People” in the community, bringing together individuals, organizations and businesses. People in both Bellingham and Olympia are regionally known for their commitments to sustainability. We are fortunate to live in communities that care as evidenced by the list of “friends” that we have made through our efforts.

Thank you to all the people who have participated in the past- your work has added to the social fabric that make our region the best place in the world to live, work and play. We are proud of our story and happy to share it with our friends and families. Scroll through and think how these organizations have touched your life. If there’s an unfamiliar one, click and learn.

Bellingham Traverse

Action for Africa

Appliance Depot 

Center for Tribal Water Advocacy 

Chuckanut Conservancy

Community to Community Development 

Conservation Northwest

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of Whatcom County 

Ducks Unlimited 

Evergreen AIDS Foundation

Farm Friends 

Habitat for Humanity

The Hub Community Bike Co-Op 

Kulshan Community Land Trust 

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association 

Opportunity Council 

People for Lake Whatcom

Project Sea Wolf

RE Sources 

Save Our Wild Salmon Coalition 

Sierra Club Mt. Baker Group 

Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group 

Surfrider Foundation 

Sustainable Connections

Washington Health Foundation 

Washington Trails Association 

Washington Water Trails Association

Whatcom Conservation District 

Whatcom Film Association – Pickford Cinema

Whatcom Parks and Recreation Foundation

WHIMPS Mountain Bike Coalition 

Whatcom Land Trust 

Whatcom Literacy Council

Womencare Shelter

Olympia Traverse

Friends of Capitol Forest

South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group

Olympia Area Rowing

SUP Cleanup – Olympia Chapter

People for Puget Sound

Conservation Northwest

Dear Chinook,

We applaud your efforts. This course was designed with you in mind. Here’s some special treatment to help you out during the day:

Take care of yourself. There will be one water stop on the first run, otherwise you are on your own for food and water. We will have water at the transitions if you need to fill a bottle or have a quick cup. This is a challenging course and we try our best to make it safe for you so you can have a ton of fun.

Gear distribution:  At each Transition Area you’ll have a designated location to place your equipment so you can easily get in and out. You may have 1 support person in the area helping you out.

Gear pick-up: We will be providing FREE Bike Delivery if you are unable to pick your bike up before the times listed below.
The bikes will be delivered to the Finish Line at Boundary Bay so you can get them there.

3:00 pm Mountain Bikes picked up from Lake Padden delivered downtown to finish line.

4:00 pm Road Bikes picked up from Fairhaven (Cascade Joinery) delivered downtown to finish line.

New kayak cutoff time: The cut off time for boaters to be in the water is 5:00 pm = You must be in the water by 5:00. period.

We hope you enjoy yourself.

The Traverse Team

We what we think are the most important bits of information:

Packet Pick Up – Friday night & Saturday morning.

Fundraising – Raise money for your favorite local and regional non-profits.

Traverse Prizes – We call this the Bait. (download pledge sheet)

Traverse Times Table – Here’s an idea of who’s going to be where when.

Course Changes – Please read this for most updated information (published on 9.11).

Transition Areas – This is where it all comes together.

Our Spawnsors – These strong supporters help make this possible.

The Results – If you want to see your time, please check in with our timers at the end of each leg.

Required Gear & The Rules – If you’ve got it, bring it. Be safe, have fun, play nice.

Northwest Traverse blog – Get insights into what’s happening around this crazy event.

Big thanks to Kulshan Cycles for hooking us up with His and Hers Trek Allants this year.

See them on display inside the Boundary Bay Brewpub.

Stay tuned to The Traverse Network

The Community Boating Center is bringing Cliff Mass to Bellingham. This will be a great event. Get down to the Boating Center before the season is over!!

Oh, the old days. Remember when we had the Red Bull Arch at the finish? If you don’t, we used to have a big inflatable arch in front of Boundary that helped people know that there was a finish line. Then, in 2008, A “new friend” gave me a piece of his mind one morning about the non-local aspect and a bunch of mumbo jumbo about sugar and caffeine (I luv spell check) destroying the youth of America. I wanted to “unfriend” him at that point, but I moved on.

Subsequently, the arch never returned.But, neither did the Red Bull babes that my dad enjoying talking with about the intricacies of the course and the challenges the volunteers face during this endurance event. What I find “cool” now is that when you search “Boundary Bay Brewery” our arch shows up. I hope that the arch we’re building this year replaces the one that ‘gives you wings’. No disrespect to the folks at Red Bull. Simon and his crew has always taken care of us and helped us on the great ride it’s been.

Thank you Port of Bellingham for your continued support of the Bellingham Traverse. We love using Marine Park as the put in for our paddlers. The improvements to the park are much appreciated.