North Cascades Climate Summit & Trail Fest
26-64.5 Miles, 3 Days
The North Cascades Climate Summit, based out of the Mt. Baker Mountaineers Lodge, brings trail runners together to deepen our relationships with the glaciers of the North Cascades and the impacts of climate change. We’ll run trails leading up to and onto glaciers while centering collective climate action through presentations and workshops and the and asking ourselves:
“What is our place as trail runners in a rapidly changing climate, and how can we move together towards impactful action that centers justice and mother earth for now and future generations.“
Each Day of this Rendezvous Style Trip OFFERS ROUTEs for Runners of All Abilities.
Aspire operates shuttleS to the TrailHead and Finish AID Stations For All Routes.
Get the detailed itinerary, maps, .gpx files, route descriptions & more in the course packet:
'24 TRIP DATES
SEPTEMBER 13TH-15TH
"What sticks out in my mind (more than the amazing terrain, awe-inspiring vistas, and great food) was that the staff/guides seemed to be loving the experience just as much as the clients. High levels of stoke all around."
ANDREW, PORTLAND OREGON
Why a Climate Summit?
Trail runners are among the most active and engaged users of wild spaces. When we run trails, we feel the terrain beneath our feet. We breathe mountain air deep into our lungs. We bear witness to the beauty, power, and value of our earth as she is.
Most of us also burn fossil fuels, participate in a largely disposable culture, and feel powerless to disrupt or even curb the currents of consumerism and cultural conditions that are relentlessly marching us towards irreversible climate change. As we hear the alarms sound, we may question our choices while we struggle to grasp the details of the science and the immensity of the politics behind these new realities.
Hope lies on the flip side of these isolating questions, and through working through these valid concerns and uncertainty together. The North Cascades Trail Fest and Climate Summit will center the felt experience of connection with glaciers and their changing alpine environments as we face and explore these questions together alongside leaders in the trail running and climate spaces.
Land Acknowledgment
The North Cascades are raw, rugged, and remote. The deep valleys, abundant resources, and numerous waterways of these mountains have been home to many Coast Salish peoples, particularly the Skagit and Nooksack tribes. Mining, logging, and colonization disrupted these cultures. These unceded lands where we are privileged to play are now managed by the North Cascades National Park Complex. Aspire operates trips in this region with the authorization from the North Cascades National Park and the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
Meet the Presenters:
John All PhD (he/they)
Raised in Georgia, he made a false career start as an environmental lawyer before pivoting to science in the mid-nineties. He moved to Tucson, Arizona, to pursue a Ph.D. in renewable natural resources at the University of Arizona, where he hiked, climbed, and volunteered with search and rescue teams. His jones for mountaineering continued to expand, and in 2010, while spending a year in Nepal as a Fulbright Scholar, he summited Everest via the North Col, in Tibet.
He resides in Bellingham, WA, and the author of Icefall: Adventures at the Wild Edges of our Dangerous, Changing Planet, published in 2017.
Joe Boomgard-Zagrodnik PhD (he/him/his)
Dr. Joe Boomgard-Zagrodnik (formerly Zagrodnik) is the founder of the Convergence Zone blog and a postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University. His career has spanned a number of academic institutions and research interests including weather observations+field experiments, forecasting, climatologies, machine learning and high-resolution modeling. A Seattle resident since 2013, Joe has embraced the temperate climate for his outdoor hobbies including running, gardening and beekeeping.
Dr. Zoë Plakias is an agricultural and food systems economist. She currently teaches courses in environmental economics, resource economics, and introductory microeconomics. She received her BA in Economics from Western in 2010 and her PhD from the University of California, Davis in Agricultural and Resource Economics in 2016. She returned to Western in 2022 after six years on the faculty at Ohio State University. When not working, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and cat, reading, hiking, and being out on the water in a sailboat or kayak.
Vic is a trail and ultra runner, and an environmental studies and religious studies professor at California Lutheran University. He is also the founder of the nonprofit environmental organization Runners for Public Lands and a board member of Los Padres ForestWatch. Vic is currently working on a book on public lands titled "Ground Truth: The Natural World, Outdoor Recreation, and Environmental Activism."
Here's how Aspire facilitates a meaningful community trail experience:
Aspire coordinates all camping reservations, backcountry permits, shuttles and meals to guarantee you an immersive trail running experience. All you have to bring is your running kit and your fitness.
Accommodations: The Mt. Baker Mountaineer's Lodge provides a warm and charming setting for this weekend of connection. Expect ski lodge style bunks, flushing toilets & hot showers.
Meals: We get it! Nutritious food fuels your adventure. We put care and whole foods into all our meals. Aspire bookends each day with celebratory breakfasts & dinners and provides nutritious options for fuel on trail as well. We are happy to accommodate your dietary needs.
Shuttles: Aspire will operate an optional shuttle from our HQ in Bellingham to the lodge ~1.5 hours away. Once you arrive at the lodge, Aspire provides shuttles to all trailheads. You can save the navigation skills for the trail!
Guide Team: The Aspire team is comprised of welcoming expert guides that provide a safety net, energizing camaraderie, area information, logistical support and meals.
| 6:00 AM | Coffee & Breakfast: French Toast |
| 7:00 AM | Shuttles Depart Yellow Aster Butter TH |
| 8:00 AM | Arrive at Yellow Aster Butte TH. Runners head out for 8, 14, or 20 miles over Yellow Aster Butter. Avg. run time 3-7 hours. |
| 1-4 PM | Runners finish, enjoy the finish aid station and shuttle back to the lodge. |
| 4:00 PM | Appetizers, drinks and conversation commence at the lodge. |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner: Enchiladas with Salsa and Homemade Guacamole |
| 7:30 PM | Presentation by Vic Thasiah, Ph.D.: Impactful Climate Action |
View all the ways we support your adventure.
Get the course packet:
Early Registration: $750
through December 12th
Standard Registration: $850
through April 30th
Late Registration: $950
through September 10th
*Payment plans are available for every trip. Email us to set one up info@aspireadventurerunning.com
Trip Insurance
Every year we have at least one runner who due to injury, illness, or personal/familial circumstances can not participate in their registered trip. While registrations can be transferred, Aspire does not issue refunds. See our FAQ's. We strongly encourage each runner to purchase 3rd party trip insurance that will reimburse the cost of registration in the event that you are unable to participate in the event.