Is this race for me?
Q: A 5 hour race?? That seems pretty extreme!
A: Five hours is the maximum amount of time you have for the race. Some people will use every...single...second of the race time and others will choose to only do an hour or two. It totally depends on how competitive you are and how much you feel like doing.
Want something more chill? Try our new "The Chill Course" option. Wander through wooded trails for a couple of hours.
Q: Do I need to finish the whole course?
A: There will be approximately 20 CPs (controls) available to get. You can get as many or as few as you want. It is pretty common for some casual racers to only get a few. Some competitive racers will try to get them all. It will be difficult for teams to complete all of them...so don't fret about missing a few.
Q: Do I need to be super fit? "Adventure racing" sounds extreme.
A: If you can walk in the woods for a few hours, you'll be fine. Trust me...the organizers aren't particularly fit and we do this stuff all the time. The side benefit is that your friends will think you're amazing when you tell them you were in an Adventure Race!
We often have families and youth groups participating in our races. We specifically created 9 Toes to be beginner friendly (while also challenging our old AR competitors!)
Q: Do I need to be a great navigator? What's with the map and compass stuff?
A: For the standard course you'll be fine if you can follow a map and if you can follow a compass direction. For example "100m north of trail/stream junction." For the Advanced course you'll want to be able to follow a bearing for longer distances but there isn't any tricky navigation. If you are still unsure, contact us and we'll be happy to give you a crash course.
Ok Tell me more about this race!
Do I need a team?
Yes, well, sort of. You'll have more fun with a team and traditionally adventure races are with teams of 2 to 4 people. We're flexible on team size though. It's also safer being out in the woods with other team members. However, if you are set on going solo AND can convince us you will make it back safe, we'll consider solo racers. Need a race partner, ask us. We might be able to play match-maker.
Tell me how it works!
You will arrive 30 to 60 minutes early (9am-10am). You'll get a map and a list of Control Point (CP) clues. You can use your time with the map to plan your route, since you can do the CPs in any order and you can do as many as you like. Or you can just use that time to drink a coffee and socialize...
Five minutes before the start of the race we'll give some final instructions.
At 10am you'll start.
You have 5 hours to get as many controls as you can. You must be back before 3pm or you receive a DNF (Did Not Finish). There is zero leeway on the finish time. The course is difficult but not impossible to clear in the time limit.
You'll make your way from CP to CP, using trails or cutting through the woods (bushwhacking), if you feel comfortable. CPs are marked by orange cones and the word is written on orange flagging tape. At each CP you will find a word that you must record on your score sheet. Make sure you have a pen, pencil, or marker to write with. (Pro-tip: Keep markers or pens in your inside pocket to keep from freezing)
Each CP also has a hint to make it easier to find. For example, "20m north of trail junction". Each CP has a point value. The most points win, time decides when there is a tie for points.
What gear do I need?
We recommend the following gear but you should generally bring whatever you would want for a snowy winter day in the woods.
- Warm clothes (layered is best for temperature control)
- Extra dry socks
- Extra hat and mittens
- Compass (mandatory)
- Waterproof matches or lighter (mandatory)
- Pencil, marker, or pen to mark the clues (mandatory)
- Knife (mandatory)
- First aid kit (recommended)
- Snowshoes or fatbike, depending on category
- Water (2L mandatory) - recommended in plastic bottles since hydration packs freeze in cold weather.
- Food, as needed
- Medication, as needed
- Cell phone fully charged (mandatory)
- Flashlight (recommended)
Snowshoes are not listed as mandatory but they are highly recommended. There is generally a lot more snow in the woods than in the city and you'll be ...ummm... challenged if you try to spend the race in boots or running shoes.
What if I get lost???
It is rare for people to get really lost in our races but sometimes people get disoriented and/or not know where they are on the map. This can feel intimidating but remember that you are safe and in a controlled area. We haven't lost anyone yet in the 10 years we've been doing this.
Here are some tips:
- Backtrack to a place where you knew where you were. This is usually possible but often people don't like to backtrack. That's the easiest option. Try it.
- Call for help. There is cell phone coverage on most of the course. An emergency contact is listed on the map. Call it. We'll help you find your way.
- Use the "Safety bearing". There will be a safety bearing on the map that will get you to a road. This might not be a pleasant walk but it will work.
If you are really lost and really can't get hold of us... STOP. Make yourself comfortable with clothing and a fire (see matches above).
GPS devices aren't allowed as part of the normal race but if you want to carry one as a safety device, please feel free. Installing an app like https://www.gaiagps.com/ is a good option as a GPS replacement on your phone. (Just make sure to download maps ahead.)
Is there somewhere to get warm before/during/after the race?
Yes! We will have people at the Lion's Club lodge all day and we'll have a pot of coffee or hot chocolate on standby. Always feel free to come back to warm up, eat, use bathroom, etc. There will be lots of space before the race to sit and plan/prepare.
After the event we'll have a short prize ceremony. We'd love to have you stay and celebrate but if you must leave, please let us know that you are done racing.
Are there awesome prizes?
Yes! We have great sponsors. First, Second, and Third place always get a big chunk of homemade fudge!
What's the history of 9 Toes?
9 Toes was originally started as an activity and fundraiser for the 2nd Nashwaaksis Scouts group. For the first several years we used the race as an activity for our group to learn about mapping, event organization, etc. From our humble beginnings in 2012, we have continued to offer a race that caters to both beginner and advanced racers.
Here are the locations of previous races:
2012 - Marysville
2013 - Mactaquac Park
2014 to 2018 - Killarney Lodge
2019 & 2020 - UNB Woodlot
2021 & 2022 - COVID-19 - No race :(
2023 - Killarney Lions Club
2024 - Killarney Lions Club
