Hillbilly Hustle
Hillbilly Hustle 50K
The event began during the pandemic as a virtual community effort on Vancouver Island and continues as in person races using the trail network of Te'tuxwtun (Mount Benson), starting from Westwood Lake park in Nanaimo.
Distances offered:
- 17 km
- 35 km
- 50 km
The 50 km route traverses local trails, crosses the Te'tuxwtun summit twice and includes approximately 2800 m of elevation gain. Terrain is mixed: single track, double track, service road and open rock bluffs. Five aid stations are located at 8 km, 19 km, 25 km, 32 km and 39 km. Most aid stations are in remote locations with no crew access, except for a hike-in option to the summit station. Drop bags are available at the 32 km station. Aid station cutoffs are published to manage on-course progress.
The 35 km route follows much of the 50 km course with a single summit crossing and three aid stations at 8 km, 19 km and 25 km. The 17 km route includes close to 1000 m of vertical gain, a technical descent from the summit, and finishes on the main Westwood Lake trail. Each distance has early bird pricing until December 15 and a higher standard price thereafter. GPX files are provided for each course. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.