Playtime is over.
No more hot laps in under 20 minutes like weeks one and two (for some). To claim hill running royalty, you must conquer some big bumps, too. "Good Time Charlie" - which is synonym for this seldom-visited trail's colloquial name - demands a bit more aerobic power than the first two weeks lactate buffering sprints.
Perhaps you improved as a wayfinder while navigating Brittania's braids and bends, or maybe you just cursed the route setter for layering mental effort on top of physical exertion. Either way, "Good Time Charlie" promises to be a break for the brain; other than the FSR it crosses, it's the only trail in the area. So you can devote that extra cognitive space to pushing yourself to your physical limit.
Getting there
Drive up the Mamquam River FSR for 9 km once you turn off of Hwy 99. The FSR is in great condition, and no extra clearance is necessary (we checked). A normal car will make it there no problem.
The best place to park is at the Raffuse Creek Recreation Area.
The "P" shows where to park, the red line shows the approach to the start of the challenge, highlighted with the star.
The Challenge
The challenge goes up a MTB trail broken into four sections of singletrack, connected by three FSR crossings. Start your watch when you leave the FSR and hit the trail. Stop it when you finish the fourth section and return to the FSR at the top.
Each time you hit the FSR, cross it and pick up the next section of singletrack on the other side. There's no navigation puzzle here: it's the only trail in the area, so when you're on it, you're on it.
The trail is sensitive to downhill traffic and we want it to stay in the shape it's in. At the top, use the FSR to run back down to the start.
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Distance: 2.8km
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Difficulty: Challenging, in a "I should be running this" kinda way
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Elevation Gain: 630 meters
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Where to Park: Raffuse Creek Recreation Site
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Surface: Expect steep dirt, rocks, low-angled rock slabs, the typical terrain you'd encounter on a hard MTB trail.
