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

As an integral part of our philosophy, we have offered incentives (aka “The BAIT”) to encourage individuals to raise money for local/regional non-profits through the Bellingham Traverse and  Olympia Traverse. With the support of local businesses (aka “Spawnsors”), individuals have raised tens of thousands of dollars for local and regional non-profits. We have supported many organizations over the years.

We thank these companies for their support, providing us with gear and goodies:
REI, Kulshan Cycles, Boundary Bay Brewery, La Fiamma, Eddyline Kayak, Necky Kayak, Delta Kayak, Fairhaven Bike and Mountain Sports, Flying Fish wine, The Alpine Experience, Bike Tech and Joyride Bikes.

As we move to incorporate ourselves into our own non-profit organization, Northwest Traverse, we are evaluating our practices to increase our efficiencies and effectiveness. We have been paying attention to how our participants have been behaving over the past with regards to fundraising (a disappointing decrease over the years) and how they also respond to the prizes that have been given out. While a noble effort to encourage the fundraising for others, it was not a message that resounded loud enough. Instead of trying to continue to sell a product that people don’t want/believe in, we are going to shift how we do things. The proposal outlines what we are going to do moving forward into 2012.

The proposal.
Local and regional organizations will be invited to submit an application to be THE ONE select non-profit for the year as the beneficiary of the Traverse. A committee will choose from the pool of applicants- to be implemented in 2013. As the THE ONE beneficiary, the chosen organization will receive a percentage of the surplus revenue for the event. They will also receive a complimentary registration to the event so they can (still) raise money on their own behalf as a fundraising opportunity for their organization.

The Traverse will no longer be providing the fundraising incentives for the individuals. Instead, the prizes will go to the “winners’ of the Traverse. The winners will be the FIRST PLACE finishers in all divisions (which is a lot of prizes). The Second and Third Place finishers will receive ribbons.

THE ONE organization will have to wait 3 years to be eligible again. More details to come.

If you have questions or comments about this shift, please contact 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

News Flash: Mountain Bike Course Change (why didn’t we did we do this earlier?)

After our volunteer meeting tonight, Padden Transition Captain, Mike McAuley, had the great idea that we should simplify (but doesn’t shorten) the mountain bike course. It was an executive decision that makes sound sense. Please make sure that your mountain biker knows that the course has been modified and to follow the arrows and course markings. McAuley has this to say about the course revision, “this year, racers will start fast and finish hard.” We wish them luck.

Have fun. Be safe. Play nice.

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.

Created for Adventure Capitalists

Our mission is to connect active people. By leveraging our Spawnsors generosity, we are able to provide BAIT as incentive for our participants, known as Spawners. You get to keep as you earn. 100% of your donation goes to the charity of your choice. At $500 you get a raffle ticket to enter to win one of the Big Catch items listed below. You must be present to win.*

$100 – Gift certificate - La Fiamma Pizza / Fiamma Burger

$250 - Bellingham Traverse Tee shirt
These are really cool. We got a bunch of second hand t-shirts and printed on them. Sustainable clothing. RE Use. (some tech tees too)

$500 -Bellingham Traverse hoodie & 1 raffle ticket to win Big Catch prizes below.
These are brand new and we’ll be taking orders for your size. We don’t have enough $$ to buy all these ahead of time. 
(You may buy extras for $25 / $30 w. shipping)

Raffle ticket to win one of the BIG Catch items:
For those that raise $500, they get a raffle ticket to win one of these great items.

REI Bellingham

Featured above from: REI Bellingham

Delta 10 kayak

Novara Buzz One

REI Base Camp 4 tent

REI Half Dome 2 tent

REI Traverse Backpack and REI Traverse Trekking poles

Contour GPS Wearable Camcorder

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Kulshan Cycles - Trek Allant Bikes “HIS & HERS”  (featured below)

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* Must be present to win. First ticket picked gets first choice of the Big Catch items listed above; Second; Third and so on.

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

Here’s what we’ve come up with for the revised Road Bike and Trail Run routes and transitions.

See the Road Bike or Trail Run pages for updates and information.

This change was due to how difficult and unsafe it has been to have the road bikes end at the Fairhaven Park Transition.
Now we should have plenty of parking. Parking details still unfolding.

Over the next couple of weeks (since we’re 16 days out) we’ll be hanging “Traverse BAIT” from the ceiling in the Boundary Bay brewpub. The prizes are to encourage YOU to raise money for local and regional non-profits. Here are our favorites:

RE Sources
Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association
Kulshan Community Land Trust
Whatcom Land Trust
Sustainable Connections
Whatcom Parks & Recreation Foundation
People for Puget Sound
Conservation Northwest

See complete list

In order to get the stuff across town this morning, I had to put plastic bag man (thank you Iain D. & RE Sources) on my Kulshan Cycles TREK Lime and I rode the new single-speed REI Novara Buzz One bike to Boundary.

Next, while being heckled by staff, plastic bag man as adroitly placed in the cockpit of the Delta 10 and the Buzz made it up there as well. (this was done before opening, so none of these people were able to witness the “process”).  We ran out of time to get the rest of the REI Adventure Package up there. Stay tuned to see what other great stuff is out there to encourage fundraising.

GO FISH!

- Todd Elsworth