The inaugural Monster Marmot Trail Race drew 219 registered runners to Mount Washington Alpine Resort and raised more than $9,000 for the Marmot Recovery Foundation.
On September 20th, runners headed up Mount Washington for the inaugural Monster Marmot Trail Race, tackling 5 km and 10 km courses through the alpine, both kicking off with a punchy climb up the Giv’r Trail.
The weather couldn’t have been better; the trails offered plenty of challenges, and the start and finish lines had no shortage of good energy.
For a first year, we’re pretty stoked with how things turned out.
A look at the rugged race routes, both featuring a punchy climb up Giv’r before winding through the mountain trails.
Coming Together for a Cause
Trail running felt like a natural fit for Mount Washington. We’ve got the trails, the views, and a pretty great community of people who love spending time in the mountains.
Our friends at Frontrunners Cumberland had already been building a strong local running community through their weekly run club. In 2025, we teamed up to bring their Alpine August run series to Mount Washington, giving runners a chance to explore the trails up here together.
The enthusiasm for those mountain runs got us thinking about what else we could create.
With the Marmot Recovery Foundation doing important conservation work right here on the mountain, there was an opportunity to bring the running community together for a bigger local cause and have a little fun along the way.
The Monster Marmot took inspiration from two Mount Washington icons: the Vancouver Island marmot, one of Canada’s most endangered mammals, and the infamous Monster Mile signature mountain bike trail.
Our version of the marmot turned out a little less cute and cuddly, with sharp teeth, a mischievous personality, and a potential laser beam problem.
The real marmots, thankfully, are much friendlier.
Mount Washington has a longstanding relationship with the Marmot Recovery Foundation, whose Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre is located here on the mountain. The race gave us another way to support their work and share the story of an animal that’s pretty special to Vancouver Island.
With Frontrunners helping bring the race to life and the Foundation along for the ride, the first Monster Marmot was officially off and running.
Supporting Vancouver Island Marmot Recovery
The race raised more than $9,000 for the Marmot Recovery Foundation, and that support comes at an important time.
This fall, the Tony Barrett Mount Washington Marmot Recovery Centre will be home to 67 marmot pups, a big jump from the 39 pups last year.
Many were born through the Foundation’s conservation breeding program, while others were born at partner programs at the Toronto Zoo and the Wilder Institute’s Calgary Zoo. All 67 will be released into the wild next summer.
That’s a lot of young marmots to care for over the winter.
The funds raised through Monster Marmot will go directly toward building additional enclosures at the Centre, caring for the pups through the winter, and preparing for their release into Vancouver Island’s mountains next summer.
“Thank you to everyone who participated in the Monster Marmot, and to Mount Washington Alpine Resort for organizing and hosting the inaugural race,” says Adam Taylor, the Marmot Recovery Foundation’s Executive Director. “It was inspiring to see everyone come to run and to talk with you about the marmot and our work. Your gift blew me away, and will really make a difference to our work this year!”
The Foundation’s work has come a long way.
Back in 2003, after the first marmots were released, just 22 Vancouver Island marmots could be found living in the wild. Today, there are more than 400, living on more mountains than they have in the past 40 years.
There’s still plenty of work ahead, but those numbers show just how much of a difference the ongoing recovery efforts have made.
Learn more about the Marmot Recovery Foundation’s work here.
Until Next Time, Monster Marmot
A big thank you to everyone who helped make our first year happen.
To Frontrunners Cumberland, the Marmot Recovery Foundation, our event partners, and volunteers who helped keep everything running, we couldn’t have done it without you.
And to all 219 registered runners who signed up for a brand-new race with a slightly questionable mascot, thanks for being part of it.
We had a lot of fun bringing this one to life and loved seeing so many people out enjoying the trails. We’re excited to build on the first year and see where the Monster Marmot takes us next.
For now, the Monster Marmot is heading into hibernation. Stay tuned for updates on the Marmot Recovery Foundation’s progress on their website, and follow our friends at Frontrunners Cumberland for all things running.
Will the Monster Marmot be back? Absolutely.
Bigger? Maybe. Scarier? Probably.
Laser beams? We’re looking into it.
