2026 Wicked Winter Navigation Race

Date: Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:00am - 3:00pm

Wicked Winter Navigation Race is a 3hr or 5hr snowshoe rogaine navigation course in the beautiful Teanaway Valley forest.  Checkpoints are plotted on a detailed topographic map for you and your team to locate using only map and compass! This years course will be north of the river in the Forks area.

The course will be hilly with varied terrain, but no risk of avalanches or steep terrain to navigate.  Convenient race start location near the Teanaway Campground in Cle Elum, just over 1.5 hrs from Seattle.  

COC Members get a $5 discount on their registration. Register 3 or more at the same time, save $5/person!

Due to insurance being provided by USARA this year, everyone will automatically get a USARA membership as part of their registration.

Results Posted!

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5hr Navigation Race

This will be a navigation course in the forest using snowshoe travel. The format will be rogaine style, navigating to Checkpoints on showshoes in any order.  Participants will start directly from the HQ at the turnaround at the road end, and race 5 hours to find as many checkpoints as you can. The course is unsupported with no remote aid stations, so you'll need to carry everything you need for 5 hours of playing in the woods. You are allowed to return to the HQ to re-stock and go back out again.

3hr Navigation Race

This will be a shorter course for 3 hrs.  The format will be rogaine-style, navigating to Checkpoints on showshoes in any order. Participants will start directly from the HQ at the turnaround at the road end.  

Snowshoe Rental

We'll be offering $10 Snowshoe Rentals (while supplies last), available for pick-up right at the start line. How convenient is that!  These are running snowshoes, so they are lighter, with a bit less float than backcountry snowshoes. You can select snowshoe rental as an option during On-Line Registration.

Rules and Required Gear

Participants have the option to wear whatever they want on their feet (snowshoes, micro-spikes, or nothing at all), but can't use skis or anything to aid in gliding. This event will happen with or without snow on the ground. No refunds for lack of snow.

Find more information on our Long Adventure Race Courses page. General Rules, and Race scoring, can be found on our Rules page.  Winter Adventure Race Required and Recommended Gear.

Solo racers are allowed with approval from the RD. All teams will be required to bring a FRS/GMRS radio (walkie-talkie) on Ch 16.

There will be post-race hot soups, food and beverages to get you warmed-up and replenished.

Race HQ Location

The course Start and Finish location will be at the end of the plowed W Fork Teanaway Road, past the Teanaway Campground. Address is 1801 W Fork Teanaway Road, Cle Elum, WA 98922.

There is limited parking, so please carpool if you can.  A Discover Pass is required to park.

FAQ

Here are some questions we've received, with answers:

Q. Won't CPs be super obvious and easy to find since most of the navigation is in untracked snow? Everyone will just follow the leader and the most tracked path - right?

A. That is definitely a concern, especially even when we're setting the course. Here's a few things we're trying to do to avoid making it to easy/obvious for everyone.

• We are using Survey Ribbons, and setting the course a month in advance, so hopefully any tracks will be covered by new snow.
• We are purposely using a rogaine format, so there isn't just one path to get the CPs.
• Unless you're the first couple teams at a checkpoint, you will see tracks where people have walked. But unless the very first person to a CP goes exactly to the CP, there will be several different tracks as people start to search around. 
• We're also planning the course so that from the HQ, there are 2-3 options for CPs all at the same distance away, so everyone won't choose the same first CP to attack.

Q. Will these CPs be as hard to find as your normal course CPs? Will they be ribbons again?

A. Because this area isn't used very much in the winter, which decreases the chance of CP ribbons being tampered with, the ribbons will be much more visible.

Pricing (per person)

5hr Course - Day of Schedule

3hr Course - Day of Schedule