General Info
Cypress Hills Information
The Park spans the South East corner of Alberta. Visit www.cypresshills.com for more information.
Accommodation Dining
(Start and Finish are in Elkwater, Alberta)
Besides the 400 or so campsites, Elkwater has some dining and accommodation options.
Home « Cypress Hills - Grasslands Destination Area (visitcypresshills.ca)
How to get here
Almost midway between Calgary and Regina, Cypress Hills Provincial Park offers a short half-hour drive south from the Trans Canada Highway.
Distance from turnoff at Highway 41 Junction, Alberta:
Calgary, Alberta – 325km
Medicine Hat, Alberta – 32km
Regina, Saskatchewan – 446km
Swift Current, Saskatchewan – 184km
Distance to park from U.S. border: 75km If you’re arriving from Havre, Montana, Highway 41 north will take you directly into the park on the Alberta side.
Race Prep
Race Package Pick up
Race package pick up will be held on Friday, June 13, 2025 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at the Elkwater Learning Center.
Solo runners may also check in drop bags during this time. We will NOT accept drop bags on Saturday morning. The Learning Center is the START and FINISH and TRANSITION location for the Hidden Oasis 50 km ultra (team and solo), as well as the pre-race meeting/meal and awards ceremony (health regulations permitting).
Race Weekend Agenda
Friday, June 13, 2025
4:00 PM– 7:00 PM – Racer Check IN
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Meal service
7:00 PM – Registered Runners Meeting
Saturday – June 14, 2025
7:00 AM – 50 Kilometer Solo and Team Start
2:00 PM - Festivities / Socialize
5:00 PM - Awards
6:00 PM - 50 Km cutoff
7:00 PM - Close
Friday’s pre-race meeting and welcome meal (Health regulations permitting) is our chance to welcome you with a meal included in your registration package. We will talk about the course, safety, and any last-minute changes that may occur. Our local sponsors may also be giving away door prizes to a number of runners.
Suggested Gear for Runners
The weather conditions in the Cypress Hills can change dramatically in a short period of time. A light drizzle combined with 80km winds will cause hypothermia quickly unless you are properly equipped. You may be on your own for a long time if something goes wrong.
We suggest you carry the following gear. You will be in remote wilderness, and you are responsible for your safety. If you are injured it may be a while before we can reach you, so you need to be prepared. Do not think it will not happen to you! Ultra runners DNF due to environmental conditions, so prepare accordingly. You may elect to carry additional gear, like bear spray, at your discretion.
Headlamp and spare batteries
Full water bottles or hydration pack Min 2 Liters
Wind/water resistant jacket
Toque or warm hat
Sun hat
Whistle (for alerting others)
Space blanket (shelter)
Bear spray or bear banger (IF you know how to use it)
Race Bib (mandatory)
Nutrition snacks
NO disposable cups at ASs or TA. You will be welcome to fill your bottles and bags.
Restricted / Prohibited Items
Performance-Enhancing Drugs: See Rule #19.
Headphones: See Rule #20
Dogs: Competitors are not allowed to bring dogs onto the course.
Support Crew Information / Vehicle & Driving Allowances
Support Crew’s Role
Support people (aka Support Crews) are typically only required for solo runners as most relay runners do one leg and hand off to a teammate at the Transition Area. A good support person can truly be the lifeline for a solo racer. Nothing beats coming into a TA where there is food, fresh gear, and encouraging words waiting. Support people help keep their racer moving. If you intend to support a racer, do not be afraid to ask questions – we want your experience to be as rewarding for you as it is for the competitors. Do not plan on cell phone coverage while in the more remote TAs. Any emergency communications should be done through Race Staff, who are all equipped with a radio. We do not have the ability to track all racers on the course at all times so please refrain from asking for competitor updates.
Medical Help
If your racer doesn’t look well (delirious, dehydrated, or somehow broken), please contact our staff. The racer will not be disqualified for receiving basic medical aid.
Suggested Stuff to Bring For Support Crew
Make sure you have enough gear to keep yourself comfortable during the race. You will be in elevated hills and it can get pretty cold. There can also be blistering heat during the day.
Suggested crew gear:
Headlamp and batteries
Warm jacket
Camp stove / cooking gear
Rain gear / extra clothes
Tarp or ground cover
Sleeping bag
Food & water (for yourself); extra water
Toiletries, and other personal needs; towels
Folding chairs
A folding table is really handy
A book or magazine to read while waiting
A medical kit and the skills to use it
Sunscreen
Bug repellent (trust us, you want this); after bite itch reliever
Salt tablets / hydrating drinks
Race Day
Race Information
Be prepared for the worst and hope for the best…
Hidden Oasis 50 Km Ultra marathon will challenge all runners. Please train and plan well! During the race, you may be in some very isolated areas and access to facilities of assistance may not be immediately available. We must stress that the course is physically and mentally challenging. After hours of running, your mind will try to have you stop but you must decide it is exceptional to finish.
Relay runners can expect to run from 21 to 32 Kilometers on a variety of surfaces ranging from technical rocky single track to grassy meadows.
We must stress how important it is for all runners to be self sufficient and have their required emergency items with them at all times.
START and CUTOFF Times
Start Times:
The 50 Km race begins at 7:00 AM MST June 14, 2025
Competitors must start within 10 minutes of their assigned start time. Late starters may be removed from the course at the discretion of the Race Director.
Finish Times:
The 50 km race ends at 6:00 PM June 14, 2025 (11 hours cutoff)
Racers not finished by these times will be considered Over Time Limit (OTL) and do not receive a regulation time.
Both solos and teams have 11 hours to complete the Hidden Oasis 50 Km Ultra Marathon. After that, you will not be able to continue the race. Leg 1 and Aid Station 4 have a cutoff time; you must keep up with these times or you will not be able to finish in 11 hours. In addition, you must also start each leg by a specified time or you will not be allowed to continue.
Start, Transitions, and Finish Areas
All race start and finish will occur at the Elkwater Learning Center. Parking is available and access will be well marked, near the learning center.
The Transition Area (TA) (aka Learning Center) is where you will be able to access supplies, drop bag, meet your support crew or relay runner and take a break in relative comfort. The TA will also have some basic facilities such as washrooms, snacks, water, and shelters.
When you finish Leg 1, there will be a sign indicating this. Make sure to check in, get your time, and continue on the Leg 2. These signs are extremely visible and state the end of Leg 1 and start of Leg 2. Staff and volunteers will be waiting to assist you as needed.
For Relay team runners, you will need to meet the Leg 1 runner on your team at the TA. There is a designated sign for racers that indicates the start and finish of a TA. Please do not linger at the signs – this holds up everyone else and creates a traffic jam. Try to be at the TA, ready to meet your runner, 30 minutes before they are expected. We are not able to give ongoing updates as to where runners are on the course so it is up to you to be ready. If you are not at the TA when your runner comes in, you do not get any time credit. There are also cutoff times for each leg. If a team cannot keep up with these times, they will be given a forced start. In the event of a forced start, relay racers do no receive an official time. In this case you still must start by the specified time.
Course Marking
The Hidden Oasis 50 km ultra will be well marked with flagging and direction signs. There should be no guesswork when it comes to following the proper route. We may not flag every 100m of the route but we will put markers in critical areas. All trail and road junctions will have several markers to eliminate any doubt as to the correct direction. We will talk about course markings at the racer meeting. Remember: It is still up to you to stay alert and watch for these signs. We highly recommend reviewing the route on our website and making a visit to the area to run the course ahead of time. If you have a GPS, the routes are available for download on our website at on the Race details page..
Drop Bags
All solo runners for the 50 Km event are allowed to have a drop bag at the Learning Center. Transition Area. Please bring these to Registration check in on Friday, June 14 from 4 - 7 PM at the Elkwater Learning Center. If you are running relay, please have any necessary gear with your teammates.
We will provide a drop bag area at race registration. Racers must present their drop bags on Friday before the race. No bags will be accepted on Saturday morning. Bags will remain placed at the TA in whatever order they come in at, so make your gear noticeable. If you feel you can get by without support or drop bag, this is perfectly acceptable. Any drop bags not picked up by closing time will be donated to a thrift store.
Aid Stations
The course is further divided by 4 Aid Stations (AS) staffed by volunteers. These locations are typically remote and act as safety points. All AS’s have water and electrolytes and may have snacks and emergency supplies. You can expect two aid stations per leg at varying distances.
In addition, the course will have several checkpoints where it is the runners responsibility to have their
bib numbers checked in.
Food and Water on Course
We will have a variety of snacks available at the Aid Stations and some “real” food at the TA and finish.. We cannot accommodate every need so please plan to bring anything you really want via support crews, drop bags, or your next racer if you are on a relay team. Also note that all food and supplies are for racers and volunteers only. Relay runners are welcome to eat at aid stations on their leg.
Race Rules and Safety Info
Safety and Medical Concerns
You will be running in remote wilderness, and the chance of injury is very real so prepare to be self-sufficient. We have top-notch medical staff but they cannot be everywhere at once. If you are injured out on the course, be ready to hunker down until a course sweeper or medic comes by. If you are injured but able to move, try and make it to the nearest Transition Area or Aid Station. If not, try and send word with another racer. Race marshals on foot, bike, and ATV will sweep the course approximately one hour after all runners have started the leg.
There are definitely cougars in the area. If there is reported activity around the course prior to, or during the race, we may modify the course. We cannot predict random animal activity so please stay alert. The best way to prevent an unpleasant encounter is to avoid them all together. Cougars usually avoid people, and most people don’t even know when they’ve come close. To avoid a surprise encounter, try to remain with other runners as much as possible and make lots of noise by talking or singing. Pay attention to your surroundings. If you do encounter a cougar, pepper spray and bear bangers can be useful IF you know how to use them. Remain calm. Stay together if you are in a group as you will appear larger and more intimidating. Identify yourself by speaking in a calm, appeasing tone. Back away slowly, preferably in the direction you came. Walk, don’t run, and keep your eye on the animal so you can see how it will react. In most cases, it will flee.
If you drop out of the race, it is essential that you contact us at the Transition Area (race HQ (Elkwater Learning Center – Call 403-928-9203). If you do not, we will assume you are lost or injured and we will be out looking for you. If we mobilize a search party, you will be charged for any search and rescue fees that are incurred as this takes up valuable resources. Please take a few minutes to check in.
If you have a medical condition or take medications that may affect your race in any way, you should consult your doctor before competing. We will have medical staff on site to help with first aid, search and rescue, and emergency transport only. They will NOT assess if you are capable to run. If you do have a condition that our medics need to know about, please fill out the Medical Form which you will find at the end of this page.. This is confidential and only used by our medics in case of emergency.
Definitions
Competitor: Someone who is registered in the race, has checked in and signed a waiver, and is designated to run all of or a specific portion of the race
AS -Aid Station - also "Water Station"
Disqualified: A competitor or team that has not completed a mandatory section of the race, or has been removed from the event by Race Administration.
DNF: Did Not Finish, also "Disqualified".
DNS: Did Not Start, also "Disqualified".
Leg: Any one of the two legs of the race that ends in a Transition Area or the Finish.
Relay: Also "Team" is a group of 2 people running specific portions of the race.
Solo: An individual running 50 Km of the race on their own.
TA: Transition Area; a large aid station where relay runners transition, and solo runners may receive support.
Race Rules
Competitors are required to check in at registration by 7:00 PM on the day prior to the race, and sign a waiver (may also be completed at time of registration) provided by the Cypress Hills Adventure Running Society (CHARS). A competitor is considered DNS without a signed waiver.
Competitors are responsible for their own medical coverage and all costs incurred by any form of rescue services, treatment, or hospitalization if they are injured during the race. If emergency evacuation is required, the cost will be the responsibility of the individual in need of assistance. This includes the cost of airlifting and helicopter or ground search if required.
Start Times:
The 50 Km race begins at 7:00 AM MST
Competitors must start within 10 minutes of their assigned start time. Late starters may be removed from the course at the discretion of the Race Director.
Finish Times:
The 50 km race ends at 6:00 PM MST (11 hours cutoff)
Racers not finished by these times will be considered Over Time Limit (OTL) and do not receive a regulation time.
Leg 1 and Aid Station 4 have a cutoff, and competitors must start the next leg by the time listed. If a competitor cannot finish their leg by this time, they may be instructed to pull out of the race. Cutoff times are available on the race details page.
The only means of travel on the course is self-powered and on foot (running, walking, crawling); using any other means of travel will result in disqualification.
A bib number must be worn while on the course or the competitor is not considered a participant in the race. The bib must be worn on the front of your body so that it is visible to race marshals.
Competitors must check in at all AS; checkpoints and the TA. Your number and time will be recorded before you continue on the course.
If a relay competitor is not ready at a TA when their previous runner finishes the leg, the team’s race time continues to elapse. No time credits will be given if your runners are late showing up at the TA.
The course is marked and runners must adhere to the designated route; any deviance or short cuts will result in disqualification.
If any act of nature or uncontrollable act takes place that inhibits your progress on the course (eg: hail, sleet or snow storm) no time credit will be given; these factors are a part of the race and bragging rights.
Competitors are allowed assistance (eg: support crew, volunteer, race marshal, or bystander) only at the designated TA. Accepting assistance outside a TA from anyone besides a registered competitor (see 17), or race medic, will result in disqualification. You can receive assistance from appointed race medics anywhere on the course, even outside of designated TAs, providing that the assistance is not in the form of transportation.
Relay teams must designate which leg(s) of the race each teammate will run by no later than 7:00pm at registration on the day prior to the race start. Relay competitors may be substituted during the race, at the discretion of Race Administration, by contacting race officials at the TA. (Note that this may be updated online in advance by editing the team's profile)
Relay competitors must finish the entirety of their designated leg of the race. If the relay competitor must withdraw part way through their designated leg, the leg must be started over with a new runner and completed within the cutoff times in order to receive an official time.
Competitors may run with others under the following circumstances, but any other instances will result in disqualification:
Competitors may run with a solo competitor who is competing on the same leg of the race and has not been marked as disqualified.
Competitors may run with a relay competitor who is designated to run that specific leg of the race and has not been marked as disqualified.
The relay competitor who is designated to run a specific leg must carry relay band and will receive the official time for their team on that leg; no transfer of relay band may occur at any time except at the TA
any individual may join the competitor within 300m of the end of a leg in order to show support to the competitor as they finish.
Competitors are not allowed to cache food or gear along the course.
Littering on the course is unacceptable and will result in immediate disqualification.
Any competitor found using, or supplying performance-enhancing drugs to other competitors,
will be disqualified and permanently barred from all CHARS events. See http://list.wada-ama.org/ for banned substances. CHARS respects any existing bans and will comply with any investigation undertaken by anti-doping agencies.
Headphones must be removed in an Aid Station or Transition Area. Not doing so may result in penalties or disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director. If used on course, consider wearing only one earbud and keeping the volume at an acceptable level so that you can hear your surroundings without disturbing other competitors.
Any competitor that drops out of the race must notify the nearest race marshal or director at the earliest opportunity. Do not drop out of the race without telling race officials as this will result in a costly search and you may be billed.
Medical staff and/or Race Directors may remove any competitor from the racecourse if they feel it is unsafe for the competitor to proceed (eg: natural hazards, hypothermia, dehydration, frostbite, debilitating injury, unprepared for weather events).
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification at the discretion of the race director.
Any disputes with the race course, race results, course management or the actions of other competitors must be submitted to the Race Director, in writing, within 30 minutes of the end of the race. If not received within this time, complaints will not be considered.
The Race Director will determine if there has been a violation of these rules and will be the final authority in assigning penalties.
Refunds and Cancellations
For all Hidden Oasis Ultra events, a credit worth 50% of your original race fee will be issued if the cancellation is received at least 3 months prior to the race. There will be no credits or refunds provided if the cancellation is made within 3 months of the race. Only registered runners can participate, and you may not exchange your entry with another runner. Credits will be valid for one full year after being issued.
Hosting ultramarathons is an expensive and risky endeavor. All costs are paid for well in advance of race day, so there is no financial gain to be made if a person does not show up on race day. We want all our registered runners to show up, run, and have fun. While we understand that injuries, conflicts, emergencies, deaths and other unfortunate events happen and may impact your plans for participation, we must adhere to our cancellation policies.
We do not cancel races due to rain or heat. Due to trail work, closures or a myriad of other reasons, permitting agencies may require changes to the publicized courses at any time prior to an event. This is out of our control, and we therefore will not offer refunds or credits in such a situation. If a race location is changed, but still hosted on the same day, we will automatically transfer the registration over to the new venue, or entrants may choose to run the race virtually, and we will mail awards. If the race is postponed, all entrants will be transferred to the new date.
If a situation does arise where Cypress Hills Adventure Running Society (CHARS) must outright cancel an event, for any reason, there will be no refunds. This could include earthquakes, floods, extreme weather, unsafe air quality, pandemics, or any other “Act of God”. There will be no refunds, but future race credit or deferrals may be available depending on the circumstances and how close to the race date the event was cancelled. We will communicate with all registered runners as soon as possible regarding the cancellation and any pertinent information.