Todd Elsworth dreamed up the Bellingham Traverse as a race to honor the journey wild salmon take – a passage he has long seen as symbolic of his own life path.
A 1992 graduate of Western Washington University who was born in Bellingham and raised in Kirkland, Elsworth headed east after graduation, spending time in Ketchum, Idaho, before traveling via sailboat from Seattle through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean, up to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he spent six years teaching and working closely with nonprofit organizations.
When Elsworth returned to Bellingham in 2001, he seized an opportunity to create a multi-sport event celebrating the life cycle of salmon that would raise visibility of their importance in our ecological landscape while simultaneously giving outdoor-loving locals (like himself) a chance to take part in their favorite recreational activities.
The Bellingham Traverse was born – and with it, an organization that now puts on a variety of races and events, as well as gives back to the community by raising funds for local nonprofits and – new this year – Recreation Northwest’s Community Stewardship Program, which hopes to provide support for trails connecting Fairhaven Park and the Chuckanut Community Forest.
The Bellingham Traverse celebrates the natural and urban challenges of the salmons’ annual trip. Solo, tandem, and relay teams take on a rugged course that wends through Bellingham’s parks, greenways, bike-friendly roads, and open water.
“This is kind of the Olympics of outdoor recreation all packed into one day,” says Elsworth. “My favorite things to do are ride bikes, paddle, drink beer and hang out with my friends and family.”
This year’s Bellingham Traverse – sponsored by Vital Choice – marks the 13th time the race has taken place, growing more popular with each passing year. Elsworth expects between 750 and 800 participants in the upcoming Traverse.
“We’ll have about 175 to 200 teams,” he says. “The people in a big hurry come in early, at about two-and-a-half hours, and then it’s a big bell curve of fun for people spreading it out and having a good time.”
The race starts at noon at Boundary Bay Brewery and the Bellingham Farmers Market. What follows is a trek of greenways running, mountain biking, road biking, trail running, and paddling. All team members meet at the water’s edge at the end of the paddle and travel together along the South Bay trail, to the finish line – and beer garden – right back where it all began.
“Everyone meets their team on the water and does the trek up Wharf Street and past the pub,” Elsworth explains. “And there may be a little surprise brought to you by the Alley District on the way to the finish.”
This year’s course remains basically the same as in the past – “We have it dialed pretty good,” says Elsworth – with the addition this year of racers traveling through the Fairhaven Park labyrinth during trail run.
After the race, participants can take enjoy what is essentially one big block party, made possible by the Bellingham Farmers Market, Bellingham Beer Week, and 5Point Film.
Having putting on the Bellingham Traverse for 13 years, Elsworth laughs when asked about his favorite thing associated with the event.
“My favorite thing is I now get to participate,” he says. “The first 11 races, I was working” – Tyler Mitchell is this year’s race director – “and racing it is a lot less taxing on my body than hosting it.”
Registration is now open for this year’s Bellingham Traverse at www.recreationnorthwest.org.
Vital Choice Bellingham Traverse
Saturday, September 20th at noon
1107 Railroad Avenue
Bellingham WA 98225
Photos courtesy of Recreation Northwest, Jon Brunk and Pat Kennedy.
