Introducing Mt Si Vert Fest, the ultimate mountain running experience with a European twist Join us at Pro Ski and Mountain Service in downtown North Bend, Washington for an unforgettable festival that will leave you breathless.
Picture this: you’re racing up the iconic Mt Si steep mountain trails, pushing yourself to new limits while taking in awe-inspiring views. With limited spots available for only 50 runners in the Mt Si VK and 200 runners in the Mt Si Hill Climb, this is your chance to be part of an exclusive Vert adventure.
But it’s not just about the races! At Mt Si Vert Fest, you’ll find a vibrant atmosphere filled with running enthusiasts, running vendors, delicious food, and live music. It’s a celebration of passion for outdoor exploration and pushing boundaries.
Running Events
Mt Si Hill Climb 17 – Vert Running Series Race #2
We’re grateful to have the opportunity to bring one of the classic hill climb running events into the Vert Running Series. Martin Volken, owner of North Bend’s Pro Ski and Moutain Service started this event a few years ago and it has gained a regular following of vert seeking enthusiasts.
Starting and finishing at the Pro Ski and Mountain Service shop in the outdoor mecca town of North Bend brings the European feel that steep mountain running races should have. You look up from the shop and see Mt Si as the backdrop and chills go down your body as you prepare to take on our shortest, 17k, vert event of the series. The first couple of miles is flat and gives the legs an opportunity to warm up and once you get to the Little Si trailhead, it’s all uphill from there. In fact, 3,500 feet of vert will push your lungs to the limits. You’ll get a quick break at the summit to take a peek of the Snoqualmie Valley below and then it’s quad smashing time down the Mt Si Trail and back into North Bend.
Participants Receive
The fastest man, woman and non-binary to the summit will be crowned King, Queen and Monarch of Vert aand receive $100 cash each. The top 3 of each Vert Running Series division will receive awards and everyone will receive a finishers medal and a meal at the Trail Family Food Tent.
Mt Si VK
Attention all fearless runners! The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here. Introducing Mt Si VK, the ultimate challenge that will push your limits and test your strength against the iconic Mt Si.
Are you ready to prove yourself as the fastest and strongest? Lace up your shoes and join us for a thrilling adventure like no other. With 1,000 meters of vertical ascent in less than a 5k, or even less than 3 miles, this is your chance to claim victory over runner vs mountain.
This event is limited to the first 50 runners during our inaugural year.
Divisions – Men, Women and Non-binary
Awards – Top 3 in each division
All finishers receive a custom finishers medal and a meal at our Trail Family Food tent at Pro Ski and Mountain Service.
Race Schedule
- 5:30 am VK Packet Pick Up Opens
- 6:30 am Mt Si Hill Climb Packet Pick Up Opens
- 6:55 am VK Pre-race Meeting –Little Si Overflow Parking Area – All must be present
- 7:00 am Mt Si Vert Fest Opens
- 7:00 am Men’s VK Start
- 7:15 am Women & Non-binary Start
- 7:55 am 17k Pre-race Meeting – Must be present
- 8:00 am 17k Start
- 9:00 am Trail Family Food Tent Opens for participants
- 11:00 am Live Music Starts
- 11:30 am VK and Hill Climb Awards
- 2:30 pm Course Closes
- 3:00 pm Mt Si Vert Fest Closes
Aid Stations & More
Mt Si Hill Climb Aid Stations
- Mile 2 and 9 in Little Si overflow parking area, hydration, pbj and gels.
- Mile 5 summit aid station limited hydration, gels and pbj.
Mt Si VK
No aid station on course. There will be Gnarly Fuel20 at the summit finish. We will also have a few emergency blankets if the weather is cold. All VK runners must leave the mountain via the Mt Si trail and not return down the Old Si trail. This will help keep the trail clear for our hill climb 17k runners.
Summit aid station is remote and our volunteers work hard to get hydration and supplies up there for participants. Please give them a bib thank you for all that they do.
Courses
Mt Si Hill Climb 17k
The start and finish line is in downtown North Bend, Washington at Pro Ski and Mountain Service. Participants will run on the streets for 4 blocks before turning on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, a flat wide rails to trails pathway for 1.5 miles where you’ll turn left on Mt Si Road and head for the Little Si overflow parking area. You’ll find an aid station in the parking area just before the short 200 yard trail to the main parking area and the Little Si Trailhead. Once you reach the Little Si Trailhead the ascent begins with a quick climb of 300 feet in a .25 miles where it levels off for another .25 miles where you turn onto the Bould Garden Loop trail. This is where the work begins. The next 2.5 miles you’ll gain 3100 feet of vert before reaching the turnaround point at the Snoqualmie Valley Overlook area next to the Haystack. You’ll find a aid station at this point (mile 4.75) with water, Gnarly Fuel2O drink, energy gels and a few PBJs. Now that you reached the high point the fun decent begins down the Mt Si Trail. Please be aware of the hikers on this trail and thank them as they let you fly by. Runners will descend for 3.25 miles and then turn onto the Douglas Fir Trail which leads over to the Boulder Garden loop and the final decent down to Little Si Trail. Once you reach the Little Si parking area you’ll head back to the overflow parking area where the last aid station is located and begin the flat but also a small decent back to the Start/Finish line. Once you reach the road crossing at Ballarat Ave N. you’ll turn left after crossing onto the sidewalks. Please remain on the sidewalk all the way to the finish line.
MOBILE MAP (downloadable GPS file)
Mt Si VK
This is the first year of the Mt Si VK and therefore we limited it to 50 runners to allow us to give us an opportunity to make adjustments for the future years.
All participants must park in the Tanner Landing parking area and walk the .5 miles over to the start line area in the Little Si overflow parking area. Any participant found parking in either of the Little Si trail parking areas will be disqualified.
The start is in the South end of the Little Si overflow parking area. Runners will have an opportunity to spread out before they hit the Little Si Trailhead in just a short .25 miles. Once you hit the trail it’s all uphill for the next 2.75 miles and over 3400 feet of lung searing vert. Runners will go about .40 of a mile and turn right onto the Boulder Garden Loop trail and begin the steep ascent for the next .40 miles where you hit the Old Si trail. The next 2 miles will give you short switchbacks and steep sections leading up to the Mt Si Trail where you’ll turn left and finish out your decent. After turning onto the Mt Si Trail runners will ascend about 150 yards to the boulder field where a short little scrabble section is and takes you over to the finish line area trail, Snoqualmie Valley Overlook, for the VK finish right below the haystack.
To help eliminate any congestion on the Old Si Trail with the Mt Si Hill Climb runners, VK participants are asked to return via the Mt Si Trail down to Douglas Fir, then Boulder Garden Loop when returning to Little Si parking area.
MOBILE APP MAP (downloadable GPS file)
