The "Flatter" Course: In the early days I used to promote 2 different races, the "Flat" Course and the "Hilly" Course, but too many people yelled at me after running the Flat Course, saying it wasn't flat at all.

This is the Ark and the Gatineau Hills after all! So yes, the Flatter Course does have some hills, but it's the flattest I could come with.

This course starts with the shortest possible uphill of all the options, but it will leave you a "bit" winded nonetheless. But once you've made it, the trail honestly does flatten out before descending down one of the steepest trails on my property.

Once at the bottom, you make a left turn and head into "The Meadow". This is where I let my horses graze in the summer. This section can be a bit tricky in the summer months because of the uneven hoof prints, but this isn't an issue on a snow packed course.

The course travels to the other end of the meadow and into a coniferous with some mild elevation change before emerging into the hay field.

This is another flat, fast section before entering a beautiful section amongst the balsam firs.

Eventually though, you'll make it back to the Ark property and back to the more twisty turny single track and hills.

The course ends with one last moderate climb before the screaming downhill to the finish line, brownies and beer!