2025 Event

In September 2025, we hosted our second annual Slow Coast qathet event. This year, our route took us on a clockwise loop from qathet to Comox, up to Campbell River, across to Quadra Island, hopping over to Cortes Island, and connecting the loop back to Lund. It was maybe more nautical miles than riding miles, but what a weekend it was!

Thanks to attendees’ support and dedication to learning, listening, and donating back, we raised over $2300 that was shared amongst the We Wai Kai Guardians, Friends of Cortes Island, and Bike Lund. Find more resources and information on these groups below.

Find more photos and Miles’ reflection on the event on bikepacking.com.

FinF

A large group of people outdoors in a forest, many wearing helmets and sport gear, posing for a group photo on a grassy area.
Two women riding mountain bikes on a forest trail surrounded by trees and greenery.
A woman leading a nature or environmental educational tour outdoors, holding a map and talking to a group of people in a grassy field with trees in the background.
People wearing helmets gathering on a dock with boats docked on either side, preparing for a boat trip.
A man walking up a wooden ramp while holding a bicycle, wearing a helmet and a t-shirt that says 'I'm not slow, I'm just enjoying the ride.'
A boat speeding on the water with three people on board, two women and one man, enjoying the ride and cheering, with bicycles on the deck and a scenic shoreline in the background.
A woman with long curly hair, wearing sunglasses, a black cap, a beige jacket, and a neck gaiter, is standing on a boat next to a mountain bike loaded with gear, with water and a rocky shoreline in the background.
People with bicycles aboard a large ship, preparing to disembark, under a clear sky.
A smiling man in outdoor athletic attire, wearing sunglasses, a cap, a neck gaiter, and a sports shirt, adjusts his cap while standing outdoors near a body of water.
Smiling couple inside a yellow camping tent, surrounded by camping gear, outdoors in a forested area.
People sitting at a picnic table outdoors, having a meal, with camping gear and a tent in the background.
Three people wearing helmets eating cinnamon rolls outdoors in a wooded area.
Two cyclists, a man and a woman, standing outdoors with their bicycles, smiling and posing for the photo. The woman is holding her bike upright above her head, and the man is standing next to his bike, which is equipped with bags and gear. They are d
Three people cycling on a dirt trail through a forest with tall trees on either side.
Group of cyclists waiting to board a ferry boat with multiple people and bicycles, some wearing helmets and sunglasses, on a sunny day.
Multiple food items wrapped in aluminum foil with handwritten labels, placed on a blue and white checkered tablecloth, outdoors.
Various autumn leaves, flower petals, and plant parts arranged on a white surface for art or craft project.
Table with various items including colorful toys, coffee mugs, boxed products, paper bags, books, and scattered other small objects.
A pile of bundled cloths tied with string on a table, with cans and a plastic cup nearby.
People gathered around a picnic table inside a wooden pavilion surrounded by trees, celebrating with food and drinks.
A woman riding a mountain bike on a forest trail, wearing a pink helmet, sunglasses, and sleeveless black shirt, with tattoos on her legs, her hair tied back, and a pink blanket attached to the bike.
Silhouettes of people, some wearing helmets and hats, sitting and standing inside a viewing area looking out of windows at a body of water and distant mountains.
Group of five people biking on a forest trail with lush green trees and plants.

Project Highlights

Priority Registration for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and women

Our demographics for this event were approximately 60% women, 30% men, 10% LGBTQ+, and 6% BIPOC.

We are always trying to make our registration process better. If you have any feedback, please reach out!

Custom Slow Coast Route

This year, we (namely, Miles!) created our own route rather than following a pre-existing one. It’s a loop connected qathet with Vancouver Island, Quadra Island, and Cortes, back to Lund. It followed paths, pavement, single track, gravel, and multiple boat rides to create a pretty unique experience.

25% of Registration Fees Donated Back to Local Advocacy Groups.

We raised over $2300 that was shared amongst We Wai Kai Guardians, Friends of Cortes Island, and Bike Lund.

Education Piece

We were excited to incorporate learning right into our bike trip, and had a wonderful tour of Dillon Creek Wetlands (a project from FOCI) and a chat from Bike Lund. Thanks to Autumn and Charlie for their time and sharing their passion and knowledge!

Art Integration

Friend and artist, Sarah Hornby, created custom natural dying kits for all attendees and guided us through responsible foraging and the dying process. Each attendee created their own custom bandana!

Community Building

We were so thrilled to see the amazing folks that joined us this year, some new and some returning. It was old-school summer camp vibes, and each attendee was supportive, thoughtful, and kind. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew!

2025 Event Partners

This event was made possible by the outpouring of support from so many amazing brands and people. All attendees left with a prize this year, which was pretty fantastic!

Qathet Regional Cycling Association

Experience Comox Valley

Sarah Hornby (artist)

Tom Powell (videographer)

Ben Bouchard

Kelli Turner (Access Point Marine)

Olé Cocktails

Hidden Gem Bakery

Hornby Organic

Prize donations from:

Dismount Bike Shop

Mica Cycles

Fauna Components

32 Lakes Coffee Roasters

Closet de Kiki

Melissa Dow

Forest Wellness (Kelsi the RMT)

Prism Kites

NOCS provisions

Meaghan Hackinen

Spurcycle

Butter Snakes Trading Co.

Resources

We aim to weave learning and listening into our bike trip weekend, but we are not experts, nor are we running formal workshops. Below are some resources to explore the projects and causes we supported this year. This is just a starting point, and we encourage you to keep exploring and learning on your own.

We Wai Kai Guardians

Website

We Wai Kai Watershed Stewardship

Watersheds Article

Article

Friends of Cortes Island

Website

Dillon Creek Wetlands Video - Replenish

Project Page

Article

Bike Lund

Website

Social Updates and Events

2025 Event FAQs

  • The second annual Slow Coast qathet runs the evening of Friday, September 5 to the afternoon of Sunday, September 7, 2025. We will begin approximately at 4:30 pm on Friday, and run until 3 pm (ish) on Sunday.

    This is a non-competitive group bikepacking trip starting and ending in qathet. This is a "BeginIntermediate" ride with TWO nights of camping. The route is about 130km long over the weekend.

    We are following a similar format to last year in terms of ride expectations, camping, and overall format. Some things are subject to minor changes as we get closer to the event, but will be communicated prior (i.e. date of dinner provided, some route modifications, and small details). If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to slowcoastqathet@gmail.com or message us on instagram (@slowcoastqathet)

  • Priority registration for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women (16 spots) opens April 15, 2025 at 9 am PST.

    General Registration (open to all, but 10/22 spots reserved for new attendees) open April 22, 2025 at 9 am PST. 

    After you complete the registration form, you'll receive a confirmation email and prompt for payment from  slowcoastqathet@gmail.com. PLEASE WAIT FOR INITIAL CONFIRMATION EMAIL BEFORE SENDING PAYMENT. Your registration is not finalized until payment is received.

  • This trip is for 19+ individuals. There is priority registration for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women. 

    Please note that everyone must register individually. We are breaking down registration as follows:

    • Priority registration for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women (16 spots)

    • New Attendees (10 spots)

    • General Registration (open to all - 12 spots).

    Space is limited to 38 people to ensure a fun and safe experience. Once capacity is filled, additional signees will be added to a waitlist. We'll follow-up via email with more details once capacity is filled or to contact those on the waitlist. 

  • We support people getting on bikes in all capacities. However, here is the reality of this trip:

    • We will be biking roughly 130km over 2 days (Friday night is a very small distance to camp). Expect longer days on the bike.

    • You will be expected to carry all of your gear.

    • There is a lot of pavement on the route, but we are incorporating some chunky trails and off road sections, so be prepared for a variety of terrain.

    • We described the route as “begintermediate” in terms of terrain, resupply points, and elevation, but you should be confident riding 50km+ carrying all of your gear.

    • Though we do have a support vehicle, this is for emergencies and un-fixable mechanicals.

    If you have any questions about if this trip is right for you, please reach out.

  • We are headed clockwise from qathet-Comox-Campbell River-Quadra-Cortes-Lund-downtown qathet. The route is approximately 130 kms over the weekend, starting on Friday evening and ending Sunday afternoon. We will be camping as a group at Kitty Coleman Beach Park on Friday, September 5, and at We Wai Kai Campground on Quadra on Saturday, September 6. 

    Friendly reminder: this is a non-competitive cycling event. If your aim is to set a record on this route, this weekend is probably not for you. We will share a more detailed route closer to the event.

    We will be modifying the route Miles did here on bikepacking.com if you're curious, but know there's some fun adjustments to come.

  • The fee for the weekend is $225. This includes:

    • 25% of your fee is a donation to the local advocacy groups on Quadra/Cortes who will be sharing their knowledge and projects

    • All three ferries on the route

    • A private boat ride from Cortes to Lund

    • Two nights of camping

    • Dinner & drinks at camp on Saturday, September 6

    • Slow Coast merch

    • A chance to win various prizes and prize packs

    • An art workshop/kit

    • Access to a support vehicle if needed (for emergencies and mechanicals)

    • A fun overall weekend!

  • We’re excited to be working with Friends of Cortes Island this year for an immersive education experience during our weekend trip. We’re in the process of finalizing other groups/donation recipients, and will share more information soon! Regardless, 25% of your attendee fee is the mandatory donation.

  • The route has it all! It's a friendly mix of pavement, double track, gravel, some fun little paths, and even some laugh-inducing short sections of weird trail. A gravel or rigid mountain bike is perfect for the route. Low climbing gears and ~2" tires may make the ride more comfortable. If you haven’t been to Cortes before, it’s a hilly place!

    Miles rode this route on a tiny bike (yes, a tiny bike), Emily rode it on a full suspension once. Almost anything goes. If you have questions, just reach out! 

    For gear, bring a sleeping bag, pad, tent, cooking gear, clothes to sleep in and ride in, and swimming gear if you please. If you need to borrow camping and/or cycling gear, please specify on the last question in the registration form and we will see what we can gather.

  • There are spots to filter water along the route, and many spots to refill water at camp grounds, snack stops, etc. Two litres on your bike at all time will be plenty. Please bring riding snacks for the weekend, lunch for Saturday and Sunday,  breakfast for Saturday and Sunday, and dinner for Friday, September 5. Dinner is provided at camp on Saturday, September 6. There are multiple chances to stop at little shops and grocery stories on Saturday and Sunday.

  • A partial refund of 75% of the registration cost will be given for cancellations that occur prior to May 30, 2025. A partial refund of 50% of the registration cost will be given for cancellations that occur prior to June 30, 2025. No refunds will be offered after July 1, 2025.