Welcome to the 10^th Annual Festival 542!  We are very excited to have presented this event to you all these years, and are hoping to make this 10^th anniversary a special event for all our participants and supporters!

 

And just so there is no mistaken, the final destination and the heart and soul of this event, Artist Point, will be open this year!  With 360 degree views of beautiful Mount Baker and glorious Mount Shuksan, finishing at Artist Point is Mother Nature’s wonderful prize for all the participants of the RIDE 542.  We couldn’t be more excited about this.

  NEW! 2013 FESTIVAL poster by local artist, Trish Harding----------------------->>>>>> 

 

Registration is officially closed.  Limited day-of registrations will be available.

Looking to see if you are registered?  Click here for the list.  (List was last updated September 1st.  The final list will be posted Saturday, September 8th.)

9/8/12 - Directors Note:  10 Years of 542!!!  

Greetings and thank you for your continued support of NorKa events.  I can't believe this is year 10!!!  It has been an amazing and educational 10 year run from our humble  beginnings with our first 60 riders.  Another shout out and thank you to Paul Clement whom helped get this all started in 2003.  

A HUGE thank you to all the supporters, volunteers, community residents, staff and lots of businesses, especially Sanitary Service Company.  The closing of SR542 for 4 hours is a significant and expensive undertaking that we hope drives more recreation use and positive user relations in the area.  Please, please, please take the time to thank the local businesses, US Forest Service and the Washington State Department of Transportation, they need to hear your support in order for this to continue.   

NorKa is preparing for a management transition...I will be focusing my efforts on my family and bringing new opportunities to the region with additional events as well as a new business venture (www.cirruscycles.com).  You'll see some significant changes in the coming months at NorKa that will ensure quality fun events in the future.  

We are very sad about canceling the RUN and CROSS portions of Festival 542 in 2012.  Though we are definitely looking forward to bringing them back for 2013 and are working towards the much anticipated MTN542 and PADDLE542 events.  Also in 2013, NorKa will be hosting the NWTR (Northwest Tandem Rally) in Bellingham that will bring up to 500 tandem's to Whatcom County!!  

So thank you from the top of my heart!  Managing this event is always challenging and your positive responses are always uplifting and needed, especially when, at times, it can be very hard to keep it afloat.  

And lastly, thank you to Cathy, whom has stepped in hugely and fought to keep NorKa rolling forward.  Please find her and thank her on Sunday...if it wasn't for her, you may be riding with cars all day!!  

Cheers to you all and have a great ride, enjoy the music, play some poker for Womencare and check out the amazing art being created on the spot by residents of Trish Harding School of Art at Studio UFO!!  

Charlie Heggem  

POST-RIDE MAINSTAGE MUSIC: HOT BODIES IN MOTION
MUSIC STARTS ABOUT NOON AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY STAGE BEHIND GRAHAM'S IN GLACIER.  FAMILY-FRIENDLY.  LAWN SEATING.  BEER GARDEN. VENDORS. FUNK.  Click here for more information on entertainment.

EVENT UPDATE: RUN 542 and CROSS 542 POSTPONED UNTIL 2013

Note from the Director, September 2, 2012

We are very sad to announce that we will have to postpone the RUN 542 and CROSS 542 until next year due to low pre-registration numbers.  We ran the RUN 542 course yesterday, and it is awesome.  We really wish we could make it  happen, but if the participants aren't there, we can't run it.  It's really too bad, and we're already trying to see what marketing adjustments we can make to get the runners up there for next year.  The course is way to good to pass up!  Postponing until next year will allow us to focus on the RIDE 542, but we won't lose site of RUN 542 and CROSS 542. 

Those who have already registered for these two events will get a full refund, or we can transfer your registration until next year.

Charlie Heggem, Event Director

Download Festival 542 Program

 

FESTIVAL 542 EVENTS 

 

 

Sunday is the Festival 542’s signature event, RIDE 542 Mount Baker Hill Climb.  We have the full 24.5 mile ride up the Mount Baker Highway, starting from Glacier to Artist Point.  This is a completely unique experience with the highway shut down to traffic, and the riders making their way through our scenic Mount Baker-Snowqualmie Forest with only other cyclists on the road. 

 

This year, our support stations will be extra special.  In addition to food and hydration, all 7 stations will have live music, live plein-air art, and a Poker Ride stop!  Enjoy the sounds of an eclectic mix of music at your stop (up or down), watch artists create art pieces of the riders going by, and on the way down, play a hand of poker as part of the 2^nd Annual Poker Ride to benefit Womencare Shelter.  (Click here for details.)

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT-Live music, beer garden, art, and much more!

 

At the end of the race in Glacier, stay for the award ceremony, swag, food, a beer garden sponsored by RESources for Sustainable Communities, super-funky Seattle-based band Hot Bodies in Motion playing live on the stage behind Graham’s, and vendors. Art pieces created from the support station artists will be auctioned off for charity at the ceremony, and the best hand from the Poker Ride will be announced.  (Click here for details.)

 

 

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NorKa Recreation-Who We Are

 NorKa Recreation is dedicated to the creation, promotion and facilitation of healthy living and the active lifestyle. NorKa creates recreational opportunities for ALL people. We encourage a variety of healthy, fun and friendly activities and events that support our community, the environment and the importance of staying active.

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NorKa Recreation Contact Information

NorKa Recreation Phone: (360)303-1717 Email: mailto:info@norkarecreation.com Website: http://www.norkarecreation.com/

Mailing Address P.O. Box 4418 Bellingham, WA 98227