Actif Epica is the third and final race of the  Order of the Hrimthurs. After completing Tuscobia and Arrowhead, I was feeling tired but strong. In reviewing the route, I had some concerns about resupply points, but after some research, I found that opportunities for food and water were spaced about 16 miles apart. With my hydration pack holding over five hours’ worth of liquid fuel, I felt confident that even if the convenience store in Saint Malo was closed, I’d be fine.

This year’s course was a 115k loop, with the 230k bike route repeating the loop a second time. Knowing how I feel about repeating sections of a course, I opted for the one 115k loop to meet the requirement for the Order of the Hrimthurs. It was the best way for me to finish strong and motivated.

Rolling Out

At 8:00 AM Saturday, everyone in my category gathered in the parking lot of the Sugar Shack in Saint Pierre-Jolys, ready to roll out along the Historic Crow Wing Trail beside the Rat River. The first several miles were a mix of snow-covered gravel, followed by a stretch of proper gravel road, before leading back onto the Crow Wing—a narrow walking path through deep snow. I considered lowering my tire pressure to ride through, but knowing I’d be back on gravel and later hitting ice, I opted to keep my pressure higher and enjoy a brisk hike through the woods instead.

Actif Epica is known for throwing a mix of  conditions at racers, and this year was no exception. The route ranged from hard pavement in the north to a frozen lake crossing in the south. At any moment, windblown snow could turn a once-rideable section into a slow trudge. Field crossings became a strategic game, with racers opting to bypass the blown-over Crow Wing trail in favor of older, firmer snowdrifts just 10 meters over—even those had patches of soft snow lurking beneath.

Bonus Miles and Confusion

As I approached the southern turnaround near Saint Malo, I noticed a left turn that wasn’t listed on the cue sheet but appeared clearly on my GPX track. Trusting my track, I followed the turn, only to realize later that the next cue sheet direction made no sense for reaching the checkpoint. I doubled back and, when I reached the turn I missed, I couldn't believe I didn't see the "TURN RIGHT" cue on my GPS. My mistake added 8.2 bonus kilometers of hiking and biking to my total.

Arriving in Saint Malo, I searched for the QR code mentioned on the website to confirm my checkpoint visit but found nothing. There was also supposed to be a bag of physical tokens for foot racers to take to prove their visit, but I was sure that system didn't apply to cyclists, and I didn't see the bag anyway. To be safe, I stopped at the CO-OP Gas Bar and made a purchase, securing a Randonneur-style receipt as proof of passage.

Northbound and Into the Cold

On my third time through a deep-snow hiking section, I started looking forward to the return trip through the shallower-snow walking section from the morning. Rolling back through Saint Pierre-Jolys, I was tempted by two things: biking on the ice skating track in the park and stopping at the boulangerie for fresh bread. Since stopping isn't racing, I kept moving toward the checkpoint, where I refilled my hydration pack and explained my checkpoint detour. As soon as I pulled out my receipt, the volunteers reassured me—if I had a receipt, they’d trust I was telling the truth.

The northern section proved to be the easiest, with long stretches of gravel roads and farm tracks with minimal snow. I reached Niverville just before sunset as the temperature continued dropping. My balaclava and neck gaiter had frozen solid, but the kind folks at the curling club had the heat cranked up. I took advantage of the warmth to dry them out on a vent while enjoying the traditionally fantastic and unexpectedly Costco-store-brand perogies.

One of the unusual elements of this particular winter ultra was the road crossing at a traffic light in Niverville. Compared to the remoteness of Tuscobia and Arrowhead, it felt strange to be stopping for urban traffic and a crosswalk light and I was happy to get back onto gravel roads as quickly as possible.

The Final Push

With the sun setting, I double-checked my lights. My Sinewave Beacon headlight, usually powered by my dynamo hub, was running off a tiny USB battery bank—a donor prize from the MS150 last summer. I was impressed at how well it held up in the cold. Running off a battery unlocked the Beacon's hidden option of blinking mode, which was required for racer safety.

The fading daylight turned into full darkness, and the landscape became a quiet expanse of blown snow, distant lights, and a clear sky. A quick stop at Black Earth Grills on the Crystal Spring Colony for the final checkpoint was later revealed as an opportunity missed when I found out they had grilled some ribs, but I hadn’t spotted them at the time.

The final stretch started on the same route I’d ridden back in 2020. Through the parking lot, out the south side into the woods, and down to the Rat River before diverging from the 2020 route in a short climb back onto gravel. I’d seen where the trail rejoined on my way north earlier, so I could feel I was almost done. In the darkness and cold, I passed a couple of southbound cyclists and exchanged a wave with a runner heading north. Everything felt familiar now, moving quickly past the railroad tracks, through the tiny town of Otterburne, and over the Rat River twice before hitting Rat River Road and the final approach to the Sugar Shack.

Finishing & Reflection

Crossing the finish line, I was greeted with mild applause before collecting both my finisher’s trophy and my Order of the Hrimthurs trophy. I paused for a photo, my balaclava and neck gaiter frozen stiff and requiring some effort to remove. The warm soup and buttered rolls at the finish line were a welcome contrast to the icy sports drinks and Sour Patch Kids that had fueled me throughout the day.

Earning the Order of the Hrimthurs felt like a culmination of months of preparation, endurance,  sheer determination. Each race had challenged me in different ways, and Actif Epica—true to form—delivered a final test of navigation, patience, and adaptability. 

Now is the time to recover, reflect, and maybe finally enjoy a proper boulangerie stop.

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