Cascade Trail Challenge 2027 (CTC)

Organized by Intrepid Spirit

Activity

  • Running, Trail Running

Race Category

  • 38 K

Overview

Cascade Trail Challenge (CTC): A 38K Waterfall Trail Race in the Philippines

The Cascade Trail Challenge (CTC) is a 37.78 km mountain-trail race in Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, named for the waterfalls that line its route through the highlands. Starting and finishing at Kayapa Central School, it is a hilly course that climbs and descends 2,665 m, topping out at 1,921 m above sea level.

CTC is ITRA-rated and carries UTMB Index  points, so your finish counts toward qualifying for races worldwide. The course runs through lush forest, open grassland and river crossings, passing cascading waterfalls whose spray cools you on the climbs – a genuinely scenic race that still demands respect, with a maximum gradient of 41.4%, a single long climb of 830 m and a 1,090 m descent.

The race starts at 5:30 AM and closes at 6:00 PM. To finish, you must reach the 24.95 km checkpoint (Oyawi, Aid Station 3) within 7.5 hours and complete the full 37.78 km within 12.5 hours, supported by four aid stations along the way. Entry is open to runners aged 18 and over who have finished at least one 21 km-or-longer trail race.

Whether CTC is your first mountain race or a tune-up for longer distances, you will run it alongside a community that shares a love of the trails and the mountains of Nueva Vizcaya.

  • 5
  • events
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Updates

Stay informed with the latest updates and announcements to ensure you never miss a moment of the event!

Race Details

ITRA Points

Mountain Points

UTMB Index Points

  • Distance
  • 37.78 KM
  • Max Elevation
  • 1921 MASL
  • Elev Gain
  • + 2640 M
  • Elev Loss
  • - 2640 M
  • Min Elevation
  • 950 MASL
  • Long Climb
  • 850 M
  • Long Descent
  • 1070 M
  • Terrain
  • Trail, Road
  • Topography
  • Single Loop, Out & Back
  • Profile
  • Hilly, Extreme
  • Aid Stations
  • 3
  • Restrictions
  • N/A
  • Environment
  • Downhill
  • Forest
  • Grass
  • Mountain range
  • Mud
  • Nature
  • Rural
  • Scenic
  • Waterfalls
  • Asphalt
  • Gravel
  • River
  • Sunset
  • Valley
  • Wildlife

May

2

  • 267

    Days

  • 18

    Hours

  • 37

    Minutes

  • 47

    Seconds

May

2

  • 267

    Days

  • 18

    Hours

  • 37

    Minutes

  • 47

    Seconds

Follow

Course Map & GPX

GPX Profile

Elevation Profile

Fly Through

Track

Schedule

Apr

30

1:00

PM

8:00

PM

May

1

8:00

AM

6:00

PM

May

1

11:00

AM

12:00

PM

May

2

2:00

AM

3:00

AM

2:00

AM

3:30

AM

4:45

AM

5:15

AM

5:30

AM

6:00

PM

Cut-off times

May

2

1:30

PM

  • Cut-off:8 Hours
  • Distance:24.95 KM
  • Oyawi
  • Aid Station: 3

6:00

PM

Information

Baggage counter

A baggage counter will be available at the Start Line and Finish Line (both at Kayapa Central School, Kayapa). Bags left unclaimed six hours after the race ends will be disposed of.

Race Rules and Guidelines

  1. No wimps, no whining. This is the event’s guiding ethos: resilience and self-sufficiency. Intrepid Spirit races are “hard” by design, and runners are expected to push through challenges with mental toughness and self-reliance rather than seeking help for every minor issue.
  2. Every runner and pacer must submit a completed, signed Medical Certificate dated no more than six months before the race start date. Submit it online during registration (highly preferred) or hand in a hard copy at race-kit claiming. The same certificate can be reused for other events while it remains under six months old. Failure to submit means no start and no refund. No exemptions.
  3. All runners, pacers, volunteers and race marshals must sign a liability and waiver form before taking part in any event.
  4. Because mountain weather is unpredictable, runners must carry ALL mandatory gear required for their race category.
  5. Before the race, all runners must check in at the Start Line within the specified window for their distance category so mandatory gear can be inspected. Runners missing any mandatory item will not be allowed to start.
  6. Race bib numbers must be worn on the FRONT and stay visible throughout the race. Failure to comply carries a one-hour time penalty.
  7. Changing distance categories during the race is not allowed. To downgrade to a shorter distance, notify the Race Director within the regular registration period. No refunds apply.
  8. Runners may not swap race bib numbers or have a substitute run on their behalf. Registration fees are non-transferable to other people or events. No refunds are given for non-participation, or for cancellation or postponement caused by factors beyond the organiser’s control.
  9. The route is well marked, but each runner is responsible for knowing it and navigating accordingly. No time credit is given to runners who get lost. GPX files are provided for familiarisation and in-race navigation – learn to use your device or app before race day.
  10. Where drop bags are allowed for your distance category, they must be secured and marked with your name, race bib number and race category. The organiser is not responsible for loss or breakage.
  11. Every runner must carry at least the minimum specified hydration capacity (bladder, or the equivalent in handheld bottles or soft flasks) plus enough trail food to last between aid stations. This is mandatory for all categories.  Depending on weather conditions and the runner’s own individual circumstances – e.g. body weight, race-day speed , race-day weather conditions, route characteristics, etc. – runner’s may need a larger hydration capacity than the mandatory “minimum” listed above.  Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of the runner to study the course, take into account likely race-day weather conditions, etc. and then determine what is suitable for their particular situation.
  12. Some potable spring-water sources may exist along the route (self-service), and you may also carry your own personal water filter or purifying tablets. These sources do not always have water and should only supplement what you carry.
  13. Bring your own drinking cup – no cups are provided at aid or water stations, to minimise litter.
  14. Time recorders are stationed at aid stations and cut-off points. All participants must report to the assigned marshal to have their name and race bib number recorded. Some aid stations may also have timing mats or other time chip scanning devices, so be sure to cross them for accurate timing.
  15. If you pull out or declare DNF (Did Not Finish), inform the Race Director or the nearest marshal. Failure to do so may result in suspension or a ban from future events.
  16. Mobile signal exists but can be intermittent and is not available everywhere on the route. For any concern, call +63 (0)998 982 4538.
  17. If you declare DNF anywhere on the route, evacuation costs are your responsibility unless you have taken out DNF Insurance. Wait for the organiser to arrange your extraction, which may take time given the remote terrain and transport availability. If you wish to self-extract, agree a plan with the marshals and organiser first, for safety.
  18. The organiser keeps the route clean and in pre-race condition, but every runner must be responsible with their trash. Garbage bags are available at each aid and water station.
  19. Practise trail courtesy: step aside for overtaking runners and give way to those going uphill. Take care through rice paddies, vegetable gardens and villages, and CLOSE ALL GATES you pass.
  20. Do not run on hanging bridges, and cross them ONE RUNNER AT A TIME.
  21. Conduct yourself properly and treat all marshals and volunteers with courtesy.
  22. Unregistered runners, pacers, mules and guides are not allowed.
  23. Cheating and route-marking sabotage will result in immediate disqualification.
  24. Any cheating complaint must be made within 24 hours of race completion – in writing, signed, with visual proof, emailed to [email protected]. Complaints after 24 hours will not be entertained.
  25. Events proceed rain or shine unless the organiser announces cancellation at least 48 hours before the scheduled start, due to extreme weather or any condition that makes the route unsafe.
  26. The Race Director reserves the right to modify the rules or route at any time for the safety and welfare of participants.
  27. The organiser may use photo and video content from the race in any media without compensation. Owners of published photos or videos will be credited. Anyone volunteering to shoot event photos must seek prior approval from the organiser.
  28. No TV, film or video crew, producer, director or other broadcast-media representative may accompany or cover any racer, or the race itself, without the organiser’s specific written permission.
  29. Official results are published within 48-72 hours of the race (or sooner where possible).
  30. Trekking poles are allowed, but when not in use they must be folded or stowed so they don’t impede other runners.
  31. Personal support crews are not allowed along the route, to limit congestion, and pop-up personal aid stations are prohibited. Violation results in immediate disqualification of the assisted runner(s).
  32. Supporters must pay their own trail fees before checking on their runners at places such as Mount Tugew. Do not use the organiser’s name to gain free entry.
  33. Mandatory gear checks are conducted randomly, at unannounced times and aid stations. Each missing item adds a penalty to your finish time or for some items, may result in outright disqualification.  Refusing or failing to comply leads to outright disqualification. If you are missing any mandatory item at a check point, you may not proceed until you obtain it.
  34. Running without a top is not allowed and results in outright disqualification. A valid top is an upper-body garment with sleeves (short-sleeve minimum) and a tail long enough to tuck into pants or a skirt, fully covering the torso.
  35. If you take a wrong route, you must return to the correct section on foot and by no other means. Violation results in disqualification.
  36. Runners who do not finish within the overall cut-off are not entitled to finisher tokens. Those who miss an aid-station cut-off may not proceed and are declared DNF.
  37. Support vehicles and crew are not allowed at any point on the race course. Runners found receiving assistance outside designated aid stations will be disqualified (DQ).

  1. A BAGGAGE COUNTER will be available for runners at the Start / Finish Line (Kayapa Central School, Kayapa).
  2. Unclaimed bags six hours after end of the race will be disposed of accordingly.
  3. RUNNER SUPPORT VEHICLES OR CREW ARE NOT allowed at any point on the racecourse. Runners found receiving assistance outside of designated Aid Stations (unless in case of emergency) will be Disqualified (DQ).

Entry Requirements

General

  • Qualifying races must have been completed between April 1, 2026 and April 18, 2027.
  • Qualifying results must be verifiable online – ideally through the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) event results website.
  • Runners without a qualifying race in this period may instead submit recent training history that is verifiable online (e.g. COROS, Strava, Garmin or Suunto data). Based on the Race Director’s review of that history, the runner may be denied registration or accepted with conditions (e.g. be required to take out Did Not Finish (DNF) Insurance).
  • All runners must abide by the Race Rules and Guidelines.
  • The minimum age is 18 years on race day, for every race category.

Data Privacy Notice

Intrepid Spirit, Inc. Event registration and participation

Effective date: 1st August 2026 · Version 1.0


This notice explains what personal information we collect when you register for and take part in our events, why we collect it, who we share it with, and what rights you have over it. It is written to comply with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Who we are

Intrepid Spirit, Inc. is the Personal Information Controller for our events. We decide what participant data is collected and how it is used.

Our Data Protection Officer is Robert Watson, who can be reached at [email protected]. General enquiries may be sent to [email protected].

What we collect

When you register, we collect:

  • Identity and contact information – your name, date of birth, nationality, gender, home address, email address, and mobile number.
  • Government-issued identification – used to verify your identity and confirm you meet the age requirement for your category.
  • Emergency contact details – the name and number of someone we can reach if something happens to you during the event.
  • Health information – your medical history, allergies, current medications, blood type, and medical clearance or fitness certification where required for your distance.

Health information is classified as sensitive personal information under RA 10173 and is subject to stricter handling. We collect it for one reason: trail running carries real physical risk, and if you are injured, exhausted, or need evacuation, our medical team must be able to treat you safely and quickly. It is not used for any other purpose.

If you register on behalf of a participant under 18, we also collect your name, relationship to the participant, and contact details as parent or legal guardian.

Why we collect it

We use your information to:

  • register you and verify that you are eligible for the category you entered;
  • time your race and produce accurate results and rankings;
  • communicate with you about the event – race kit collection, briefings, schedule changes, cut-offs, and results;
  • protect your health and safety before, during, and after the race, including medical treatment and evacuation;
  • meet the conditions attached to the permits that allow the event to take place; and
  • publish official results.

Who receives your information

Running an event requires working with others. Your information is shared with the following parties, each only to the extent they need it:

Our official timing provider, for timing, split times, and results processing.

Our medical, rescue, and marshal teams, who may access your health information and emergency contact where this is needed to protect your life or health. In a genuine emergency we will disclose what is necessary to those treating you, whether or not we can reach you for consent first.

Our online registration and payment processor, for handling your entry fee.

The Local Government Unit of Kayapa and its relevant offices, which require participant manifests as a condition of the permits issued for our events.

Insurance providers. Some of our events include participant accident insurance in the entry fee and some do not. Where insurance is included, we provide the insurer with your name, date of birth, and contact details in order to enrol you in the policy, and may provide further information, including relevant medical details, if a claim is made. The insurer for a given event is identified on that event’s registration page. Where an event does not include participant insurance, no insurer receives your data and you take part on the basis of your own coverage.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with sponsors or advertisers for their own marketing.

Publication of results

Your name, birth date (used to calculate your age and appropriate age category), race category, bib number, finish time, and split times are published on our website and/or our timing provider’s website, our results platform, and our official social media channels. Where live tracking is in use, your progress on course may be publicly visible during the event.

This is a normal and necessary part of competitive race participation. If you do not wish your performance to be publicly associated with your name, please contact us before race day to discuss the options available for your category.

Sharing with ITRA, UTMB, and DUV

With your separate consent, given at registration, we transfer your name, nationality, date of birth, gender, race category, and race results to:

  • the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) – Switzerland
  • the SAS UTMB Group – France
  • the Deutsche Ultramarathon-Vereinigung (DUV) – Germany

These organizations use the data for race validation, performance ranking, qualification, and official statistical records. Because they are based in Switzerland, France and Germany, this involves transferring your personal information outside the Philippines. Under Section 21 of RA 10173 we remain accountable for your information after it is transferred, and we take reasonable steps to ensure it receives comparable protection.

This consent is optional and giving it is not a condition of entry. If you decline, your result may not be eligible for ITRA points, a UTMB Index score, or inclusion in DUV statistics, and where these organizations permit anonymized entries your name will appear as “Anonymous”.

Once your results have been transmitted, those organizations hold them under their own privacy policies and retention rules. We cannot guarantee their removal from those records – you would need to contact them directly.

Photography and video

With your separate consent, given at registration, we and our authorized media partners may photograph and film you during the event and use that footage – including your image and likeness – in event coverage, results galleries, promotional material, and social media.

This consent is optional and is not a condition of entry. If you decline, we will not use your image promotionally. You may still appear incidentally in wide shots, crowd footage, and live coverage that cannot practicably exclude individual participants.

Marketing

If you opt in, we will email you about future events, early registration windows, and related content. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any such email, or by writing to our Data Protection Officer.

Whether or not you opt in, you will still receive operational emails about events you have entered.

How long we keep your information

RA 10173 requires that personal data is not kept longer than necessary for the purpose it was collected for. Our retention schedule is:

Information


Retention period


Reason


Official results – name, birth date, category, times, bib number Indefinitely Permanent historical and statistical record of the event
Government-issued ID copy Deleted after the event, unless the participant was involved in an incident, in which case it is held with the incident file Needed up to and including race day to verify identity and age; no purpose afterward
Health declarations and medical clearance, where no incident occurred 1 year after the event Allows for late-emerging complaints; no reason to hold beyond this
Health and incident records where an injury, medical intervention, or evacuation occurred, together with the signed waiver and entry terms 10 years So that both you and we retain the record if a claim is made. Prescriptive periods under Philippine law run to 4 years for negligence claims and 10 years for claims founded on a written contract
Contact details While you remain an active participant, then 2 years after your last event Event communications and re-registration
Marketing list Until you unsubscribe Based on your consent
Payment and entry-fee records 10 years Required by BIR Revenue Regulations No. 17-2013

 

When a retention period ends, records are securely erased or shredded.

Results already published by ITRA, UTMB, or DUV are held in their systems under their own retention policies.

How we protect your information

We apply reasonable organizational, physical, and technical security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. Access is limited to personnel and partners who have a legitimate need for it in connection with the event.

If a security incident occurs that is likely to put your rights at serious risk, we will notify you and the National Privacy Commission as required by law.

Your rights

Under the Data Privacy Act you have the right to:

  • be informed about how your data is collected and used;
  • access the personal data we hold about you;
  • correct information that is inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete;
  • object to processing, including for marketing;
  • request erasure or blocking of your data where there is no lawful reason for us to keep it;
  • data portability, receiving your data in a usable electronic format; and
  • claim damages for inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, false, or unlawfully obtained data.

To exercise any of these rights, contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected]. We will respond as promptly as we reasonably can and will tell you if we need to withhold anything and why.

Withdrawing consent

You may withdraw any consent you have given at any time by writing to our Data Protection Officer.

Withdrawal takes effect going forward. It does not affect processing already carried out, and it does not apply to data we are required to keep to comply with permit conditions, tax law, or other legal obligations, or to records we need to establish, exercise, or defend a legal claim.

Participants under 18

Where a participant is below eighteen (18) years of age, registration must be completed and consented to by a parent or legal guardian, who provides their own name, relationship to the participant, and contact details. All the rights described above may be exercised by the guardian on the participant’s behalf.

Cookies and our websites

Our websites use a small number of cookies and load some content from third-party services. We do not use advertising pixels, behavioral ad targeting, or session-recording tools, and we do not sell or share visitor data with advertisers.

Strictly necessary cookies. These keep the site working and cannot be switched off. They include your login session on our events site, and a cookie recording your country or locale so we display the right content. If you sign in using your Google account, Google sets a cookie recording your sign-in state.

Analytics cookies. We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors move through our site – which pages are viewed, which events attract interest, and where people drop out of registration. These cookies are named _ga and _ga_ followed by a property identifier. Google Analytics does not store your full IP address, and we do not use it to identify you individually. We also use Cloudflare Web Analytics, which measures traffic without setting cookies or tracking visitors across sites.

Third-party content. Some pages load resources from outside providers, which means those providers receive your IP address and basic browser information when the page loads:

  • Google Fonts – typefaces used across the site
  • Google Maps – event location maps
  • Google Sign-In – the option to log in with a Google account
  • jQuery CDN – a standard code library
  • Cloudflare – hosting, security, and traffic analytics

If you sign in with Google, Google will know that you accessed our events site. If you prefer not to share that, create an account with an email address and password instead.

Controlling cookies. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings – every major browser allows this, usually under Privacy or Security. Blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent you from logging in or completing registration. You can opt out of Google Analytics specifically by installing Google’s browser opt-out add-on.

For details on how Google and Cloudflare handle data received through these services, please see their own privacy policies.

Complaints

If you are not satisfied with how we have handled your personal information, please raise it with our Data Protection Officer first so we have the chance to put it right. You also have the right to complain directly to the National Privacy Commission:

National Privacy Commission, 25th-27th Floors, The Upper Class Tower, Quezon Ave. Corner Scout Reyes Street, Quezon City, 1103.

privacy.gov.ph · [email protected]

Changes to this notice

We review this notice periodically and will update it when our practices change. The version number and effective date at the top will always tell you which version applies. If we make a material change to who receives your data or why, we will notify participants whose data we still hold rather than relying on the updated page alone.

  •  

Runners must have officially finished at least one 21 km or longer trail race (qualifying race) to be accepted for this race category.

Mandatory Gear

Mandatory Gear

All mandatory gear must be carried at all times, for the safety of every runner. Compliance is checked at three points:

  • Start line – a pre-race gear check before you set off.
  • On course – a random, unannounced check at a location during the race.
  • Finish line – a final gear check. Penalties for missing items may be a time addition to your finish time or disqualification, at the Race Director’s discretion.

The mandatory gear below is required for every race category:

  • Cellular phone that is fully charged, always switched on, and not in airplane mode; fitted with a local Philippine SIM (Globe, Smart or TM) carrying at least Php 200 of load.
  • Phone-based App or sports watch with the organiser-provided route map saved for offline use. (Recommended app: GAIA GPS)
  • Waterproof jacket with a minimum hydrostatic head rating of 10,000 mm.
  • First-aid kit containing, as a minimum: povidone-iodine prep pads (4), alcohol prep pads (4), small medical scissors, sterile gauze pads 3″ × 3″ × 8-ply (2), waterproof PU adhesive film tape 10 cm × 10 cm (2), sterile waterproof wound dressing 10 cm × 10 cm (2), disposable nitrile gloves (1 pair), an emergency/survival blanket, and an emergency whistle.
  • Flashlight or headlamp with at least 12 hours of battery life.
  • Hydration with at least 1.5 L capacity.
  • Extra food / gels / calories to last at least 4 hours.
  • Cash of at least Php 1,000.
  • Race bib / timing chip.

Please note:

A first-aid kit containing all mandatory items, plus the emergency whistle, can be purchased during online registration or on-site at race-kit collection.

Depending on weather conditions and the runner’s own individual circumstances – e.g. body weight, race-day speed , race-day weather conditions, route characteristics, etc. – runner’s may need a larger hydration capacity than the mandatory “minimum” listed above.  Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of the runner to study the course, take into account likely race-day weather conditions, etc. and then determine what is suitable for their particular situation.

Foreseeable race-day conditions can range from extreme heat (up to 40 degrees Celsius) and cold (down to just above 0 degrees Celsius) with the strong possibility of thunderstorms, lightning, torrential rain, and hail.

Missing Mandatory Gear Penalties

Missing any item of mandatory gear at any check, whether on course or at the finish, will result in the following penalties:

Recommended Gear

The following items are highly recommended for all race categories:

  • Hiking / trekking poles.
  • Warmer running apparel.
  • Collapsible cup.
  • 3-in-1 camping spork – useful for noodles or any food that needs a utensil.

Please note: no disposable cups, knives, forks or spoons are provided at aid stations. A collapsible cup and camping spork can be purchased during online registration or on-site at race-kit collection.

Location

  • Start Line
  • Kayapa Central School
  • Finish Line
  • Kayapa Central School

Related Events

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  • Open Field
  • Jan 8, 2027
  • VJ100 Ultra Trail Challenge 2027 (VJ100UTC)
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  • Philippine Mountain Trail 2027 (PMT)
  • Kayapa Central School
  • May 2, 2027
  • Hardcore Ultra Trail 2027 (HUT)
  • Kayapa Central School
  • Apr 30, 2027