"Making Fastpacking Fun" with Andrew Cotterell

Go light, move fast, sleep somewhere with a view. An intro night with ultrarunner and GDT record holder Andrew Cotterell.

Some trails are too long for a day and too good to rush over two weeks. Fastpacking lives in that gap. You pack light, you run the runnable bits, you walk the rest, and you sleep out where most people turn around. A weekend gets you somewhere a day hike never will.

Andrew has spent a lot of time in that gap. So when he talks about covering big ground on foot with a small pack, it's earned. He's coming in to walk through the starting points. Picking a route that won't wreck you. Getting your pack light without freezing at 2am. What to eat, where to sleep, what to leave at home. And mostly how to keep it fun, because a miserable fastpacker quits after one trip.

Come with questions. Whether you are planning your first overnighter or you are just nosy about the tiny-pack thing, you'll get something out of it.

Doors at 6PM, Andrew starts at 6:30PM . Show up early, grab a drink, have a look around. Q&A after.

The night's a fundraiser for the Great Divide Trail Association, the people who keep the GDT clear and wild.

 

Andrew Cotterell is an ultrarunner, UESCA-certified ultrarunning coach, and ACMG Apprentice Hiking Guide based in Canmore, Alberta. He aims to build connections between people, place and planet and through Jelly Legs Coaching, he helps runners and adventurers of all abilities achieve goals ranging from their first 5K to multi-day mountain and ultra-distance challenges. 

With over a decade of experience in behaviour change, Andrew combines evidence-based training with a supportive, athlete-centered approach. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and a Master’s degree in Science Communication, enabling him to translate complex training principles into practical, sustainable plans.

Andrew has completed numerous ultramarathons, including 100-mile races, and holds the Fastest Known Time on the Great Divide Trail, and recently the out-and-back record on the West Coast Trail. His coaching philosophy emphasizes consistency, enjoyment, and building a healthy relationship with running and the outdoors.