Hundred-mile run showcases the best of Whitefish Trail

Whitefish local Andrew Galbraith completed a self-supported 100-mile challenge last month, covering a loop up Big Mountain, around Whitefish Lake, and through the Whitefish Trail system before adding extra miles on the Whitefish Lake Golf Course to reach the century mark. 

Starting at the bottom of Big Mountain Road at 6 a.m. on July 18, Galbraith climbed through the Whitefish Trail system from Reservoir Road, ascended the Danny On Trail to the Summit House, then descended the same way. From there, he ran around Whitefish Lake on Lakeshore Drive, connected to the Whitefish Trail system, and returned to the base of Big Mountain. That loop, roughly 60 miles, included over 5,000 feet of climbing and gave Galbraith a continuous visual treat. 

“That loop alone is such a perfect showcase of Whitefish,” Galbraith said. “You get the lake, the mountain, and the Whitefish Trail, everything that makes this place special in one day.” 

Galbraith had originally planned to repeat the loop to reach 100 miles. However, safety concerns about running at Lion Mountain in the dark led him to complete the remaining distance on the cart path Whitefish Lake Golf Course. 

His support team included Mark Galbraith, who biked alongside him down Lakeshore Drive and later followed in a golf cart through the golf course, and his brother Joe Galbraith, who ran with him from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Family and friends, including his wife Grey , Aunt Cathy and Uncle Walt Chauner, Pearl Galbraith and Vonda Garcia, provided encouragement and on-course assistance. 

By the time Galbraith crossed the finish line at 5:30 p.m. on July 19, he had traveled 100 miles with 11,670 feet of elevation in 33:49:01. 

“The hardest part was starting the second day,” he said. “After 80 miles, you have to convince yourself to keep going because most people will never know the difference. But for me, it mattered.”