Discovery Walk Festival Blog

The deadline for the discount registration ended at midnight March 1, so now on March 2 we are in the regular registration rate period through the day of event ($10 per event per person).  You can still register online or by mail through April 15.  After April 15, please come register live at the event.

The team discount still applies through day of event.  Form a team of 10 or more people and the rate is only $5 per event.  To register as a team, you can simply register online and select the Team rate per event and place your team name in the appropriate box on the second screen.  Our registrar will know to group you together.  If you don’t end up with 10 people, there will be a surcharge at the event.  You can do the same thing if registering by mail, although it would be most convenient for all registrations to be mailed together.

Live at the event, you can add team members by having them come to the Group Registration Table and identify themselves as part of your team.

Discovery Walk Festival volunteers are part of the Discovery Walk Team and they may also register at the Team Rate.  Please identify yourself as part of the Discovery Walk Team on your registration form to claim this rate.  Volunteers will work a shift of at least four hours during the festival.

Registration form

We have completed entry for the registrations received through 2-21-10 and sent out email confirmations.  For those who didn’t give us an email address, the confirmations will be mailed in March.

You can search and view registrations online to check your days/distance registered.

We also have a group coming from Russia whose data isn’t entered yet, the Primorsky Walking League Zhenshen.

We have updated the list of volkssport state and national programs/challenges for each day, distance and route.

Because of the large number and inconsistent operation of special programs offered by the AVA and various clubs, this walk’s organizers cannot be sure
for which programs these walks might qualify.  Because the satisfaction of walkers is our foremost desire, we will stamp any special program book
that a walker feels is appropriate for this event.

The walkers themselves are responsible for ensuring that the listed items actually meet the criteria of the program.

Our event organizers do not participate in any of these challenge programs and do not possess the record books.  The listed items are only our best guess.

We design our routes for scenic interest, safety, checkpoint locations, and logical layouts for ease of marking and eliminating confusion during a three-day event.  We do not design them to fulfill any programs or challenges other than IVV and IML Walking Association requirements.

Only after the trails are completed do we then check for items that might fulfill one or more of the THIRTY-SEVEN different state, national, and club challenge programs.  This is an enormous effort.  We feel we have done enough now and the rest is on you to be responsible for your own challenge book requirements.

No routes will be modified to pass by something that fulfills a challenge requirement.

We are not responsible for providing you accurate information, this is just our best guess.  It is your responsibility to ensure that the listed items actually meet the program requirements.

Due to the unfortunate closing of the Hough Pool, the Discovery Walk swims will move to the Propstra Acquatic Center, 605 N. Devine, Vancouver, WA 98661.  This pool is about 4.5 miles from the Hilton.  We will continue to provide a free van shuttle to and from the swim from the Hilton.  The pool is 4 ft. deep throughout.  Showers and changing rooms are available.

Our trailmasters Burt Paynter and Heidi Schurr have been hard at work drafting the new routes for Saturday and Sunday.  While routes are always subject to change, we have posted overview maps of each day.  These maps are not meant for navigation.  On the day of the event, a detailed map specific to your route distance will be given to you at the start table, and the route will be marked with arrows as well.  These maps are simply to give you a general idea of the routes.

Saturday Walks: New routes for the 10K and 21K.  The 5K route, which also serves as the Family Fun Walk, will enjoy a walk through the Vancouver Farmer’s Market and then down the Columbia River Renaissance Trail to the Princess Ilchee Statue and back.  The 10K route will start with the 21K route and return over the Land Bridge to meet up with 5K route.

The 21K route will take walkers east on Evergreen and over the hill to the Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway. Then back over the hill and down to the river to finish for the last 8K along the Columbia River.  Those doing 42K will repeat the 21K route, starting their second loop by 11 am to ensure they are able to complete it by 4 pm.  If they complete the first 21K by 12 pm, they can start on the 10K route and complete 32K instead.  This 32K option is available for anyone who can start the last 10K by 12 pm.

Saturday Overview Map: this map is only an overview and not intended for navigation.  You will receive a detailed map and directions at the start table when you start your walk. Routes are subject to change.

Sunday Walks: New routes for all distances. The 21K will be similar to the Saturday 21K from 2009, including the Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway from Stewart Glen Park to Devine Road and returning past Clark College.  The 10K and 5K will explore the Hough, Carter Park and Lincoln neighborhoods and by the fun shops of Uptown Main Street.

Sunday Overview Map: this map is only an overview and not intended for navigation.  You will receive a detailed map and directions at the start table when you start your walk.  Routes are subject to change.

Calling all Discovery Walk Festival volunteers!  Volunteer registration is now open for the 2010 Discovery Walk Festival.  See the form at: Volunteer Page.  We have set the workers walk dates.  Volunteers are eligible to register for the event at the Team/Group rate of $5 per walk, bike, or swim.

The Vancouver Discovery Walk Festival is held yearly in April in Vancouver, Washington USA.  Located in the Pacific Northwest just across the Columbia River from Portland, Oregon, Vancouver is a friendly city noted for its walking paths and greenways.

The Vancouver International Discovery Walk Festival has been held since 1996. It is an IML Walking Association sanctioned event, and its walks are also sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association/IVV. It is three days of walks, bikes and swims.  The events are non-competitive and everyone is welcome.

The Discovery Walk Festival is hosted by the International Walk Fest club, a 501(c)(3) non-profit association dedicated to educating the public about the benefits of walking for health, fitness, fun, and promoting international friendships.

Online and mail-in registrations have been pouring in for the 2010 Vancouver International Discovery Walk Festival.  The registrar has entered all of them into the database and sent out the first batch of confirmations on Jan. 17.  You can view and search the registrations.  Contact the registrar at info@discoverywalk.org to make any changes or to enquire about lost registrations.

Registrations are not refundable, but if a walker can’t make it to the event, they can transfer their registration to another person.