One of the issues that the route of Around The World currently has is that as it heads on relentlessly south, the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, some three hundred miles away to the west, is creeping forever south east, and bringing the Rockies with it closer to the route: that means climbing, and with regard to that scenario, stage 576 does not disappoint: it’s climbs twice as much as it descends, and the highest elevation of the stage is just half a mile from the finish.
The rollout is uphill for a mile past the Rocky Mountain House Natural Area to the junction where Highway 11 comes in from the west. The road then descends briefly to run alongside (but in the opposite direction) by the North Saskatchewan River before climbing again as the highway enters Rocky Mountain House.
The climb is lumpy, gradual and unrelenting until ten miles where the road hangs a sweeping left hand bend to head east briefly before turning right back onto The Cowboy Trail heading south. There’s then a gentle descent past Township Road 384 to cross the Clearwater River at thirteen miles, but inevitably after a water crossing, the road starts climbing again. Although there’s a short descent soon after, the main thrust is upwards and the gradient steepens as the road approaches the plateau at eighteen miles, just after Township Road 374.
The road runs flat for three miles after that, but at twenty one miles, just before the finish, it drops down again and the straight run in to the finishing line just after Township Road 372 is on a nice gentle descent.
Distance: 22 miles / 35 kilometres
Distance: 22 miles / 35 kilometres
Ascent: 669 feet / 204 metres
RGT Magic Road: ArJd9u03sXFg
Max elevation: 3512 ft
Min elevation: 3182 ft
Total climbing: 668 ft
Total descent: -378 ft
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