
Walkabout Outfitter Wild Gear Chase 2026 is an adventure race on October 17, 2026 in Roanoke, VA, with an entry fee of $45.
This may be a Wild Gear Chase but don't worry, even if you're slow you'll catch some sweet stuff. From water bottles and hats to bigger prizes like kayaks, fly rods and coolers, and everything in between, everyone walks away with a piece of gear in this unique "treasure hunt".
Using a map, a corresponding "cue sheet", and your brains, participants have two hours to race to as many checkpoints (both urban and wilderness locations) scattered throughout a two-mile radius of GO Fest. Hit as many checkpoints as you can, then head back to the finish within the two-hour time limit. Racers are then ranked based on points and time, and lined up in front of the gear tent. Every 15 seconds a person enters the gear tent; you can stay in the tent as long as you want but you can only leave the tent with one piece of gear, so choose wisely.
This Year there will be a Woman's and Men's Division!
Timeline and schedule:
8:00am – 9:00am Racer check in and number pickup
9:30am - Mandatory pre-race meeting
9:45am - Maps and clue sheets distributed - Racers will have 10 minutes to plan their route
10:00am – Race start
12:00pm – Race ends (5-point penalty for EACH minute late)
3:15pm – Results announced and Gear Tent entry
Live forecast from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Race day
Saturday, 10/17
High
60°
Low
37°
Conditions
Sunny
Chance of Rain
3%
Wind
22 mph
Population
98,677
as of 2023
City Elevation
968 ft
Nearest Airport
ROA
Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport · 3 mi
Major Hub
GSO
Piedmont Triad International Airport · 82 mi
Time Zone
Eastern Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Walkabout Outfitter Wild Gear Chase 2026, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
5
Days to train
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Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
Adventure racing strings together trekking, mountain biking, and paddling — with navigation by map and compass — across a course you have to find as much as finish. Most events are raced as a team, often over many hours or even multiple days.
It rewards the all-rounder and the problem-solver as much as the pure athlete: route choice, teamwork, and staying steady when you're tired and off the map are as much the challenge as the miles.
Trek, mountain bike, and paddle with navigation between checkpoints — from a few hours to multi-day expeditions, usually in teams.
Walkabout Outfitter Wild Gear Chase 2026
Oct 17, 2026