Nine-hour Medicine Hat Massacre tests mind and body

Posted on May 21, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

The 19th annual Medicine Hat Massacre is now in the books, with new champions crowned in both events.

Drawing from across Western Canada, more than 50 teams registered from Chilliwack, B.C. to Athabasca, Alta., to Winnipeg, Man. The race is held in Elkwater in Cypress Hills Provincial Park. 

“This is such a great event,” said Chris Fen-Mac, captain of winning team Rocky Mountain AR. “We look forward to this race each year. Search and Rescue does such a great job of putting on this event and the terrain is so beautiful.”

He and teammate Faye Baldock collected 1,210 points over the nine-hour event to capture first place overall.

Local teams dominated the Lite Race leaderboard with father/son team “Stray Dogs” leading the pack. Steve and Cody Haupt collected 580 points for the win over the “Sun Devils” (Ian Mclean and Cam Morriseau), also from the Hat.

Adventure racing is an outdoor endurance sport. This year’s events were the full nine-hour race as well as 4.5-hour Lite Race.

Teams of two navigate the back country trying to find checkpoints that have been placed by race organizers.

Each checkpoint has a point value assigned depending on its remoteness, distance, etc. Teams will travel on foot, bike or paddle to collect points.

The team collecting the most points, and can get to the finish line within the allotted time, wins.

For the main race, teams may only use map and compass. Lite Race teams may also use GPS in their quest for points. To add to the challenge, the main race starts in the dark at 4 a.m.

Overall winners:

MHM Full race:

1. Rocky Mountain AR, Chris Fen-Mac, Faye Baldock, Calgary – 1,210;

2. Hilarious, Nicki Rehn, Claire Perks, Calgary, Okotoks – 1,185;

3. In Our Element – 1,105.

MHM Lite race:

1. Stray Dogs, Steve, Cody Haupt, Medicine Hat – 580;

2. Sun Devils, Ian Mclean, Cam Morisseau, Medicine Hat – 500;

3. Love is a Battlefield, Jonelle Lacusta, Ralph Jost, Calgary – 408.

Full results are available at https://www.mhmassacre.ca/live-results. Although the heading says preliminary, these results are now official.