HPRS Announces 1st Ever – Aid Station Cooking Competition at Silverheels
An aid station cook-off with heart, heat, and high-altitude hunger
This year at the Silverheels Trail Runs, we’re turning up the flame, literally. Select aid stations are stepping beyond the usual snacks to compete in a frontier-style cook-off known as:
The Silverheels’ Burner Battle
Armed with camp stoves, secret recipes, and sheer culinary ingenuity, station crews will cook hot meals on-site during the race to win over runners’ trail-weary taste buds.
The aid stations that will be part of the battle include: Michigan Creek, Tarryall, Crooked Creek, and Poor Man’s.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS WHO WANT TO STEP UP TO THE FIRE AND COMPETE… while lending a hand!
The Runner’s Contribution? Run. Eat. Vote.
What’s At Stake
The aid station with the highest score will win:
- A free race entry for every volunteer at that station, in addition to their earned race credits for volunteer hours.
- $500 donated to a nonprofit of their choice, courtesy of HPRS
- The Silver Ladel and Bragging Rights For A Year
Glory tastes good.
How It Works
Each competing aid station receives $200 in seed money to create its culinary masterpiece. From there, it’s up to them: planning, hauling, prepping, and cooking fresh food on-site for runners during the race. HPRS will also provide the usual aid station foods and drinks for each station.
Runners will eat and be merry on their way through each station. After runner’s finish, they’ll cast their vote for the aid station that fed them best. However, since not every runner visits every station, and each race distance has a different number of participants, we’re ensuring that the voting is fair and meaningful.
✅ Each vote is weighted based on:
- The number of runners in each specific race distance
- Which stations does each distance pass through
So, if you’re in the 100K and only hit Michigan Creek and Tarryall, your vote will only count toward those two. And because fewer runners visit Michigan Creek overall, 100k votes for Michigan Creek will carry more weight.
Votes are tallied using this weighted system, and the station with the highest total weighted score wins the Burner Battle!
Why We’re Doing This
Aid stations are where the real magic happens, where a grilled cheese at mile 70 can restore the soul. Silverheels’ Burner Battle honors the volunteers who pour their hearts into feeding our explorers, not just fueling them.
It’s also a way to give back. The winning team picks a nonprofit, and we’ll donate $500 in their honor. Good food for a good cause.
👉 [SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER AT SILVERHEELS NOW]
What Might Be On the Menu?
We’ve already heard whispers of:
- Skillet street tacos
- Sunrise breakfast wraps
- Dutch oven mac and cheese
- “Bill Buck’s Brisket Bombs” (pray for your guts)
Vote With Gratitude
Remember: These folks are cooking at 10,000 feet and around the clock. Be kind. Be real. Be hungry.
Let’s see who can bring the heat and carry on Silverheels’ legacy of hospitality, grit, and grace.
Welcome to the Burner Battle. We’ll see you at the fire.
REGISTER AS CAPTAIN OR SUPPORT STAFF AT ONE OF THESE AID STATIONS TO BE A PART OF THE BURNER BATTLE! Michigan Creek, Tarryall, Crooked Creek, Poor Man’s.
Note: If your station doesn’t want to participate in the battle, that’s more than fine. Your kindness and support for our community of runners are greatly appreciated.