Chuckanut was inspired by the composer�s participation in an Ultra-marathon known as the �Chuckanut 50K.� This 31-mile race encompasses the Inter-urban trail, starting in Bellingham at Fairhaven Park, and runs 6 miles along Chuckanut Drive to the Fragrance Lake trail. There it climbs up and down about 5,000 feet, making the journey to the top of Chuckanut Mountain twice before returning to the Inter-urban trail and back to Fairhaven Park. The first section of Chuckanut depicts the flat Inter-urban trail with the 210 runners running together in synchronicity. Gradually, they spread out and the rhythm gets a bit more complicated. The middle part covers the steep mountain trails. The rhythm slows down, changes meter and key to suggest heavy effort, and then gets a little chaotic (jazzy) to describe the Chuckanut Ridge section. Everything comes full circle back to the Inter-Urban and a return to the finish line, 31 miles later!

The MP3 file is a live recording done during the New Works, New Hope Concert performed at the Illsley Nordstrom Ball Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA. The piece was performed by Shorecrest High School Orcadian Choir, Leann Rozema, Director, and recorded by Brian Olendorf and Geoff Ogle on May 5, 2005. This concert was organized by The Seattle Composers' Alliance and Gilda's Club of Seattle.