Elk Mountains Grand Traverse

GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO (December 5, 2007) – One of the most interesting and challenging backcountry ski races on the planet celebrates 11 years of memorable moments and amazing athletic feats on March 28 – 29, 2008.  Registration for the 11th annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse, a backcountry ski race that follows mail routes that connected the Colorado mining towns of Crested Butte and Aspen in the 1880s, began Dec. 1.  Act quickly as the quota of 125 teams fills very quickly. 

Kicking off at the stroke of midnight on March 28, it is a one-of-a-kind test of endurance and smarts, requiring avalanche awareness, backcountry athleticism, winter camping knowledge and map reading skills all wrapped in one. 

The 2008 race is dedicated to SNOW through a new partnership with Save Our Snow Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to calculating, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions and energy use, while also producing local alternative energy and stimulating economic development for the outdoor sports industry.

“Our goal is to undergo a progressive greening of the race over the next several years.  This is really the only sustainable thing to do; without snow, there won’t be a 50^th annual Elk Mountain Grand Traverse.  All of us involved with the race would like to pass on a sustainable legacy to the next generation of skiers,” says Jan Runge, race organizer.

“Our goals include educating and exciting volunteers, energizing the event, creating positive green marketing, promoting how to green an event and your life, offsetting carbon, raising money, and increasing awareness to help save our snow and planet,” she explains.

Race Overview

At midnight, approximately 250 racers (125 teams of two racers each) will depart from the traditional starting line at the Crested Butte Community School in town, catch the old Upper Loop Trail, skirt along Hunter Hill Road and drop into Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area in Mt. Crested Butte.  Cheering crowds, torches and a firework display will greet the racers as they pass through the base area just below the Silver Queen lift. 

After the parade review, the teams climb up and over Crested Butte Mountain Resort terrain, exiting just below the East River lift, crossing the East River valley, turning down stream and rejoining the course on Brush Creek Road before climbing over two mountain passes.  Several hours later, on March 29, racers arrive in Aspen bleary-eyed and exultant at the finish line.

“The Grand Traverse is not a Nordic or downhill race, but instead tests skiers overall skills and goes from town-to-town, covering 40 miles of rugged trails in the Elk Mountains. Every event dishes up new surprises for the contestants and the organizers. When Grand Traverse began 11 years ago, it was fashioned after similar events in Europe that connect various villages,” says Runge.

Competitors in 2007 faced some of the toughest weather conditions in the history of the race, resulting in slower-than-normal but very admirable completion times.  Mike Kloser and Stephen White of Vail won the men’s division and overall with a time of 8:46:50.  Ted Mahon and Christy Sauer of Aspen captured the co-ed division in 10:59:10.  Audrey DuRoss of Salt Lake City and Madeleine Mulliken of Crested Butte finished at 13:04:10 leading the women’s division. 

Over the Years - Race Highlights

1998    Travis Moore and Pierre Wille of Aspen won the race, arriving at the finish line at 8:30 a.m.  Fifty teams competed. 

1999    Jim Faust and Pat O'Neill of Crested Butte won, arriving at 6:52 a.m.  There was 30 inches of new snow, so the course was shortened and was known as “The Grand Reverse.”

2000    Jim Faust and Pat O'Neill won again in whiteout conditions.  The start was delayed three hours and the finish came 8 hours 32 minutes later. At Star Pass, 3 a.m., Avalanche Forecaster Dan Ewert had 30 seconds to decide if avalanche conditions were safe enough to continue the race.

2001    Geo Bullock and Dave Penney of Crested Butte clinched the victory, with the race now featuring 100 teams of two.

2002    Geo Bullock and Dave Penney won again, nailing the fastest Grand Traverse finish

to date.

2003    Mike Kloser and Dan Weiland of Vail led the pack on a very cold night with -2 F at the

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