GUNNISON-CRESTED BUTTE, COLORADO (August 24, 2006) – One
of the most interesting and challenging backcountry ski races
on the planet celebrates a decade of memorable moments and
amazing athletic feats in 2007. The
10th annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse is a backcountry
ski race that follows mail routes that connected the Colorado
mining towns of Crested Butte and Aspen in the 1880s. Kicking off at the stroke of midnight on March 30, 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.
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 31, racers arrive
in Aspen bleary-eyed and exultant in their accomplishment.
“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. When Grand Traverse began 10 years ago, it was fashioned
after similar events in Europe that connect various villages,” says Jan
Runge, race organizer.
In 2006, all three race categories were won by local athletes, and finish line
watchers were treated to the closest finish in the history of Elk Mountains Grand
Travers. Jon Brown and Brian Smith of Gunnison won the men’s division
and overall with a time of 7:52:30, only 5 seconds faster than the second place
finishers Dave Penney and Eric Sullivan of Crested Butte.
Allen Hadley and Jari Kirkland of Crested Butte captured the co-ed division crown
in 8:48:50. The dynamic mother-daughter duo of Carol Quinn and 2006 Olympian
Rebecca Dussault of Gunnison finished at 10:30:55 to lead the women’s division. Dussault
competed in several Nordic events in the 2006 Olympics, and Brown, Sullivan and
Kirkland are part of Crested Butte’s adventure racing team that competes
all over the world.
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