The 16th Annual GORE-TEX® Grand Traverse was held on Friday March 29, 2013. The start was at Midnight at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte.
The 17th Annual GORE-TEX® Grand Traverse will be held on Friday March 28, 2014. Registration will open on Sunday December 1, 2013 at 7:00 AM (mountain time). Check back here on that date for a link to register.
The Grand Traverse is owned and managed by the Crested Butte Nordic Council, a non-profit organization. This extraordinary 40-mile backcountry ski race between the towns of Crested Butte and Aspen, CO is a fundraiser for the CB Nordic Council.
Depending on weather, the start is usually at midnight from Crested Butte, often in sub-zero temperatures; the racers traverse Colorado’s spectacular Elk Mountains. This year the start will be at Midnight at the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Mt. Crested Butte.
The course is based on the mail routes of the 1880's, connecting the two towns. In this extreme endurance event, racers will climb more than 7,800 vertical feet and navigate in a self-supported backcountry race that tests them physically and mentally. To maintain safety in the backcountry, racers compete in teams of two and are required to carry mandatory gear. Held annually since 1998, it’s earned a reputation as a true test of toughness for elite local, national and international athletes.
