Racers must attend Racer Check-In, Gear Check and the Mandatory RacersMeeting as a team. These mandatory activities will take place in the Grand Ballroom at Mountaineer Square at Mt. Crested Butte. To get there, take the free bus from the town of Crested Butte or plan to pay to park in the Crested Butte Mountain Resort ski area parking. Do not park in the Lodge at Mountaineer Square parking area or your car may get towed.
Racer Check-In
Teams must Check-In before they can go to the Gear Check. Both team members must be present at Check-In and Gear Check. Racer Check-In will take place on Thursday March 28 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Friday March 29 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. It is first come, first served.
At Check-In, all racers must present a photo ID and proof of a CORSAR card. Anyone with a 2013 hunting/fishing license, or boat, snowmobile, ATV registration is covered. Racers must bring these items. CORSAR cards may be purchased at the Colorado Department of Local Affairs website. It is recommended to purchase a CORSAR card ahead of time to minimize time at Check-In. Racers will then receive a race bib, a number for gear check and a bag of gifts donated by sponsors.
Gear Check
Teams will report for Gear Check in the order in which they are checked in. Time required for Gear Check may vary based on wait times, but the more prepared a team is, the quicker the process goes. Both team members must be present at Gear Check.
Each team will receive specific instructions and a diagram on how to set up equipment for Gear Check. All team gear must be unpacked and visible to the judges. Water containers do not need to be full, but teams must show them at gear check. Teams must also present their food, skis, poles and boots. Teams may be asked to demonstrate that they can set up their mandatory shelter.
If a team is not fully prepared when the judges arrive, the judges will move to the next team in line and come back to the skipped team later.
Judges decisions are final! If the judges consider a team’s gear to be inadequate, they will not be allowed to race. The Mandatory Equipment List is as specific as possible, but judges must inevitably make subjective decisions. Please respect the judges and understand that racer and volunteer safety is paramount. Also, keep in mind mandatory gear isn’t necessarily all a team should carry during the race. Be smart and backcountry-wise!
If a team is unsure about any mandatory items, they may submit questions via email to info@elkmountainstraverse.com.
Teams with missing equipment will be required to complete a second gear check at 9:30PM Friday night at Mountaineer Square in Mt. Crested Butte. Under no circumstances will any racers be allowed on the course without all of the items on the mandatory equipment list.
A Random Gear Check will take place immediately before the Race Start, at Mountaineer Square, where the race begins. There will also be a Random Gear Check at the finish in Aspen.
The top 5 teams in each group (Men, Women, Coed) will have their gear checked at the finish.
Each team is required to carry one SPOT GPS tracking device. Only one team member needs to carry the device and it must be on the outside of their pack. Teams that do not have a SPOT may rent them for $40 per team when they register on-line. Teams that have one already must bring it to Gear Check. It is part of the mandatory gear and will be checked at gear check. Teams renting one will received them during the beacon check at Mountaineer Square Friday night.
