Archive for the ‘News Stories’ Category

On line article in Aspen Times.. Ski mountaineering field picks up speed More teams elevate blossoming sport Dale Strode The Aspen Times Aspen, CO, Colorado ASPEN — The conditions forecast slower times. But the ski mountaineers had other ideas. The participants in Saturday’s 16th annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse mountaineering race from Crested Butte to Aspen had to deal with a major section of breakable crust — post-holing on skis. In spite of the slow, rotten snow, the overall finish times were comparable to last year. “It shows how developed these athletes are,” said defending champion Bryan Wickenhauser, of Crested (read more…)

Grand Traverse mentioned in the Dallas Morning News… http://www.dallasnews.com/travel/ski-snow/20130322-deals-and-events-for-the-last-few-weeks-of-ski-season.ece

We received LOTS of press coverage this year for the 2013 Gore-Tex Elk Mountain Grand Traverse. Use the links below to read six different articles with post-race coverage. Tales of the Traverse: From Crested Butte to Aspen Aspen Daily News – ‎Mar 31, 2013‎ The 16th annual Elk Mountain Grand Traverse on Saturday attracted over 160 teams for the nearly 40-mile endurance race between Crested Butte and Aspen, and a majority of the racers were rookies. The backcountry traverse began at midnight at the base… Over the years: Grand Traverse race highlights Aspen Daily News – ‎Mar 31, 2013‎ … (read more…)

Gunnison duo wins Grand Traverse Michael Appelgate The Aspen Times Aspen, CO, Colorado ENLARGE Competitors push off from the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort on Friday night at the start of the 15th annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. Ansley Alyse Chappell ENLARGE Gunnison’s Bryan Wickenhauser, left, and Brian Smith are all smiles Saturday after winning the Traverse. Pavel Osiak / Special to The Aspen Times ASPEN — Before the break of dawn, organizers bustled at the Gondola Plaza as they prepared the finish area for the 15th Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. As the first tent went up, two illuminated headlamps (read more…)

Gunnison duo wins Grand Traverse Team finishes in 7 hours, 32 minutes, 23 seconds — almost 2 hours faster than 2011 winners By Michael Appelgate The Aspen Times ENLARGE Competitors push off from the base of Crested Butte Mountain Resort on Friday night at the start of the 15th annual Elk Mountains Grand Traverse. Special to the Daily / Ansley Alyse Chappell ENLARGE Gunnison’s Bryan Wickenhauser, left, and Brian Smith are all smiles Saturday after winning the event. Wickenhauser and Smith coasted down the mountain at 6:32 a.m. for their second win in four years. Special to the Daily / (read more…)

Janelle Smiley recounts the race experience and what it meant for her and her husband Mark. Elk Mountain Grand Traverse The Elk Mountains Grand Traverse has become an annual landmark for my husband Mark and I. Out of the eight times I have competed in this race from Crested Butte to Aspen, six have been with him. At 11 p.m. on March 30th we toed the starting line yet again, and I thought of all those races, all those years. We’ve skied the race on Nordic skate skis, classic skis with fish scales, classic skis without scales, and for the (read more…)

Team Miller completed the race and place second overall in the co-ed division – congrats to Ezster Horanyi and Chris Miller!!!!! Watch their final preparations, views along the course and post reflections. GORE-TEX® Team Miller Racing the Grand Traverse from chris miller on Vimeo.