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.

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