Goretex Trans Rockies Run
High Trails to Leadville
19.09.2007
24.5 miles/3000ft climbing
After two days of wild and, at times, violent Rocky Mountain weather, the remaining competitors in the 2007 GORE-TEX (TM) TransRockies Run were treated to clear skies around the campfire before bed on Monday night with the promise of blue skies for the next day. At 9,200 feet above sea level though, clear skies mean cold nights, and the entire race village was covered in a layer of frost when racers and staff began emerging from tents and RVs for the usual 6am breakfast call.
As soon as the sun crept over the ridgeline to the East of the start line in historic Camp Hale, the air began to warm quickly and racers moved toward the start line with the feeling that this might be the first day that GORE-TEX shoes and outerwear were not mandatory equipment. The 24.5 mile route would take the racers along the gorgeous singletrack of the Colorado Trail climbing up and over the Tennessee Pass to the base of Cooper Hill Ski area. From there, a rolling descent would take them into Leadville, Colorado which, at 10,152 feet is the highest city in the USA.
Eric and Kyle Skaggs of Team Montrail won their third stage in a row in 3:27:29, though Erin Hutchinson and Dustin Phillips of Team GORE-TEX Vortex pushed them closer today finishing in 3:37:23. The race for third overall continues to be a see-saw affair as Gaffuri Martin and Glen Redpath (Wings of Glory) snatched the final podium spot back from Team-XC.com.
In the Open Mixed category, Team Running Times continued to dominate with their third straight stage win and now have a 46 minute lead overall. The closest racing is in the Masters 80+ category where the top two teams are separated by less than 15 minutes. The locals continue to lead the Open Women’s category as Team Beaver Creek came through the finish in 4:37:32 to pad their overall lead.
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