EVENT OVERVIEW
An extraordinary Colorado backcountry route!
The Grand Traverse is a point-to-point ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen. Racers travel 40 miles across the Elk Mountain range, climbing over 6,800 vertical feet. To ensure competitor safety, racers must have a partner, carry mandatory gear, and begin the race at midnight when avalanche hazard is decreased.
INFO
ENTRY FEE – $420/TEAM
2021 REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Should this year’s race be permitted to occur, there will be limited open entries into the 2021 event. The majority of race capacity is pre-booked by 2020 racers who choose to defer their canceled race entry to 2021.
We expect it may be well into January, or February until the race receives provisional approval to occur. Therefore, waitlisted teams should expect that they will not receive a confirmed entry until mid to late winter.
*Due to the circumstance of limited 2021 registration capacity, no priority registration will be extended to 2021 Charity Teams, or 2021 Triple Crown athletes.
FRIDAY – MARCH 26, 2021
ATHLETE CLEARANCE (early) – Crested Butte Nordic Center
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
SATURDAY – MARCH 27, 2021
ATHLETE CLEARANCE (drive through) – Crested Butte Community School – Front Parking Lot
9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
MANDATORY Virtual RACER MEETING – Zoom Link
2:00 p.m.
MANDATORY PRE-Functions – BEACON CHECK & SPOT DISTRIBUTION
MOUNTAINEER SQUARE courtyard
11:15 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
Race Start Windows – Crested Butte Mountain Resort Base
11:50 p.m. to 12:20 a.m
SUNDAY – MARCH 28, 2021
ASPEN RACE FINISH – ASPEN MOUNTAIN 1A Base
6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Virtual AWARDS Presentation – Facebook Live
7:00 PM
Information is subject to change. For the safety of racers and volunteers, weather and snow conditions may require a change in the race start time or location, the official course, or race rules – or may lead to cancellation.
The equipment racers carry into the backcountry is crucial. Due to the distance traveled with the potential for rapidly changing weather, each team must be independently prepared for a 24-hour bivouac if conditions dictate.
The listed gear are the essentials required to race, however teams should exercise their own backcountry sense as to what supplementary gear they may wish to carry.
2021 GEAR LIST
We highly encourage every new racer to view the 5 part video series linked below, containing pro tips on how to nail your GT race systems.
VIDEO GEAR GUIDE
WE OFFER GROUP CLINICS AND PERSONAL COACHING TO HELP YOU GET TO ASPEN.
LEARN MORE
* Denotes “Reverse” Course
COURSE DETAILS
THE GRAND TRAVERSE TRIPLE CROWN – THE ULTIMATE COMPETITION FOR THE ULTIMATE MOUNTAIN ATHLETE
