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Sun March 30 - Sun August 31, 2025 Crested Butte, CO 81224 US

Events

Ski

$316 incl. $16 Fee 03/30 12:00AM MDT - 6:00PM MDT
498 spots left. Registration Opens December 1, 2024 at 12:00am MST
Open to ages 16+.

Run

$213 incl. $13 Fee 08/30 6:00AM MDT - 6:00PM MDT
300 spots left. Registration Opens December 1, 2024 at 12:00am MST
Open to ages 16+.

Bike

$213 incl. $13 Fee 08/31 7:00AM MDT - 4:00PM MDT
110 spots left. Registration Opens December 1, 2024 at 12:00am MST
Open to ages 16+.

Triple Crown

$662.50 incl. $32.50 Fee 03/30 - 08/31 12:00AM MDT - 4:00PM MDT
75 spots left. Registration Opens November 17, 2024 at 12:00am MST
Open to ages 17+.

Dual Sport

$368.50 incl. $18.50 Fee 08/30 - 08/31 6:00AM MDT - 4:00PM MDT
75 spots left. Registration Opens December 1, 2024 at 1:18pm MST
Open to ages 17+.

Race Website

Additional race information can be found at https://www.cbnordic.org/thegrandtraverse.

Description

The Elk Mountains Grand Traverse was conceived by Jan Runge in the 1990s. The race’s genesis was partially based on the historical mail routes that connected the Colorado mining towns of Crested Butte and Aspen in the 1880s.  It also drew inspiration from the Patrouille des Glaciers, a point-to-point ski race in Switzerland which Runge had become familiar with in the 80s.  In 1998, with the help of the community, Runge sent a brave field of competitors from Crested Butte, over the Elk Mountains, to Aspen. It worked, and the Extraordinary Backcountry Ski Race was born. In 2012, event ownership was transferred to Crested Butte Nordic. The race is now a major fundraiser for the organization. In 2014 the Grand Traverse summer events were launched. Now the Grand Traverse features a winter ski race, a summer mountain run, and a mountain bike race.

Race Contact Info

If you have any questions about this race, click the button below.

Place

620 2nd Street
Crested Butte, CO US 81224

Frequently Asked Questions

Click the icon below to download the attached PDF.

PDF

Elite Racer Info

The Grand Traverse will allocate up to 5 competitive entries per gender in the Trail Run and Mountain Bike events to create a competitive field in each event. Athletes must submit the Summer Grand Traverse Elite Entry Application by Friday, August 15th at 5 p.m. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis (submit your application early). Entries are at the sole discretion of the Race Director, and athletes will be notified of all decisions by Tuesday, August 19th at 5 p.m. Please note that elite athletes are still expected to pay for their entry fees. 

Click here for the Elite Racer Application for the Run and Bike. 

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