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The Grand Traverse is a ski mountaineering race, from Crested Butte to Aspen. Beginning at midnight, racers ascend 7800 vertical feet and trek 37 miles... crossing the finish line at the base of Ajax. Ahead of the March 25th event, Aspen Public Radio’s Alycin Bektesh caught up with teams that are hoofing it for a bigger cause. To check out the full story on these teams, click here.

20th Traverse slides into Aspen

courtesy photo

The Grand Traverse backcountry ski race from Crested Butte to Aspen begins Friday at midnight. Two-person teams will make the overnight, 40-mile trek over the Elk Mountains, with the fastest teams sliding to the base of Aspen Mountain around 7 a.m.

Drew Holbrook, director of communications for the event, said the incoming weather might slow things down but is an improvement over the conditions of the last few weeks.

“It’s been really frozen and hard packed, but with this new little bit of snow it should make for some really good skiing out there,” he said. “So I think it will be a really fun course for the racers this year.”

Last year’s race became a “Grand Reverse,” which means an out and back from Crested Butte due to dangerous conditions on the three mountain passes that make up the route. The final call deciding if the race will go through happens at 1 p.m. Friday. Last year’s overall winners, Aspenites Max Taam and John Gaston, are teaming up again this year.

 

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