The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Athletes from around the world are coming to town
The inaugural Beyond The Ultimate’s Mountain Ultra will begin on Sunday, August 4 in Crested Butte. The Mountain Ultra will see runners tackle 236 kilometers (about 146 miles) of ascents and descents over the wild rugged terrain of the mountain ranges, at times reaching an altitude of 13,000 feet linking Crested Butte, Marble, Aspen and eventually Snowmass.
Developed by Beyond The Ultimate’s managing director Wes Crutcher and race director Andrew Bock; the Mountain Ultra (part of the Ultimate Ultra Race Series) is an ultra-marathon that provides extreme challenges to experienced marathon and ultra-marathon runners as they tackle the course’s inclines, altitude and stretching distance.
As the first-ever Mountain Ultra, Beyond The Ultimate continues the launch of the Ultimate Ultra Race Series, which sees ultra-distance runners tackle distances of over 200 kilometers (about 125 miles) in the world’s most inhospitable environments and challenging terrains.
Following the success of May’s Jungle Ultra 2013, both national and international competitors will be competing in the Mountain Ultra, which will begin in Mt. Crested Butte and finish four days later in Snowmass, with competitors passing Marble and Aspen.
Along with estimated maximum temperatures of 28º C (82º F), runners will have to complete the race while coping with the effects of altitude as well as the physical and mental pain caused from both the distance and mountain faces of the route. This tough race will take place over five stages, with stage distances ranging from nine to 50 miles, and altitude ranging from 9,000 feet to over 13,000 feet.
The opening stage begins in Mt. Crested Butte and heads down through Crested Butte before turning into the hills and heading up the Green Lake Trail, following Para Mi, Para Ti behind Axtell, over Ohio Pass and then following the wagon trail back to Crested Butte.
Day two on Monday, August 5 takes runners from Crested Butte for a tour of Paradise Divide via the Slate D’Huez and then over Schofield Pass into Marble.
The following morning, runners will line up in Crystal and run back over Schofield Pass, down 401, to Gothic before turning onto the Deer Creek Trail, connecting to the Canal Trail and climbing up over the ridge between Brush Creek and Cement Creek to come down the Caves Trail, finishing in Crested Butte South.
Day four, things seriously ramp up as the course takes ultra-runners from Crested Butte South on a 49-mile tour to Aspen via Star and Taylor Pass as well as Richmond Ridge before dropping down Castle Creek to Aspen. The race finishes Thursday, August 8 with a short jaunt from Aspen to Snowmass.
On this tiring and demanding course, competitors face 23,000 feet of inclines during the race and the challenge is increased further by the self-sufficient nature of the race, whereby competitors are required to carry all kit and supplies, weighing up to 13 kilograms (28 pounds), for the duration of the race.
Despite the extreme challenges, the Mountain Ultra will provide incredible views as competitors continually reach new peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The rewards are further increased by the natural setting of the Mountain Ultra, which will allow competitors to come face to face with the wildlife of the Rocky Mountains, home to deer, moose, elk and black bears.
The Mountain Ultra stage and race results will be available via Beyond The Ultimate’s website as well as their Facebook and Twitter pages. The Mountain Ultra forms part of a four part ultra-marathon race series that includes the Jungle Ultra, Desert Ultra and Ice Ultra.
