Grand Traverse 2020

Race - Sep 6, 2020

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Grand Traverse 2020 modified race course climbs 8,600 feet, taking Trail 409 to Cement Creek, and then transitioning to the traditional course over Star Pass and down Trail 400 to Upper Upper Loop and into Mt Crested Butte.
MTB AID #1 - Top Walrod Gulch, Mile 14
MTB AID #2 – Cement Creek Rd. @ Crystal Peak Trail, Mile 24.5
MTB AID #3 – Brush Creek Rd. @ FS Trail 435.1 Mile 39.5
MTB AID #3 CUT OFF - 8 Hours

Departing northerly down 9th Street, competitors make a right turn onto the McCormick Ranch subdivision road. In 0.75 miles, racers join singletrack at Tony's Trail, where the course starts a gradual ascent leading them to a RIGHT Turn at the intersection with Upper Trail (FS 435.1). This section climbing the shoulder of Mt. Crested Butte poses a semi-technical 200 foot climb, followed by a 400 foot descent to the trail's junction with County Road 738 (LEFT - Turn). *** Caution - Vehicular Traffic on Road ***

The race remains on this dirt surfaced county road for 1.5 miles until meeting with the Farris Creek Road (FS 736) juncture. Racers turn RIGHT, immediately embarking on 1,184 feet of sustained climbing. At mile 6.9, riders continue RIGHT on the Farris Creek Road, and 0.5 mile further they'll again turn RIGHT, exiting the jeep road onto Trail 409 singletrack. Once into the trees, the climb out of Farris Creek presents riders with a technical stinger (1,200 ft over 3.4 miles), with some intermittent rock garden segments. The climbing tops out at 10,144' where riders gain a reprieve on a rapid rollicking descent of 863 ft. into Walrod Gulch via the Walrod Cutoff Trail (FS 638).

Intersecting a doubletrack road, riders turn LEFT, to ascend 490 ft. in just under a mile to arrive at AID #1 (Mile 14). Departing the aid station, riders immediately meet "The Wall". While rideable lines exist, the 23% grade on loose traction will force most into a momentary hike-a-bike mode. Further ascending Trail 412, riders make a RIGHT turn at Mile 15 onto Trail 405.3a. At Mile 15.5 racers must make a CRITICAL RIGHT turn onto the faintly expressed Waterfall Cutoff Trail (FS 638). Climbing continues, topping at 10,618', before transitioning to a descending traverse to the Cement Creek valley bottom.

At Mile 18.9 riders make a RIGHT turn onto Waterfall Creek Trail (FS 555), and shortly thereafter make a hard LEFT to join Upper Cement Creek Trail (FS 612), pointing progress up the Cement Creek valley. This narrow singletrack makes for very enjoyable cruising to the Hunter Creek intersection Mile 21.6. Riders cross the creek and turn RIGHT, climbing to meet with Cement Creek Road (FS 740). Turn LEFT onto the road and continue climbing for 2.8 miles on the doubletrack to AID #2 (Mile 24.4), stationed at the junction with Crystal Peak Trail (FS 583).

Departing this aid, riders embark on 1000 feet of climbing to the Crystal Pass saddle. From this exhilarating high saddle, 430 feet of climbing remain in just under a mile to deliver riders to the summit of Star Pass (Elev. 12,336') at Mile 27. Here begins the big payoff as you receive 3,700' of sustained descent over 9.7 miles back to the Brush Creek valley bottom. At mile 33 riders vere LEFT off the doubletrack road (FS 738.2B) onto the "Death Pass" singletrack traverse. Appearing on the other side of the 0.5 mile traverse, riders regain the doubletrack road,
(DO NOT turn Left onto the Farris Creek (FS 409) singletrack used by runners the previous day), continue to a cattle guard and proceed further to the West Brush Creek crossing.

Immediately after crossing the creek, the road climbs gently on a cross-slope trajectory. The top of this climb opens into a large meadow area with numerous dispersed campsites. *** Caution Vehicular Traffic on Road *** (Traffic hazards exist until AID #3).

The route continues on its descent to the valley floor where doubletrack transitions to grated dirt -
Country Road 738. The course continues on road surface, until crossing the East River bridge, where the road ascends for 0.25 mile to AID #3 (Mile 39.5). Departing AID #3, the route returns to singletrack (FS Trail 435.1 - "Upper Upper Trail"), presenting racers a 470' stinger over 0.5 miles. After twisting descents through the "bridges" section of the Upper Upper trail, riders will continue onto the final climb, ascending through a technical rock section. This last 700' climbing over 1.4 miles tops out...