The Grin & Bear It

Elevation Gain / Loss ~ 2,900 ft.

The race starts and finishes at the Crested Butte Nordic Center – 620 2nd. Street, in downtown Crested Butte.

A mass start commences from the Nordic Center, climbing directly up to Journey’s End road, where racers turn LEFT, continuing downhill to the junction with Highway-135. Racers proceed south, paralleling the highway for a 1/4 mile before turning RIGHT off the highway at the Baxter Gulch trailhead. Here, racers are routed onto the single track, starting a series of sharp switchbacks climbing 600 feet through shaded aspens. This climb eventually opens up, transitioning to a climbing traverse. (Don’t forget to look over your left shoulder to view Mt. Crested Butte’s imposing presence over the valley!)

This initial climb tops out at 9,431 ft. before providing competitors a momentary 200 ft. downhill respite. Steady switchback climbing commences for the next mile after crossing a bridge across Baxter Creek.  After making a second crossing of Baxter Creek, elevation gain levels off, climbing more moderately through open meadows and surprise views of Mt. Whetstone. Moderate climbing continues until around mile 5.25, where 450 feet is more steeply gained in less than 1 mile.  This push delivers runners to a high saddle at 10,700 ft. and a sneak peek view into the adjacent Ohio Creek valley drainage.

*There is a run cut-off at the saddle at 10 a.m. and a bike cut-off at the saddle at 1:10 p.m.

Here, the course embarks on a brief .5 mile descent, intersecting the Carbon Trail #436 where racers make a RIGHT turn and begin their final 545 feet of climbing to the course high point at 10,983 ft.  Here, racers are treated to panoramic views of the high peaks spanning the Elk Mountain Range to the east, in addition to the expansive valley bottoms of the upper Gunnison laid out below.  The trail becomes consistently rougher throughout the next 2.5-mile portion of the course.  This section of the trail is either traversing or descending, but it is utterly rock-strewn all the way until it meets the Green Lake Trail intersection.

At this juncture, RUNNERS are routed up a .3-mile spur to the Green Lake checkpoint and an opportunity for a refreshing alpine lake dunk and small aid station. After tapping the towering spruce tree standing on the bank of the lake, racers make an about-face, setting themselves on a 4.5-mile melee descending 2,100 feet back into the Town of Crested Butte. 

BIKERS will find a small aid station at the Green Lake and Carbon Trail intersection. Bikers WILL NOT take the .3 mile sput to Green Lake but rather continue RIGHT and down the Green Lake trail towards town.

Downhill trails are shaded and very enjoyable, as the technical trail is only sparsely punctuated.  At mile 12.5, Green Lake Trail intersects a private subdivision road. Racers make a right-hand turn, running the road for .4 miles, then make a left-hand turn to reconnect with the Green Lake Trail single track.  From this juncture, 2 miles and 623 feet of elevation loss remain, returning racers to the finish line back at the Crested Butte Nordic Center.

Elevation Gain/Loss ~ 1,600 ft.

This course starts and finishes in front of the Crested Butte Nordic Center (620 2nd. Street).  Departing the open gravel area on a northerly trajectory, the route rapidly transforms into singletrack routing racers onto an elevated traverse in the opposite direction above the Nordic Center.  In less than 1/2 a mile, the singletrack intersects the dirt graded – Journey’s End subdivision road.  Runners turn RIGHT, again proceeding northerly, following municipal signage pointing to Green Lake.  A 1/4 mile up the road, another sign will direct you to turn LEFT at the Green Lake trailhead,  where singletrack recommences. 

*A self-serve water aid station will be availble here.

Runners switchback their way up through dark timber and a pleasant rolling terrain until being dumped out onto primitive double track where an abrupt climb commences. At the top of this climb, runners intersect a second portion of dirt graded subdivision road.

Here, a sign directs you to turn RIGHT.  In 1/5 mile, look for another sign directing you to resume the second half of the Green Lake trail. Turning LEFT, runners wind their way up through more dark timber and intermittent meadows. The trail gets a bit more rugged on the upper portion of the singletrack. Stay STRAIGHT at the intersection with Trail 436.  Continue past an initial pond for .3 mile to arrive at the majestic emerald shore of Green Lake.  After tapping the towering spruce tree standing on the bank of the lake, racers make an about-face, setting themselves on a 4.5-mile melee descending 2,100 feet back to the Nordic Center.

Finish Approach – Runners DO NOT retrace the elevated traverse on the ‘Canal Trail’ to complete the course.  As you turn off the dirt graded Journey’s End Rd., continue straight down the rocky double track paralleling the Ice Rink building, routing directly to the finish line.

Please note that course aid is limited. Volunteers hike into aid station locations and filter water. Runners and bikers are required to carry a minimum of 16 oz. of water.

Run: Hydration (water & electrolytes) will be distributed at Green Lake – Mile 11 (loop) / Mile 4.5 (out-and-back)

A self-serve water station will available at the Wildcat Rd. / Green Lake Trail intersection at mile 2.5 of the 15km run.

Bike: Hydration (water) will be distributed at Mile 10.5 at the Carbon Trail and Green Lake Trail intersection.

Run Nutrition: Energy Gels will be provided at aid stations for those that need them.

The first male and female 25k racers to Green Lake (run) and the Carbon/Green Lake Aid Station (bike) have the option to retrieve and carry the Awkward Load back to the finish line for a $100 premium. If the first racer declines, the option moves to the next racer to arrive. Recent Awkward Loads have included, a pepper plant, inner tubes and nordic skis. You'll have to make it to Green Lake to see what's waiting in the lake this year!

Note: This event does not include podium awards. Instead, we offer prizes to randomly selected finishers. Check the timing boards on race day to see if you’re a winner.

This is the route for the 25k run and bike. Note, the 15k starts at Nordic and travels on the reverse route of this GPX to the lake and back.