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| Event | Distance | When | Entry fee | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Mar 28, 2027 | ||||
| Ski | Ultra | Mar 28, 2027 | $315 | 520 |
| Triple Crown | Ultra | Mar 28, 2027 | $650 | 60 |
| Saturday, Sep 4, 2027 | ||||
| Dual Sport | Ultra | Sep 4, 20276:00 AM | $375 | 60 |
| Run | Ultra | Sep 4, 20276:00 AM | $225$230 after Mar 1, 2027 | 360 |
| Sunday, Sep 5, 2027 | ||||
| Bike | Ultra | Sep 5, 20277:00 AM | $205$210 after Mar 1, 2027 | 170 |
Entry fees exclude processing fees. Prices and dates come from the race's registration page and refresh nightly.
Online registration closes Aug 2, 2027, unless the race fills first.
Sunrise on race morning is at about 7:00 AM, and the Dual Sport starts at 6:00 AM. The start sits about 9,080 feet above sea level, high enough that most runners from lower ground run noticeably slower.
Fees exclude processing fees. Comparisons use current entry fees and published results from races nearby.
620 2nd Street, Crested Butte, CO 81224
The pin marks the address the race lists, which is usually the start. The organizers have not shared a course map with us yet.
Aggregated from official results (Rocky Mountain Timing) for The Grand Traverse. Individual finisher names are not stored here.
At the 2026 Run, the fastest tenth finished in 8:19:04 or better, the top quarter in 9:13:58, and half the field in 10:14:49; the last tenth came in after 11:42:40.
At the 2026 Bike, the fastest tenth finished in 5:09:13 or better, the top quarter in 6:06:01, and half the field in 6:58:27; the last tenth came in after 8:08:15.
At the 2026 Triple Crown, the fastest tenth finished in 23:41:21 or better, the top quarter in 25:34:01, and half the field in 30:50:18; the last tenth came in after 33:41:33.
| Age | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 8:24:47 | 7:31:48 |
| 30-39 | 7:46:33 | 7:05:10 |
| 40-49 | 8:57:14 | 8:06:08 |
| 50-59 | n/a | 9:41:25 |
Groups with fewer than five finishers are left out. Awards vary by race; check the race's rules.
Where a finish time would have placed in 2026.
Up 18 percent since 2025.
All events combined, from official results.
From 2025 to 2026, the field went from 237 to 239 finishers, and the median time rose from 10:03:56 to 10:14:49.
| Year | Finishers | Median | Fastest tenth | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 239 (+1%) | 10:14:49 | under 8:19:04 | 6:38:09 |
| 2025 | 237 | 10:03:56 | under 7:51:38 | 5:36:27 |
From each year's official results for the Ultra; virtual options are left out.
Around March 28 the day usually runs from 14°F at dawn to 35°F in the afternoon, with measurable rain on about 35% of days. Cold snaps dip to 1°F and hot years reach 48°F.
Based on 75 days within a week of the date over the last 5 years, from historical weather for the start area. Not a forecast.
What the organizers of The Grand Traverse cover on their registration page, in brief.
Course
We will be using MAProgress tracking services for all 2027 Grand Traverse events. A tracker is mandatory gear. If you own your own tracking device, you will need to link it through MAProgress at no cost. However, you will be responsible…
Rules and FAQ
FAQs can be found in the attachment, but we strongly encourage all racers to read the Racer Manual before registering. The manual includes important information about the required gear, terrain, and overall event expectations, helping you…
Organize this race? Add details or a correction
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.