GoreTex Trans Rockies: D-Day Approaches!

Beaver Creek, Colorado- The GORE-TEX® TransRockies Run has become a leader in the growing field of multi-day stage races, a spiking popularity that has stacked its field with top endurance athletes from around the world.

The GORE-TEX ® TransRockies Run is a six-day race from Buena Vista, Colorado to Beaver Creek.  One hundred and fifty teams of two will run 115 miles of grueling terrain over six stages from August 22nd, to August 27th, with the route featuring trails that will take runners 21,711 ft of climbing.

The first day of the race begins in Buena Vista and stretches to 20 miles that will climb 2,700 ft. into the mountains east of Buena Vista on a mix of trails and jeep tracks.  Aaron McConnell, the TransRockies Run Director, said, “Stage One is a great warm up with spectacular views and the weather is usually mild and pleasant for this first day.  “

At the start of the second stage, runners will find themselves in Vicksburg, an old silver mining town that is regarded as one of Colorado’s legendary ghost towns. Stage Two is shorter, a 13.5 mile stage from Vicksburg to Twin Lakes.  This stage starts with an uphill grind of 7 miles which is a steep single-track slog up and over Hope Pass, lying at 12, 546 ft.  The day’s finish line, at the dam at the east end of Twin Lake, gives the runners a scenic run along Twin Lakes, and past the historic village of Interlaken.

Once in Leadville, runners will be challenging their altitude acclimation. Leadville is Colorado’s highest incorporated city at 10,430’.  Stage Three, starting in Leadville at 10,000 feet and rolling over 24 miles, is one of the longest routes but finishes at the historic military site, Camp Hale, the founding place of the 10th Mountain Division.  Runners will leave this historic site and head towards Red Cliff, covering 14 miles and climbing 3,009 feet.  Stage Four crosses over the top of Hornsilver Mountain at 11,400 feet before winding down to the day’s finish in the small valley town of Red Cliff, Colorado. 

Stage Five features 21 miles of spectacular scenery, grinding up Shrine Pass Road from Red Cliff, traversing across the ridge to Eagles Nest, and descending the mountain using the network of single-track trails at Vail Mountain to finish at the ski village base.  Stage Six, the final stage, takes runners up the Red and White Mountain north of Vail and across 21miles of ridgeline with 4,800 ft of elevation gain to the finish line in Beaver Creek.

For more information on the GORE-TEX ® TransRockies run or details on the individual stages visit www.transrockies.com.