3/11/26- The GT is still very much on. While this has been a shallow snowpack year, and the temps are unseasonably high, the elevations above 9,000 continue to hold snow as we transition from a winter to spring snowpack. The Elks are also fortunate this year that we’ve received more snowfall than other locations in the state.

We do want to be transparent about contingencies with all racers. Right now, we are waiting until 3/19 to make a call about either of our two choices for a route to Aspen. The normal route, up CBMR, down to the East, and along the river left side of the East River valley is unlikely to retain the snowbridge across the East River. A backup route is being reviewed by the county, and we have high confidence in it’s approval. That route would start in the Town of Crested Butte behind the Community School, and would follow the CB Nordic trail system to Brush Creek Rd. Racers would then have ~3 miles of road/dirt to navigate before hitting snow again at the end of winter maintenance on Brush Creek Rd. It would then follow Brush Creek Rd. on snow until it rejoins the normal route at Ambush Ranch Checkpoint. This route would be about .5 miles and 800’ less than the normal route when it rejoins.

If we decide to start in Town of CB, a reverse would mirror the “out” portion of the route to Upper Brush Creek Checkpoint.

Some additional information to help with your planning:

• Reports from Aspen indicate decent coverage on Richmond Ridge and Aspen Ski Area.

• The long-term forecast indicates a return to normal temperatures for GT week with freezing temps at night. We don’t have the forecast all the way out to the 29th though yet.

• We won’t know the extent of melting on our trail system next week until we go through it.

So much about what we learn in regards to conditions is based on what field teams learn on site. To serve you, our racers, we’re committed to sending our field teams out the week of the race to give you every opportunity to participate. Their findings are ultimately what guide decisions about routes and cutoffs. As information and reports from field teams arrives to us we will use this page to share it with you.

Happy racing!