reid_delman@geminiadventures.com

Fruita, CO

Friday April 17- Sunday April 19th

All racers from the front range who were unable to make it over the divide due to the weather will receive 10% off next year's race.  Please indicate this discount on your 2010 registration so we can check it with our records. 

Skipix photos

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2009 Results

In order to be environmentally friendly and cut down on the amount of trash we produce, we will not have cups at the aid stations this year.  So, please carry a water bottle on the course.

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 17th

5:00-7:00 pm- Race day registration at La Quinta Inn

7:00- 9:00 pm- Pasta dinner at La Quinta Inn

8:30-9:00 pm- Optional pre-race meeting

Saturday, April 18th

5:00 am- Race day packet pick-up at starting line

6:30 am- 25/50 mile race start

7:30 pm- 25/50 mile cut-off

8:30 pm- Guest Speaker/awards/raffle prizes at La Quinta Inn

Sunday, April 19th

6:00 am- 5/10 mile race day registration at starting line

7:00 am- 5/10 mile start

10:00 am- awards/door prizes at starting line

Pasta Dinner

Friday night's pasta dinner will run from 7:00-9:00 at the La Quinta Inn in Fruita. The cost is $12 with early registration and $15 after April 1st. Family and friends are welcome at the same price.  There will be a limited number of dinners available to purchase on the night of the event so reserve your meal early.

Guest speaker

We are excited to announce that Andy Skurka will be this year's guest speaker.  This is a free event and will be held at the La Quinta Inn in Fruita.

About Skurka

Andrew Skurka is an accomplished 27-year-old professional backpacker who is most well known for his two monumental long-distance hiking firsts -– the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop and the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route. He was named the 2007 “Adventurer of the Year” by National Geographic Adventure (which described him as “a Gen Y version of Henry David Thoreau or John Muir”) and the 2005 “Person of the Year” by Backpacker.

In November 2007 Skurka completed the Great Western Loop, a superb 6,875-mile journey that links together 5 long-distance hiking trails, 12 National Parks, and over 75 wilderness areas, which he blazed in 208 days, an average of 33 miles per day. And in July 2005 he completed the Sea-to-Sea Route, a transcontinental network of long-distance hiking trails from Quebec to Washington, which took him 11 months and which involved 1,400 miles of snowshoeing. Skurka’s shorter hikes include the 1,700-mile California section of the Pacific Crest Trail (in 44 days), the 480-mile Colorado Trail (twice), the 2,170-mile Appalachian Trail (in 95 days), a 385-mile trek through northern Minnesota in January, and many week- and weekend-long trips in Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming.

In addition to expanding the limits of long-distance backpacking, Skurka has defined the light-and-fast style of backcountry travel. The contents of his pack cumulatively weigh a mere 6.5 to 8 pounds, sans food, water, and fuel; and he regularly logs 35-45 miles per day, day after day.

For Skurka, backpacking has become his preferred means of connecting with the natural world that both enlivens and humbles him, and that he is increasingly working to protect by drawing attention to important environmental issues, personally leading a “lightweight lifestyle” that emphasizes simplicity and sustainability, and by giving people (particularly youth) the confidence, skills, and inspiration to develop their own connection with the natural world.

In addition to the distinctions from Adventure and Backpacker, Skurka was featured in Outside’s 2007 “Outside 100” list and in Men’s Journal’s “2005 Adventure Hall of Fame.” He has appeared in numerous newspapers and television broadcasts, including The Wall Street Journal and the Fox News Channel.

A graduate of Duke University, Skurka has eschewed a traditional career and has instead managed to become a sponsored athlete, articulate speaker, and capable writer. He is a member of the prestigious Explorers Club, has given over 140 presentations about his adventures, and is a frequent contributor to Backpacking Light Magazine.

Awards

The awards ceremony for the 25/50 mile race will be at 8:30 pm on Saturday at the La Quinta Inn in Fruita.  There will be a $100 cash prize for the women's and men's overall winners of the 50 mile race.  There will also be $100 cash premiums in the first 2 miles of the 25/50 mile race for men and women.  Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each race in each of the following age groups: under 35, 35-50 and over 50.  Finishers mementos will be given to all 50 mile finishers.  Awards and 50 mile finisher's mementos will be distributed at the awards ceremony Saturday night or immediately following the race upon request.  Awards and mementos will not be mailed after the event.

Start/Finish Area and Parking

The Start/Finish lines will be at the Mack trailhead on the Kokopelli's trail just west of Fruita, Colorado, at exit #11 off I-70. The start time for both the 50-mile and 25-mile races is Saturday at 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 am for the 10 and 5 mile races on Sunday.  Parking will be very limited and car pooling is strongly recommended. We may need to divert some traffic to an alternate parking lot—please plan to arrive at least one hour prior to your start time to allow time for this, if required. Your race number and packet will also be available at the Start/Finish line beginning at 5:00 a.m. on race day (see also accommodations).

Course Info

This is a challenging course. The 25-mile race will be a single loop connecting the desert trails of Kokopelli’s and adjacent trails. The course rolls between elevations of 4,500 and 5,400 feet with over 4,000 feet of climbing per loop. We will have five aid stations located throughout the course, at approximately five-mile intervals (one gap is 7miles). The 50-mile course will repeat the 25-mile course in the opposite direction, and runners will have a total of 10 aid stations. Aid Stations will be stocked with Hammer Gel, potato chips, peanut butter and jelly, chocolate, bananas, cola, ice water and sports drink.  Additional food will be available at the turnaround/finish line (if racers need additional food on the course, they are advised to carry it with them). In addition, a certified Emergency Medical Technician will be in attendance.

Runners registered for the 50-mile race must complete the first 25-mile loop in six and a half hours in order to continue the second half of the race.  If a 50-miler drops out at the 25 mile turnaround they will receive an official 25 mile time.  Runners have until 7:30 p.m. to complete both courses; there will be additional official cut off times given at the start line, designed to help runners to the finish line by the 7:30 p.m. cutoff.

  25/50 mile course   25 mile elevation profile

The 5 mile course is approximately half dirt road and half technical trail.  Both races run out to a beautiful overlook and around scenic canyons.  The short course is exactly 5.6 miles and the long course is 10.4 miles (click on map to enlarge). 

    5 mile               10 mile

We have arranged for discounted accommodations at the La Quinta Inn in Fruita (970-858-8850). To take advantage of these rates, please call  and mention our race.  Packet pick-up will also be available at this hotel Friday night from 5:00-7:00.  Rooms will sell out!