April 3rd Update

Submitted by admin on Sun, 04/03/2011 - 12:52

It just keeps snowing. Before today's storm Breckenridge Ski Resort had a 108" base. Weather this week looks good early in the week and a chance of snow Thursday through race morning. A few inches of fresh will make for nice race-day skiing. Notes:

Start time 6 am and parking: make sure you have a plan to get dropped off or know exactly where you're parking for the start. Allow at least 5 minutes to walk to the start if you're getting dropped off, 15 minutes if you're parking at the Hockey Rink (nearest free parking). Pay parking is a 10 minute walk. Scout it out on Friday as the race will start at six am regardless of late arriving racers.

Course Notes: This year's course has new climbs and routes - we estimate the winning team's time of between 4 hrs and 4:30. The variable will be the amount of skinning vs. walking. The second climb of Peak 9 from the Wheeler Trail crossing may be wind-scoured grass or snow covered and a portion of the final Peak 7 climb may be a walk on rock due to wind. Total vertical for the race is 8,650 feet.

Equipment Notes: Boot crampons will NOT be required as we expect The Buttress and Peak 7 climbs will have soft snow to rock to grass (not icy spring crust). Have your Buff or balaclava and windshell easily accessable: racers will likely be required to put these on above the Buttress before the Wheeler Trail Saddle and second climb of Peak 9 if winds are high.