Course Info

The Phoenix rises from the ashes and we return to the roots of RME almost 20 years ago, and the Snake River Mountain Challenge.

Wow, what an amazing opportunity to have a closed mountain for us to race up the sweet singletrack, burms and bridges of the Keystone Bike Park, and use the magical high alpine loop known as Dercum’s hiking trail which is normally closed to biking. This course features an exciting combination of wooded singletrack, dirt road, fast flowy descents, tough climbing and a magical timberline vista.  See course map below.

With a start line at 9,300′, this course will test your altitude conditioning.  And with approximately 3,400 ft/lap, it should be a good set-up for the Breckenridge 100 finals two weeks later.  Course is approximately 18 miles in length.  Course is open for pre-riding, but not marked.  NOTE, DURING OPERATING HOURS, between 10am and 4pm, KEYSTONE BIKE TRAILS do not allow for uphill riding.  You can ride up the Service Road – Jack Straw Road – and descend the trails.  Dercum’s hiking trail is not open for biking during operating hours.  Alternatively you can ride all before 10am or after 4pm.  Take map with you and follow trail names.

COURSE MAP WITH ELEVATION PROFILE HERE

BIKE TRAIL MAP WITH HIGHLIGHTED COURSE AND DETAILED TRAIL NAMES

Courses and Distances

Marathon – 3 laps, 54 miles
Half Marathon – 2  laps, 36 miles
XC, 17-18 year old, 15-16 boys- 1 lap, 18 miles,
Half XC, 15-16 girls, 13-14 boys, 1/2  lap, 10 miles, continue descent after Mosquito Coast
11-12 year old Juniors, 13-14 year old girls, 1/4 lap 6 miles, continue descent after Cadillac Road.

Pit Zone

The Pit Zone will be in front of the wide skier bridge that crosses the Snake at the bottom of River Run.  This should make for a scenic and exciting area for spectating and race support.  Racers can park in the Hunky Dory Lot at the base of the gondola (continue around east of River Run Village on Montezuma Road, make first right into Red Hawk Lodge, park in dirt lot on the right) and be close to stage supplies in the Pit Zone about 200 yards from there.

Feed Zone

There will be one Aid Station on course – stocked with Hammer Gels, fruit, sandwiches, etc coolers of Hammer Heed and water.  In addition, there will be bottles ready to grab, so you can go light and long.  The course will lap through the finish area where you can set up tents and stage supplies in the Pit Zone.