Purgatory Resort will host the Mountain Marmot Trail Race from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24. Registration for the race is capped at 300 and was already 60 percent full July 1, so trail runners should sign up as soon as possible.
The course distance is approximately 12 miles, but because of the elevation gain it is more like a half-marathon. Luckily, the second half of the race is entirely downhill. Mountain Marmot will be easier than similar races like Imogene, Kendall Mountain, or Kennebec Challenge, but will still be challenging.
A post-race party will also be held at Durango Mountain Club, where a swimming pool and hot tub await. There will be food, beer, live music and other festivities, all included with the $50 race entry fee. The entry fee also includes a shirt, finisher’s prize, craft beer or soda, and free race photos.
Register online at https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Durango/MountainMarmot. Runners can also contact Matthew Krichman, the race director and Events Manager at Purgatory Resort, at mkrichman@purgatoryresort.com.
Seniors Outdoors has announced to following activities:
There will be a bike ride for intermediate road cyclists at 8:30 a.m. Monday. This is a nobody-gets-left-behind, social ride from Home Depot to Bread. We’ll leave promptly at designated start time. Helmets are required. Contact ride leader Helen Root at 505-320-3441 or Co-leader Hugh Brown at 403-3089.There will be a climb up Handies Peak via Grouse Gulch beginning at 6 a.m. Monday. This 14er climb is easily done from American Basin, but serious hikers prefer Grouse Gulch. Almost the entire route is above tree line, no exposure, no scrambling. The route is long with a lot of vertical, but the gradient is friendly. Four-wheel drive is necessary. The cost to carpool is $11. No dogs are allowed, and the hike is capped at 10 seniors. Contact Charlie Beglund at 247-9747 or chaseberglund@msn.com.There will be a downhill walk from Windy Gap to Twin Lakes at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. This is an easy off-trail downhill walk from Windy Gap down to Twin Lakes thru subalpine meadows and open forests. We will have lunch on a knoll just above the lakes. A car shuttle will be used. High clearance vehicles preferred but not required on one short road. Dogs welcome if with driver. Carpool cost is $8. There is a minimum limit of four people and two cars and a maximium of 12 people in three or four cars. To RSVP, contact Bob Powell at 385-8949 or robertlpowell@durango.net.Climb American Peak and Jones Mountain at 7 a.m. Tuesday. Carpool cost is $11 and there is a 10-person limit. No dogs, and four-weeh drive is necessary. RSVP to co-leader Betsey Butler at 403-3185 or ejbutler12@gmail.com.Climb Snowden Peak at 7 a.m. Wednesday. No dogs. Carpool cost is $5, and there is a 10-person limit. Contact Lynn Coburn at 247-0914 or harrisoncoburn@gmail.com.Climb Engineer Mountain from Coal Bank at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. We will not be climbing to the peak. No dogs. The carpool is $5. Contact Cheryl Berglund at 247-9747 or at chasberglund@yahoo.com.Durango Herald
