<header>Race or tour on one of the most challenging and beautiful backcountry ski trails in the US. The Catamount Backcountry Challenge is designed for experienced skiers who have a true sense of adventure and are prepared for the unexpected. Each individual is required to bring a small backpack with food, water, and extra clothes since there will be no official aid stations on the course. Climbing skins are allowed and encouraged, and competitive class skiers are only allowed one pair of skis. The participants will be divided into two categories with competitive athletes in the timed race and non-competitive backcountry skiers in the non-timed tour. Both groups will be challenged by the terrain, and rewarded by spectacular views and a feeling the satisfaction of completing this iconic section of the Catamount Trail.

When: Sunday, March 10, 2013

Where: Catamount Trail Section #22 starting at the Trapp Family Touring Center and ending at the Bolton Valley Nordic Center. 

Equipment: Past years' winners have used waxless touring skis without metal edges and kicker skins for the steeper sections of trail.  However, unless you are an accomplished nordic racer, we highly recommend metal edged skis, and climbing skins are recommended for all participants.

Umiak Outfitters in Stowe, VT is offering 1/2 price BC equipment rentals for event participants. That's just $12.50 for an NNN BC Ski package... pick up on Saturday night and drop off on Sunday night. However, keep in mind this is a very challenging course and is not recommended for people who lack experience with this type of skiing. This event IS NOT the time or place to have your first backcountry experience. 

Download Our Recommended Equipment List

Course: Race or tour this beautiful but physically challenging course on one of the most spectacular sections of the Catamount Trail. The course is 17km in length starting at the Trapp Family Touring Center in Stowe, with a 2300 ft vertical climb over Bolton Mountain and a 1300 ft vertical descent to the Bolton Valley Nordic Center.  70% of the trail is ungroomed, 30% is  groomed. Non-competitive skiers should expect to take at least 4 hours to complete the full length of the course.  View a map of this section of the Catamount Trail.

Download Our Safety Plan

Previous Course Times:
The men’s course record for this event is held by Eli Enman of Huntington, VT set in 2010 with a time of 1:31:02

The women's course record was set by JoAnn Hanowski of Underhill, VT in 2009 with a time 2:16:45.

Event Start Times: 
9:00am: Tour Start for non-competitive skiers
11:00am: Race Start for competitive racers

Event packet pickup will be from 8:00-10:45am at Trapp Family Touring Center.  There will be no event day registration.  Race packet includes race bib, meal ticket, optional shuttle ticket, map and any swag we can get our hands on. 

Tour participants should expect to take five or six hours while racer's times generally range from two to over three hours. Conditions on the course are a significant factor in determining an individual's time. If you are questioning whether you have the required fitness to race the course, we strongly recommend that you enter the non-competitive touring class, allowing yourself extra time to negotiate the course.  If things go well, you can race it next year!

Groups: New this year is the option to sign-up as a group. Groups must include 3 or more participants and must sign-up over the phone. Every team will need a team name and must pay for the entire group at the time of sign-up. If a person signs up for the event as an individual there will be no refunds offered if that individual decides to join a group at a later date.  The per peson cost for groups is $40/person whether you are a CTA member or not. So, save a little money and bring a friend... or two!

Transportation: Optional bus service will be available to bring participants from Bolton Valley Nordic Center to the start at Trapp Family Touring Center. Shuttle #1, for the tour, departs from Bolton at 7:00am.  Shuttle #2, for the race, departs from Bolton at 9:00am.  Capacity is limited.  

Make sure you check the appropriate box below if you would like to ride the shuttle. Shuttle price is $5.00 per person.

Post Race Activities: Meal and festivities to follow the finish of the race at Bolton Valley Nordic Center.

Awards: Prizes for top 3 Male and Female racers and large raffle for all participants. 

Deadline: Entries must be received by noon (12:00pm) on Friday March 8th. There will be no race day entries allowed.

Refund Policy: All entries are considered final with no refunds. If the event is cancelled due to weather or conditions, a full refund minus $20 will be provided to all participants.   

2013 Race Results

Event Photos Courtesy of Herb Swanson Photography

</header>