New Ultra Slated for Grand Mesa

Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim? Nope. It's the course profile for the new Grand Mesa 100.

The Grand Mesa 100 is a brand-new trail ultra-marathon set for July 24-25,  with 37.5, 50, and 100-mile distances. The races will start at Grand Mesa Lodge, a few miles north of Cedaredge, and will loop around the gorgeous high-altitude plateau. Actually, the 100-mile course will dive off the plateau in mid-race, with a unique and challenging 4,100-foot plunge down the Kannah Creek Trail and return climb along the brutal Switchback Trail, gaining over 4,000 feet in 5.5 miles.

In all, the 100-mile course has 76.5 miles of trail, 20 miles of Forest Service roads, and 3.5 miles of pavement, with about 11,175 feet of climb and descent. There’s a 33-hour time limit for the 100, and 14 hours for the 37.5 and 50. Early registration (through April 10) is just $120 ($50 for 37.5 miles; $65 for 50 miles), a relative bargain. “This is the first year for the race,” said organizer Phil Berghauser. “With a little hard work, we hope to turn this into a long-term event.”