For all you rando racing fans, once again it’s time for the Marmot US Ski Mountaineering National Championships scheduled for this Saturday, March 20th at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Start time is 8am…beer, food and raffle to follow the race. Register HERE…event site HERE…Jackson Hole Randonee Community on Facebook…HERE. Anyone interested in volunteering for the race in exchange for lift tickets…contact jaxrandorace@yahoo.com.
Let me tell you, the organizers have put together a new course for this year and it will be more challenging than any other rando race held in the US. With 7500’ of climbing, it highlights some of JHMR’s best and most difficult ski runs. I sure hope you’re ready!
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1st Uphill- From the base area, up the Gros Ventre to South Pass and the Sublette chair, continuing up Rendezvous trail to Bird In Hand, ending at Flip Point above Laramie Bowl. That’s gotta be over 3000’ feet of climbing right there. Better pace yourself!
1st Descent- Down Pepi’s Ridge and Alta One Chute. I blew my knee out on Pepi’s my first year in Jackson, worked the Sublette chair for a few years and used to rip Alta one all the time. A JH classic steep run and in full view of the riders on the chairlift. Welcome to Jackson Hole!!!
2nd Uphill- The tamest of the ups in this race, the course goes up the Grand run and ends at the top of Thunder Lift. A good time to regroup and evaluate how things are going.
2nd Downhill- It’s a good thing this descent is early in the race, because Tower Three is one of the baddest runs on the hill. Steep, tight, long and bumpy (at least this year), you better keep your wits about you for this one.
3rd Uphill- I think the Cascade run is a groomer, and it takes you to the top of Bridger Gondola, where you then bootpack to the top of the Headwall, were racers typicaly skin or skate to the next descent.
3rd Descent- A quick shot, the course proceed down the upper section of the Coombs run and then a big traverse to the skier’s right over towards Tensleep Bowl. Kind of a weird section here, but cool that the course includes the Coombs run.
4th Uphill- The highlight of the race, racers then skin up Tensleep Bowl and climb the ladder up Corbets Couloir. Corbets is thin this year and the cornice is huge, so I’m sure it will be extra steep and spicy! A short skin bring’s racers to the summit of JHMR. I think it’s cool that the course brings you to the top this year.
4th Descent- Hello leg burn! If you can rip this descent non-stop with speed…you are my hero. Top to bottom, racers ski Rendezvous Bowl, Central Chute (be sure to give a shout out to Big Wally as you pass Wally World), Rendezvous Trail and on to Lower Sublette Ridge. Close to a 4000’ descent.
5th Uphill- More off-piste skinning will be sure to test your technique at the end of the race…so stay on form. The last uphill goes up North Colter Ridge and ends at South Pass. If the sun it out…this will be a HOT one!
5th Descent- And you thought the organizers would be easy on you? To top it off, if your butt isn’t already kicked, the Lower Tramline run will do the job with its steep rollovers, bumps and double fall lines. I never liked this line (except when it was buried under 2’ of powder)…but it will sure test the best of the best at this point in the race.
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