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24 Hours of Sunlight (and moonlight) returns

Joelle Milholm
Glenwood Springs correspondent
Aspen, CO Colorado

GLENWOOD SPRINGS ” After four world records, more than 275 participants, and a successful marriage proposal in its first two years, 24 Hours of Sunlight will return for a third run with a new twist ” moonlight.

This winter, the event will be held three weeks later in the season ” Feb. 23-24 ” to take advantage of a full moon, assuming it’s not cloudy. The latter date also gives participants more time to train and may bring slightly warmer temperatures.

The unique event challenges competitors to ski, snowshoe or trek on a splitboard 1,483 feet up the mountain and then slide or snowshoe back down. Over and over and over again.



The event sprang forth at Sunlight Mountain Resort outside Glenwood Springs after the demise of the 24 Hours of Aspen, which tested the endurance of a small number of elite skiers who competed in pairs in a round-the-clock race on Aspen Mountain. They road up the gondola and then skied down a lit, nighttime course at breakneck speeds.

The 24 Hours of Sunlight is a more inclusive locals event, attracting a range of athletes from the valley and around Colorado.




As always, the race will be open to individual participants, pairs or teams of four or five. At least one woman must be included on teams with five members.

Registration is open for the event, and teams or individuals that sign up before Jan. 15 get a $25 discount per person and are entered to win a $1,400 alpine touring package (Movement skis, Crispi boots, Rottefella bindings and Leki poles) from Ute City Cycles and Skis.

Go to http://www.24hoursofsunlight.com for registration information.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s forecast for the Aspen zone on Saturday: Above treeline, there are pockets of considerable danger on steep wind-loaded or cross-loaded slopes facing north, northeast, east, southeast and south. The danger is moderate on other aspects above treeline. The avalanche danger is moderate on all aspects near and below treeline.

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