Carbondale to Basalt race fundraises nearly $5,000
Brion After/Courtesy photo
It was a race around the Roaring Fork Valley on Sunday.
Nearly 200 runners flocked to Carbondale to participate in the second annual Mount Sopris Trail Runoff, a race that includes a challenging 25k and a fast 10-mile route between Flying Dog Ranch in Carbondale and followed singletrack trails to the finish line at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies’ Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt.
The fundraiser, hosted by Independence Run & Hike, garnered $4,800 to support Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting stewardship of public lands through community-driven education, restoration, and conservation projects.
“This is a great event to kick off the summer trail season,” Brion After, owner of Independence Run & Hike, said in a news release. “I’m thankful to all the athletes, volunteers, community partners like RFOV and ACES, and our generous sponsors — First Bank and Microcosm Coaching — who help make it happen.”
In the 25K race, Keegen Oldani of Carbondale claimed victory with a time of 1 hour, 51 minutes and 14 seconds, edging out runner-up Mitchell Day from Arkansas, in a tight finish. Oldani also broke the previous course record by nearly 13 minutes.
In the women’s division, Ariel Rittenhouse defended her title and bested her own course record from last year by just over a minute, finishing in a time of 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 3 seconds.
The 10-mile race also saw record-breaking performances. Brett Wachtendorf of Basalt cruised to victory in the men’s division with a time of 1 hour and 13 minutes, beating out second and third place runners Watkins Fulk-Gray (1:18.11) and Danny Whelen (1:18.42), while Rock Bottom Ranch local Cameron Mackenzie won the women’s race in 1 hour 25 minutes and 53 seconds, just breaking the course record and beating out podium finishers Anna Garvilova from Glenwood Springs and Jenya Berino of Aspen.
While most participants hailed from the Roaring Fork Valley — from Aspen to New Castle — others traveled from the Front Range and as far away as Michigan and Arkansas to compete.
Next phase approved for Snowmass affordable housing project
A major rental workforce housing project proposed for Snowmass Village is proceeding to its next phase.
