Aspen summer full of outdoor offerings

ASPEN This place was not designed for house kittens.If youre not a runner or a hiker, a paddler or a pedaler, a climber or an angler, or even a disc golfer or a mountainboarder, then really, what are you doing here?As the adage goes, we move here for the winters but stay for the summers. Thats especially true in the coming months with a local calendar thats as full as our rivers at the moment.For a community of outdooraholics, theres no reason not to get out there. Heres a rundown of whats on tap for the summer, so you cant make any excuses:

June 4 The Smuggler Hill Climb is the second race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.June 7 River Float 2008 is an afternoon of floating on the lower Roaring Fork River while learning about wildlife, water issues and conservation efforts, followed by a barbecue. 927-1290; http://www.roaringfork.gov.June 7 The Aspen Downtown Mile kicks off the local three-race Aspen Summer Race Series, which benefits the Aspen High School cross country running team. Racers will begin near the tennis courts at Aspen Meadows at 8 a.m. and wind their way through the west end, cross Main Street at Fourth Street, then finish on Hopkins Avenue at Paepcke Park. Register at http://www.active.com or the Ute Mountaineer. The race costs $10.June 7 Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers hosts trail maintenance projects in honor of National Trails Day at Forest Hollow and Scout Trails in Glenwood Springs and Sunnyside Trail in Aspen. 927-8238; http://www.rfov.org.June 11 The Snowmass Circuit is the fifth road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.June 11 The Seven Star Wildflower Walk at Snowmass Village from 5:30-7:30 p.m. showcases Plant biologist Lisa Tasker teaching participants about local native plants, wildlife migration and watershed ecology on a two-hour hike. 927-1290; http://www.roaringfork.org.June 18 The Prince Creek Circuit is the third race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.June 21 The Roaring Fork Outdoors Volunteers hosts a Maroon Lake & Scenic Loop Trails Cleanup 12 miles southwest of Aspen. http://www.rfov.gov.June 21-22 Snowmass hosts the SnowMassive Open Disc Golf Tournament. The event is sanctioned by the Professional Disc Golfers Association. Participants will receive lift tickets at the event. Friends and family may purchase additional lift tickets for $6. http://www.snowmassvillage.com.June 22 The 30th Annual Strawberry Shortcut is a 5K, 10K, and 1-mile Family Fun Run during the Strawberry Days Festival in Glenwood Springs. Races begin at 7 a.m. at Centennial Park. http://www.strawberryshortcutrace.com for registration.June 25 The Basalt-Norrie Road Race is the sixth road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.June 26 The Roaring Fork Outdoors Volunteers hosts a Hunter Creek Trail Cleanup. Sections of the trail from town up to the Benedict Bridge are in need of serious repair. This work includes rebuilding boardwalk, replacing deck and railing on the bridges, building rock retaining walls, and refurbishing sections of the trail. http://www.rfov.gov.June 28 The Roaring Fork Conservancy hosts a North Star Preserve Wetlands Expedition. A two-hour float includes a discussion on the history of the preserve, its wildlife and recent restoration projects. 927-1290; http://www.roaringfork.org.

July 2 The Butterhack Cross-country Circuit is the fourth race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.July 4 The Boogie’s Diner Buddy 5-mile Race and 1-mile Family/Canine Walk begins at Boogies Diner at the corner of Cooper Avenue and Hunter Street. The race benefits the Buddy Program. Online pre-registration is available at http://www.active.com.July 9 The Snowmass Blast the Mass Circuit is the fifth race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.July 11-13 Blast the Mass draws over 1,000 top regional mountain bike competitors for the Mountain States Cup races, including extreme downhill, cross-country, and mountain-cross. Movies, music, demonstrations, and more. Free for spectators. http://www.racemsc.com.July 12 The Hogback Hustle 5K Run/Walk in New Castle starts at 8:30 a.m. at the New Castle Family Fitness (near City Market) and finishes at Burning Mountain Park on Main Street. $20 pre-registration or $25 on race day. Register at http://www.active.com. July 16 The Woody Creek Criterium is the seventh road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.July 19 The Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure is a 5-kilometer run/walk and a 1-mile family fun walk presented by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation that funds local breast health initiatives and provides grants for area nonprofits. The race starts at 8:30 p.m. from Rio Grande Park. For online registration, http://www.komenaspen.org.July 23 The Roaring Fork Outdoors Volunteers hosts an Ashcroft Trail Boardwalk Cleanup. Volunteers will replace the first half of the wooden boardwalk that serves as the entryway to the site with a new, low-maintenance gravel trail. http://www.rfov.gov.July 23 The Smuggler-Hunter Creek Cross-country Race is the sixth race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.July 25-26 The U.S. Mountainboarding Championships return to snowmass. A two-day event featuring a host of competitions thats free to spectators. http://www.snowmassvillage.com.July 26 The High Country Sk8 Challenge is for all levels and takes place at the Rio Grande Skate Park. 544-4100; http://www.aspenrecreation.com.July 26 The Missouri Heights Road Race is the eighth road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.July 30 The Highlands-Maroon Bells-Ashcroft-King Hill is the ninth road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.

Aug. 6 The Snowmass Scorch Downhill is the seventh race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.Aug. 8-10 The Snowmass G3 Gravity Challenge is three gravity stage races at Snowmass that are part of the new G3 summer series. This is a premier off-road cycling event that draws international and top-ranked mountain biking competitors. A full weekend of extreme adventure and world-class cycling that includes an expo area, nightly parties and festivities. Free for spectators. http://www.snowmassvillage.com.Aug. 13 The Emma Roubaix Road Race is the 10th and final road race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer cycling series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.Aug. 16 The Aspen Mountain Uphill the second event in the Aspen Summer Race Series is a 4.6-mile, 3,400 vertical run/bike/walk up Aspen Mountain. The run starts at 8:15 a.m. Register online at http://www.active.com or at the Ute Mountaineer. Aug. 16-17 The Leadville Trail 100 Marathon 26.2 mile crossing of the Mosquito Range is America’s highest marathon. Race starts at 8 a.m. Registration available at http://www.leadvilletrail100.com.Aug. 16 The Aspen High Country Triathlon/Duathlon features an 800-yard swim, a 17-mile bike (gaining 1,500 feet) and a 4-mile run in the Elk Mountain range and the scenic Maroon Creek Valley. The Aspen Recreation Center will serve as the transition/staging area for the entire race. 429-2093 or http://www.aspenrecreation.com for registration.Aug. 16 The 32nd Annual Basalt 1/2 Marathon starts at 7:45 am at the base of Ruedi Dam. Runners will be bussed to the start from Basalt Middle School at 7 a.m. Register at http://www.active.com.Aug. 20 The Rim Trail Cross-country Race is the eighth race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.Aug. 27 The Basalt Mountain Cross-country Race is ninth race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.

Sept. 3 The Government Trail Cross-country Race is the 10th and final race in the local Aspen Cycling Club summer mountain biking series. http://www.aspencyclingclub.org.Sept. 6 The Ride for the Cure presented by the Aspen Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is a 100-mile bike ride to support the foundation in its mission to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. 920-0250; http://www.komenaspen.orgSept. 27 The Vasque Vasque Golden Leaf Half Marathon runs between Snowmass Village and Aspen and is known as one of the most beautiful trail runs in North America, according to Trail Runner Magazine. Registration is available at the Ute Mountaineer.