The Father Dyer Postal Route 2017
North America’s Highest Ski Race- April 8th, 2017
Register at https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=88598 $200 per team
April 7th:
- 3-5pm Check in and gear check at Leadville Outdoors 225 Harrison Ave.
- 5:00-6:00 Dinner (location TBA)
- 6:00-6:30 Pre-race meeting
- 6:30-8:30 Speaker and slideshow
April 8th:
START AT 5 AM (location TBA)
The Father Dyer Postal Route is a ski mountaineering team race in the Mosquito Range just east of Leadville, Colorado. Named after John Lewis Dyer who crossed this range on skis as a minister and postal carrier to the mining camps in Alma and Leadville, this race is the highest backcountry course in North America, and takes racers up 3 peaks over 12,000' including Centennial 13er Dyer Mountain (13,855’)and involves three demanding backcountry ski lines.
Note: This race is UNSUPPORTED in terms of sustenance. This means that you are responsible for your own food and water for the duration of the race. DO NOT rely on aid stations for food or beverages. There will be emergency personnel and check stations at various locations throughout the course. Check station personnel will not be helping with broken or lost gear.
This event is a fundraiser for the Leadville High Riders Snow Trails Association (501c3) in conjunction with the Lake County Winter Trails Committee. Profits from the race go to supporting winter trails maintenance and development in the Leadville area.
Leadville is perched at 10,200’ at the head of the Arkansas River valley with the spectacular Sawatch and Mosquito ranges spread out before it. From the famous fourteen thousand foot peaks that dominate the vistas, to the hundreds of peaks over 12’000 feet, and the countless alpine lakes cradled between them, the Leadville area offers year round recreation for all abilities.
The High Riders Snow Trails Association maintains, grooms, and signs more than 40 miles of roads and trails. These are intended for nordic skiers, walkers, snowmobilers, snowshoers, backcountry skiers, and anyone looking for a bit of winter adventure. This resource offers breathtaking winter views of Colorado’s two highest peaks, Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, extensive access to the historic East Side Mining District in the Mosquito Mountains, and unparalleled opportunities for recreation in the snow.
This year is our inaugural race. The course starts and finishes at Colorado Mountain College. It winds through the sub alpine forest to the alpine terrain of the central Mosquito Range near Mount Sherman (14,035’). Racers will ski through many historic relics of Leadville’s early silver mining boom, before skiing into Iowa Gulch in the impressive heart of the Mosquitos. While ascending and descending Ball Mountain (12,300’), East Ball Mountain (12,947’), and Dyer Mountain (13,855’) racers will need to prove their muster.
The course is roughly 25 miles long and includes approximately 6,500ft of vertical gain (and loss). This route is subject to change as we finalize permissions.
**WE ARE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS for course marshaling, check stations, timing and “morale” stations. Please shoot us an email at [email protected] or message us on FaceBook.
Disclaimer: Please note that we have obtained special permission to cross several sections of private land. Legally, anyone who wishes to preview the course will need to obtain their own permission. Please also note that several sections of the course involve technical skiing, high altitude, avalanche terrain and serious mountain commitment. Plan accordingly.