Bears Ears Trail posted to ultrarunning website in hopes of bringing tourism
Craig Press
Sydney Martin/Craig Press
Bears Ears Trail has been added to the ultrarunning website Fastest Known Time, in hopes that it will bring more hikers to Routt and Moffat counties.
The trail spans more than 50 miles around Bears Ears Peak, Sugar Loaf and Saddle mountains in a loop that hikers can begin at any point. Split between Routt and Moffat counties, Bears Ears offers views of the surrounding valley, as well as large patches of forest.
Mark Buchanan, who added the trail to Fastest Known Time, hopes that it will draw more people to the area, especially as Moffat County transitions away from a coal-based economy and is looking for more tourism attractions.
“We deserve to have a route [for] people to try their metal on,” Buchanan said.
Bears Ears is the first trail in Routt or Moffat to be added to Fastest Known Time, and is one of the only ones in Northwest Colorado. Having a trail on the website is a “pretty big deal” and can help to “create awareness” about all the hiking opportunities in the area.
Bears Ears had been a bucket list item for Buchanan for three years. Starting in sections, he worked his way up to a full hike of the trail. With the proper tracking, he recorded an 18 hour, 22 minute hike that is the current time listed on the website.
Ultrarunning received a major boost in popularity during the pandemic, with Fastest Known Time offering runners the opportunity to easily find trails local to them that they could keep training on as races shut down. These races commonly range between 50 to 100 miles, with some stretching to 200 miles or only having time limits.
With travel opening back up, many have traveled to take part in certain races or to simply challenge themselves on some of the most well-known trails, such as the Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango.
For Buchanan, ultrarunning also keeps him in shape and challenges him. He described the accountability that came with his training, saying it “keeps me accountable every day toward that goal.”
Bears Ears can be found at https://fastestknowntime.com/route/bears-ears-trail-1144.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
Readers around Craig and Moffat County make the Craig Press’ work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.
Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.
Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.