Adventure News of the Week: Disney-to-Disney Run, AZT Running FKT, and More
From the inspiring to the tragic, ‘Adventure News of the Week’ presents a wrap-up of top news in the world of exploration and adventure.
TRAILS: Athletic Brewing Spearheads One of Nation’s Largest Trails Grant Programs. Athletic Brewing announced its first round of funding donations — $500,000 — to its Two for the Trails 2021 grant program. The Two for the Trails program helps trail-based nonprofits achieve funding for projects like trail maintenance and trailhead improvement.
Athletic’s program donates 2% of all revenue, making it one of the largest business-funded grant programs ever. The grant program is open for organizations to apply now through May 31.
SKI: Bluebird Backcountry Partners With Colorado Resort for 2021-2022 Season. With this new partnership, passholders will be able to access both Arapahoe Basin and the first all-backcountry ski resort in Colorado, Bluebird Backcountry.
Arapahoe Basin passholders will receive two free day passes at Bluebird (redeemable during the week), and Bluebird passholders will get two free lift tickets at Arapahoe Basin (no blackout dates). Passes went on sale on April 8.
RUN: IRONMAN Don Muchow Runs Coast to Coast, Disneyland to Disney World Run. A spirited Texas runner, Don Muchow, decided to take on Walt Disney’s Coast to Coast Challenge (a half-marathon at Disneyland and Disney World in the same year) up a notch by running from one park to the other. That’s 2,700 miles from Anaheim, Calif., to Orlando, Fla.
Muchow began in February 2020 (but stopped several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and restarted in March 2021. He finished last week.
HIKE: 700-Acre Wildfire Burns Through Big Bend National Park. A wildfire is burning in Big Bend National Park in Texas near the park’s South Rim and the Chisos Mountains.
The National Park Service has closed several areas, including the Chisos Basin Campground and trailheads, until further notice. The last estimated burn area was 785 acres, but authorities expect the fire to grow. Find the latest updates here.
RESORT: Alterra Mountain Company Announces Multi-Million-Dollar Upgrades at Ikon Pass Resorts. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows in California is getting a state-of-the-art Base-to-Base Gondola (B2B) that connects the valley to the meadows in a 16-minute ride.
The B2B will offer access to 6,000 acres of skiing and riding, 360-degree views, and be able to move 1,400 people per hour between resort bases. The project is estimated to cost $60 million and break ground this summer.
FKT: Joe McConaughy Sets Thru-Hike FKT on Arizona Trail. Less than a week after Timon Fish set a bike record on the Arizona Trail, McConaughy set a running record on the AZT. He covered 788 miles in 13 days, 3 hours, and 21 minutes. His supported record, completed on April 5, has been officially recognized by FastestKnownTime.com.
Behind the FKT: Joe 'Stringbean' McConaughy on Blitzing the 788-Mile Arizona Trail
With trails like these, something always goes wrong. Luckily, the Stringbean pushed through an ankle injury and miles of snow to complete the Arizona Trail in record time. Read more…
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