3 running events in Glenwood Springs, Colorado

We are a go for race #2!!! See you on the 15th!

Sunlight Mountain and Cripple Creek Backcountry are teaming up again to bring the Moonlight Race Series back for the 2025/26 season! We couldn't be more excited to to bring the uphill community together for 4 nights of type A fun!

Racers will have the option each night to race on a long or short course with multiple fast accents and downhills. The two courses will be the same for all four races(snow willing) so participants can see their progression in fitness, skinning, skiing and transitions throughout the season. Come out to push your own best time or just move casually with friends.

We all know that we try a little harder when that bib is strapped on so come out and get your suffer fun on! There will be schwag, beers and hot chocolate waiting for you at the finish line!

All racers are required to have a headlamp and a helmet.

Remember to stay on our designated uphill routes while training.

Racer check in will be between 5:15pm and 5:45pm in front of the main lodge(times will shift by 30 min for the last 2 races).

Check out the race map under "Race Info". Yellow is up and red is down. The short course will be the first accent and the first decent all the way to the bottom.

New Course Map Here

Get ready for the 2026 edition of Colorado's longest continuously running ski mountaineering race! The Heathen is back, and it's taking place at the stunning Sunlight Mountain Resort, brought to you by Strafe Outerwear, Cripple Creek Backcountry and Sunlight Mountain Resort. Whether you're a seasoned skimo athlete or a newcomer looking to test your limits, this is your chance to move through the mountains and be part of the vibrant skimo community.

Registration closes at 4 PM on Saturday, February 7th, so don’t miss your chance to join the fun!

The Heathen is famous for maximizing backcountry skiing and skinning, promising a challenge for everyone. Whether you’ve conquered countless races or are testing your skills for the first time, we guarantee this race will thrill you. Expect to master tricky transitions, tear downhill on skinny skis, and push your endurance to new heights!

The Elite Race

Designed for the seasoned racer or backcountry skiing fanatic, the Elite division covers approximately 11 miles and 5,500 feet of grueling skinning, skiing, and boot packing. Only the toughest Type A personalities need apply—this course will test your physical and mental limits.

The Rec Race

Looking to break into the sport or just want a great workout? The Rec division covers around 6 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation gain, offering a serious challenge even for weekend warriors. Don't be fooled by the shorter course—this race is still no walk in the park.

Please note: Course maps are subject to change depending on snow conditions and other factors, so mileage and vertical gain may vary. Check out the provided maps for a general idea of what to expect.

Don't wait, register now and take on the Heathen in 2026!

Bib Pick Up

Bibs will be picked up the morning of the race only starting at 7:15am in the main Sunlight Lodge. We will not have bib pick up at CCBC as in years past

General Rules and Information:

The race director reserves the right to delay the start, alter the course or cancel the race based on snow, weather and safety conditions.

Racers are required to abide by all directives of the race staff and course marshals.

The race will take place on an operational ski area and all racers are required to comply with any directions or directives of the ski area staff.

Racers are to give the right of way to the customers of the ski area, failure to do so will result in an immediate DQ.

On uphill portions, racers are to stay in the established skin track or within 5 feet of the course markings. On the downhill, racers are required to stay within 30 feet of course markings.

Transitions must occur within 20 feet of transition point.

Racers agree to possible equipment check before race and at the finish line.

All racers regardless of category will have a ski retention device that can include brakes or a leash.

No lightweight Nordic gear is allowed in either category.

Helmets are required to be worn during the ENTIRETY of the race. (These can be bike, ski, climbing or ski mountaineering specific helmets).

If you opt not to finish the race you MUST check in at a course marshal or at the finish area. Otherwise we will be out there looking for you.

Racers should be prepared for variable weather including but not limited to snow, high winds and cold temperatures.

The Defiance Challenge isn’t just an endurance event, it’s a heart-pounding, adrenaline fueled showdown that tests grit, skill, and sheer determination! Open to expert skiers and riders ages 6 and up, this epic two-person team race pushes competitors to their limits as they battle to rack up the most runs in a grueling 10-hour marathon on the slopes.

The bar is set high: the legendary record of 49 runs—an astonishing 66,792 vertical feet—was established in 2020 by the unstoppable duo, Aidan Corcoran and Nate Grosscup. Can you and your partner rise to the occasion and shatter this milestone?

The action kicks off at 7 a.m. sharp outside the main Sunlight lodge with a Le Mans-style start that’s as chaotic as it is thrilling. At the sound of the starting gun, racers explode into motion, sprinting to their waiting skis or snowboards, snapping into their bindings, and charging toward the Segundo chairlift. From there, it’s a non-stop, high-speed adventure as teams conquer 40 challenging routes, including every double black diamond Sunlight has to offer.

Whether you're here to make history or just prove you’ve got what it takes, the Defiance Challenge promises a day of unforgettable thrills and fierce competition. Are you ready to defy the limits? Let the countdown begin!