Jackson Hole's Absurd Trail Race Is Happening This Weekend

Originally posted on Powder | By Izzy Lidsky | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 8:28 AM ET

One of the most demanding trail races in the West is back this weekend in Wyoming.

The most dedicated (or deranged, depending how you look at it) athletes will take on Jackson Hole Mountain Resort's Rendezvous Hill Climb on Saturday, August 2, 2025.

The race starts at the base of the resort and follows the Wildflower trail to the top of Rendezvous Lodge at the top of Bridger Gondola, before continuing onto the Cirque Trail to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain.

6.1 miles and 4,100ft. of vertical gain later, the race finishes at the Aerial Tram.

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The race, which takes place annually, is a fundraiser for the trails division of Jackson non-profit, Friends of Pathways, who plan, build, and maintain the bike and multi-use trails in Jackson's major public trail networks such as Cache Creek, Game Creek, Munger Mountain, and Teton Pass.

Proceeds are donated in the name of Chris Onufer, a longtime Tram Mechanic at the resort who tragically passed away in an avalanche in 2012.

In true Jackson Hole fashion, some of the best athletes around compete for the $1,000 first place prize, and a $1,000 bonus for any male and/or female who breaks the course record.

While breaking course records may seem lofty, in 2023, male competitors Joseph Gray and Tyler McCandless completed the course in under an hour for the first time ever. Gray took first place with a time of 57 min and 56 seconds and McCandless was close behind him with a time of 59 minutes and 7 seconds.

In 2024, McCandless repeated the feat and took first place with a time of 59 min, 59 seconds. Anna Gibson broke the women's course record with a time of 1 hour, 7 minutes, and 51 seconds and came in 5th place overall.

Gray, McCandless, and Gibson all return in 2025 and will be racing and gunning for more course records.

Stay tuned in here at POWDER for the race results early next week.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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