Crested Butte Mountain Resort will host the 2012 North American Ski Mountaineering Championships in January. The Gunnison County hill has developed a grueling and technical course, which includes a Class 5 near-vertical climb along the exposed arête known as Guides Ridge, for the Jan. 28-29 race.

The esteemed Crested Butte Mountain Guides will offer the European-style ascent of Guides Ridge to guests for the first time in winter, a rare offering at any U.S. winter resort.

Crested Butte has hosted randonee racing for the last decade, with the Rando Rally and then, in the last five years, the COSMIC race series, making it one of the longest standing venues for up-and-down racing. January's championship route will largely follow existing race routes with more than 5,000 feet of ascent and descent.

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