Peak to Peak Endurance is a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to supporting youth organizations across the Peak to Peak area and providing youth with access to outdoor programs and athletic activities regardless of the cost and of the youth’s ability to pay. Executive Director at Peak to Peak Endurance Gavin Coombs has helped to organize several successful events in Nederland, including NedGravel, the 13-hour cycling race and expo event in July that, last year, saw over 800 racers participate in several grueling courses.

“Having put on a few events here in town my wheels are always turning on what else we can do to bring people into town and help lift up the local businesses,” Coombs explained to The Mountain-Ear how he came to be involved in Nederdays. “There is a desire to keep events going on through the latter part of that and there were like-minded people in town talking about getting something going that would be really focused on locals and wanting to bring some attention back into town during the shoulder months.”

Coombs began working with Nederdays coordinator Stephanie Andelman, Nederland’s Administrative Support Manager Peter Cacek, and Nederland’s Parks Department Director Nicki Dunn back in early January, 2023, to develop Nederdays, a celebration of Ned, by Ned, and for Ned. Almost immediately Coombs knew that he wanted to host a fun yet athletic adventure to get people’s adrenaline pumping for the rest of the planned festivities on Saturday, March 25, 2023.

“Athletic events are kinda our niche, so I wanted something that was simple to put together that locals could get behind,” Coombs said before detailing the schedule and route for the Nederdays SnowK.

The 3.17 mile run begins at 11 a.m. on the corner of East 1st Street and Snyder Street. The course moves towards Guercio Field trails and loops behind the skate park, taking runners across the Weir footbridge into Chipeta Park then up into the Big Springs neighborhood, onto the trails at the end of Lakeview Road and up into a small trail loop which will bring runners back down through Big Springs and finishing right in front of the Train Cars at the Caribou Village Shopping Center parking lot.

“The race ends at the Train Cars and there will be hot chocolate, coffee, and donuts served up after the races. It’s going to be a lot of fun, it’s super family friendly with no time cutoffs or anything like that. I hope people come get some activity and exercise in before going to see what the rest of the town has to offer for Nederdays,” Coombs said.

Coombs was sure to add that the weather in late March could be unpredictable, with conditions on some of the trails used in the Nederdays SnowK being potentially either icy or muddy, so it was suggested that runners wear YakTrax or Microspikes for traction.

For those who wish to start the second day of Nederdays with their hearts racing, you can register online before March 23, 2023, by visiting https://www.peaktopeakendurance.com and clicking the registration link listed under Nederdays SnowK on the events tab. In person registration will also be available at the event’s start the day of the event.

The Nederdays SnowK is for all ages and is also pet friendly, though dogs are asked to be on a leash. All who register get a commemorative Nederdays mug which can be used in the Hot Cocoa Trail on Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by Kaleidoscope Kitchen, the Mountain People’s Co-Op, New Moon, Salto, and the Train Cars.

Winners of the Nederdays SnowK will be rewarded a gift card to La Sportiva.

In addition to the Nederdays SnowK, Coombs and Peak to Peak Endurance are partnered with TEENS, Inc. on the upcoming NedNed trail run event, which is a fundraising event for TEENS, Inc.

Peak to Peak Endurance is also partnered with Nederland Elementary School PTA and Singletrack Mountain Bike Adventures (SMBA) in the NED SHRED program. The program aims to assemble a fleet of bicycles which area youth can utilize during PE classes, SMBA after-school and summer programs, and professional instruction courses which take place on local trails.

“There’s a lot of exciting things happening with the elementary school, and a lot of momentum around getting some new trails built and a pump track and we’re going to be heavily involved in a lot of that,” Coombs said, excited for what Peak to Peak Endurance has to offer the community.

For more information on Peak to Peak Endurance’s many programs and events go to: https://www.peaktopeakendurance.com.

For a Nederdays SnowK Course Map go to: https://www.strava.com/ routes/3056317009840630856.