This past Saturday, Five Valleys sponsored the 3rd annual Mount Jumbo Elk Ramble 15k race, which is organized by our Mount Dean Stone partner, Run Wild Missoula.
The Elk Ramble has become an annual celebration of our community's love of open space trails, and the seasonal "goodbye" to the north end of Mount Jumbo, which closes from December to May to provide winter habitat for the Mount Jumbo elk herd. While the race has always promoted our open spaces and the responsible stewardship of them, this year provided an extra special occasion: the 20th anniversary of the protection of Mount Jumbo.
As the 300 race participants crossed the finish line, hundreds of runners and supporters alike joined us in the Five Valleys tent to enjoy some Mount Jumbo anniversary cake.
It was a beautiful day to celebrate our open lands, the grit of our community's runners, and the mountain that brought the Missoula community together just 20 years ago.
Read more about Mount Jumbo's 20th anniversary in the Missoulian.
Photos by Aaron Teasdale.
