ROUTES - 400k - RUIDOSO

2011 Results

Sacramento Mountain Sacrifice 

May
                           28/29, 2011  Start Time - 5:00 AM   

This route consists of two loops starting in Ruidoso,NM.  We chose this route
                           because of its beautiful mountainous terrain, the challenging route, and to broaden the horizons for most New Mexican riders. 
                           The route traverses the Sacramento Mountains in the Lincoln National Forest and the Mescalero Apache Tribal Lands. 

This brevet starts
                           at 6500' and immediately climbs up to 8000' into the forested and mountain meadows on the Mescalero Apache Lands then gradually
                           climbing up to Cloudcroft at 8600'.  The route continues south along rolling mountainous terrain to the supported turnaround
                           at Sunspot Solar Observatory.  Drop bags will be available here as well as food and water.  Randonneurs double back
                           to the Cloudcroft area then drop 2000' to Mayhill and close out the loop to the Cloudcroft area again, before turning north,
                           retracing the route to Ruidoso.  This southern portion is remote, with no services, except in Cloudcroft which is nearby
                           the course on three separate occasions, and a small store in Mayhill which will serve as a checkpoint.    

Riders may choose to freshen up in Ruidoso, rest, or proceed on the fast downhill on US 70 to Hondo and
                           then turning up Rio Bonito Canyon on US 380 and pass by the historic Lincoln Co. Courthouse of Billy the Kid fame.  After
                           turning toward Fort Stanton brevet riders head back up to Alto before heading north to Capitan and looping over to Nogal and
                           heading back up to Alto and then down to Ruidoso.  Here again, this is back country riding with few services and those
                           are dependent on arrival times, in general the smaller the town, the earlier the closing times of the convenience stores. 
                           Therefore, food, water and a second drop bag service will be provided as Checkpoint 5/6.  

This will
                           be a fairly slow 400k due to the 17,000+ feet of climbing.  The highest elevation is about 9500' and the lowest is 5300'. 
                           The first loop is higher, longer, with more  climbing, but is during the daylight hours.  The second loop is lower,
                           with less climbing, but there are significant climbs near the end up to Alto.  Traffic is minimal except for the areas
                           around Ruidoso.  