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.  