Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds 

Long referred to as “North America’s Toughest 10K”, the Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds course uses 4k of the Great Glen Trails system, and then 6k on the snow covered Mt. Washington Auto Road with an average grade of 12% and an elevation gain of 2,200 feet.

Started in 1996 as “Ski to the Clouds”, a Nordic event, the race has grown to include snowshoes and fatbikes. The event is held at the base of Mt. Washington on Rt. 16 in Pinkham Notch, eight miles south of Gorham, NH and 30 minutes north of North Conway, NH.

Ski, Shoe & Fatbike to the Clouds is considered a freestyle event (there will not be separate classes for classic and skate skiing) and entrants are required to complete 10 KM using one pair of skis, snowshoes, or one fatbike (no switching allowed). Participants must be able to comfortably ski, snowshoe, or fatbike the six kilometers down the Mt. Washington Auto Road after they finish the race. This is NOT an event for the inexperienced!

Official timing will end 2 hours after the start of the last particpant, around 12:30pm. 

REGISTRATION FEES:

Early entry fee: $35.00
After February 1st: $45
NO day-of registration

REGISTRATION SCHEDULE

• registration fee includes Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center trails pass for Saturday, February 27th
• online registration closes on Wednesday, February 24th at 5pm 
• participants may change their race discipline/category until February 24th at 4pm with a $10 change fee

START & TIMING 

• skiers, runners, and fatbikers will start in intervals, with individuals starting at specific times no less than 10 seconds apart
• skiers start between 10:00-10:05am
• snowshoers start between 10:05-10:15am
• fatbikers start between 10:15-10:25am
• chip timing 
• NEW! you'll get a split of your Auto Road climb 
• finish times will be emailed or texted on the day of the event, by 5pm

BIB / BIKE PLATE PICK-UP

• 8:00am - 9:15am race day ONLY
• located on the porch of the "Gatekeepers" cottage, on the right just as you cross the bridge of the Auto Road 
• you will receive a specific start time with your bib within the time frame of your division

WARM CLOTHES DROP
All racers must bike, ski or snowshoe down from the finish line. It can be quite cold and windy near treeline (finish area) on race day. If you would like to have warm clothes at the finish, you need to prepare your bag in advance and drop it off in the SnowCoach headed to the finish.

• securely affix a tag with your name clearly marked on your warm clothes bag
• drop off in back of SnowCoach parked next to Gatekeepers Cottage before 9:15am on race day

DION SNOWSHOES

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsor, Dion Snowshoes, snowshoe racers may reserve a complimentary pair of Dion racing snowshoes for use during the event. This benefit is offered on a first come first serve basis and quantities are limited. You will be asked during registration, if you'd like to reserve a pair of snowshoes for the event. Snowshoe pickup is in the brown building opposite of the Gatekeepers Cottage.

GROOMING

The first 4 km of the course that winds around Great Glen Trails will be skate groomed in the middle with one classic track set on the outside edge. The Auto Road will be flat groomed; there will not be classic tracks set on the Auto Road.

POST RACE

• After the race, participants are welcome to stop by the "Hideaway" building which is located at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road to pick up their participation medal
• Post-race nosh and refreshments provided at the Hideaway
• There will not be an awards ceremony; top three winners in each division will be mailed their prizes! 

Thanks to all our 2020 sponsors!