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Ski, Shoe & Fatbike To The Clouds

North America's Toughest 10k

Pick your division and challenge yourself on the snow-covered Mt. Washington Auto Road

Sunday, February 25, 2024
10:00 am

Pre-Registration Required
4k on Great Glen Trails + 6k up the Mt. Washington Auto Road

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 & SCHEDULE:

Registration opens Tuesday, October 10th

  • Registration fee includes Great Glen Trails Outdoor Center trails pass for Saturday, February 24th
  • Online registration closes on Wednesday, February 21st at 5pm
  • Participants may change their race discipline/category until February 21st at 5pm with a $10 change fee

Early entry fee: $55.00
January 1st: $60.00
February 1st: $65.00

NO day-of registration

START & TIMING:

  • skiers, runners, and fatbikers will start in three waves with 5 minutes between waves
  • skiers start at 10:00am
  • fatbikers start at 10:05am
  • snowshoers start at 10:10am
  • chip timing
  • Auto Road climb split
  • 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
  • at the Toll House; straight as you cross the bridge of the Auto Road
  • do NOT be late; you will miss the opportunity to have a warm-clothes bag at the finish

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. You can also bring your own bag with you up the mountain.

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

FINISH:

Volunteers will greet you at the finish line with your participation medal!

We will NOT have drinks at the finish line. It is your responsibility to bring your own hydration and food for the race.

DION SNOWSHOES:

Thanks to the generosity of 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 front of the Toll House.

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:

  • Post-race nosh and refreshments provided by the Spicy Spoke food truck and Moat Brewery
  • All participants get a voucher for use at the Spicy Spoke valid only for Feb 25th
  • There will not be an awards ceremony
  • Bib draw raffle winners can pick up their prizes after the race at the Toll House
  • Top three winners in each division can also pick up their prizes, only if instant results are validated; otherwise category winners will be mailed their prizes

PRESENTED BY DELTA DENTAL

Delta Dental

THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS!

THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE NEW ENGLAND NORDIC SKI ASSOCIATION (NENSA) CLUB CUP SERIES