ALL RACERS AND VOLUNTEERS: PLEASE DOWNLOAD AND READ THE Race Manual PRIOR TO THE RACE! CactustoCloud_RaceManual updated for 2018
Elevation Profile:
Close to 9,000 feet of elevation gain across 32 miles!
Interactive Map:
Go here for Cactus to Cloud map – We use the green route. The “blue” new route is for future possibilities.
Strava runs from 2015 are here
Shuttle:
A shuttle will leave from Cloudcroft Elementary/Middle School (HWY 82 across from the finish) at 4:30am for Oliver Lee State Park. All racers need to use the shuttle to get to Oliver Lee State Park – no cars will be allowed to stay there after the start. The shuttle is only for racers!!
There will be a shuttle at the 10 mile finish at Sunspot. It will leave at 10:00 am and again at 1:00 pm to bring those finishers back to the 50k finish area in Cloudcroft.
Route Detail and Aid Stations:
There will be two distances – a 10 mile and a 50k. Both start at Oliver Lee State Park. The 10 mile ends at Sunspot Observatory and the 50k ends in Cloudcroft.
|
Mile |
Name | Location |
|
5.5 |
Joplin Ridge | Dog Canyon trailhead and FS RD 90B |
|
10 |
Sunspot | Sunspot Visitor Center – drop bag area and 10 mile finish. |
|
15 |
Atkinson Field | Rim trail and unnamed FS RD south of Atkinson Field |
|
18.5 |
Alamo Peak Rd | FS RD 634/Alamo Peak RD and Rim trail |
|
24 |
FR 636 | FS RD 636 |
|
29 |
2nd Entrance Rim Trail | Pull off just before MM 1 on Sunspot Hwy |
| 32 | Finish | Zenith Park – Cloudcroft, New Mexico |
Cactus to cloud trail run 
Is shuttle strictly for runners? Can family ride shuttle and watch start? Does shuttle head back to cloud croft after start?
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The shuttle will be strictly for runners. There is very limited space available on the shuttles. Families and fans will have to drive to the start. The shuttle will not return to Cloudcroft
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If we are just doing the 10miler will our family need to meet us at the finish to pick us up? So if we don’t need the shuttle they can drop us off at the start and meet us at the finish?
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We will have a shuttle at the 10 mile finish. The first shuttle will leave Sunspot at 10 am and then at 1:00pm. It will take you to the finish area at the Pavilion in Zenith Park next to the tennis courts.
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What will be in the aid stations?
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sports drink, water, oranges, bananas, pretzels, chips, peanut butter crackers, pickles, gummies, m&m’s, enduralytes, ginger ale, coca cola and whatever else. The first, third and fifth aid station will have gels. Did you have a suggestion???
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Where can one stay to be close to the shuttles?
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You will want to stay in the Cloudcroft Village limits. Spruce Cabins are the closest, Cloudcroft Hotel, Summitt Inn, we have a couple of B & B’s – The Crofting and Burro Street B & B and of course The Lodge.
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How about cabins at the cloud, are they close.
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Cabins at Cloudcroft are near the finish area. Less than a mile. We finish at Zenith Park.
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This might be a bit silly, but I am curious about the necessity for bear spray, or the like, on and around the race course.
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You need to carry what you are comfortable with. I always carry a small pepper spray with me on these trails. I have spotted bear and my husband has seen a mountain lion before – very few and not often at all but, you are in their environment so, take the precautions you feel you need to.
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