Tortugas "A" Mountain 24 Hour Challenge
The Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge continues to be the premier 24 hour trail race in New Mexico. Actually, we think it's the only 24 hour trail race in New Mexico. We will start on Friday, October 13, 2023 at 6 pm.
This year will again be a free "Fatass" race. Donations will be accepted as a fundraiser for the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance. Funds raised by the SNMTA are used to provide trail building/maintenance work days and trainings, support local trail events, purchase tools, and provide advocacy for and education about trails and outdoor recreation.
If you register and decide not to run, please cancel your registration to allow others an opportunity. The race is capped at 50, and we expect it to fill up. As with our other races, please bring your lightly worn shoes for donation to our local shelter. Thank you for supporting the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance and our local trail community.
Contact the race director, Eloisa Torres, at Chicanapower71@msn.com with any questions or communications.
Schedule
Friday, October 13th, 5:30 pm Runner Check-in
Friday, October 13th 6:00 pm - Race begins
Saturday, October 14th 6:00 pm - Race ends
Course
Description:
The Challenge will start at the Arroyo Loop trailhead at the Monte Vista Parking Lot and proceed clockwise around Tortugas Mountain covering four miles. Subsequent laps around the mountain will alternate direction. The trail is a rocky, rolling single track with some two-track.
The route will be well flagged with orange or pink flagging with reflective tape, rock cairns, and brown BLM trail markers. Flagging and reflective tape will be continuously visible in line-of-sight.
An aid station will be located at the start/finish under the covered picnic area, and at the 2-mile mark on the course. Aid stations will have water and Heed electrolyte drink, and minimal food. Participants should plan on providing most of their own food (hey, you get what you pay for).
This will be a “cupless” event, so bring your own preferred drink vessels (bottles, bladders, cups, etc.).
Crews:
Participants can have crews and supporters at the start/finish aid station.
Distance and Timing:
Participants will need to record each 4-mile lap they complete on a registration board provided at the start/finish. Mark the time of day completed for each lap corresponding to the official race clock positioned at the start/finish. There is no requirement to be present for the entire 24 hours to have an official finishing distance. Please mark yourself “away” on the register if you leave the course. You can leave and return to run additional laps within the 24 hour period. Link to course map: https://caltopo.com/p/5Q7V
Event's current local time: 1:56 PM MT
