Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge
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Tortugas Mountain 24 Hour Challenge - Las Cruces, NM
The Tortugas Mountain 24 hour Challenge is a timed trail event held on Tortugas Mountain near Las Cruces, New Mexico. The course is a roughly four mile loop that begins at the Arroyo Loop trailhead at the Monte Vista Parking Lot and proceeds clockwise for the first lap; subsequent laps alternate direction. The trail is a rocky, rolling single track with some two-track sections.
The route is marked with orange or pink flagging with reflective tape, rock cairns, and brown BLM trail markers. Flagging and reflective tape are continuously visible in line of sight. Participants record each completed lap on a registration board at the start/finish and mark the time of day for each lap corresponding to the official race clock. Runners may leave and later return to complete additional laps within the 24 hour period and there is no requirement to be present for the entire 24 hours to have an official finishing distance.
Aid stations are located at the start/finish under a covered picnic area and at the two mile mark. Aid stations provide water, Heed electrolyte drink, and minimal food; participants are expected to provide most of their own food. This is a cupless event so runners must bring their own drink vessels. Crews and supporters are allowed at the start/finish aid station.
The event is a free "Fatass" race with a 50 runner cap and accepts donations as a fundraiser for the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance. Donations support trail building and maintenance, trainings, local trail events, tools, advocacy, and outdoor recreation education. Participants are asked to cancel registrations if they decide not to run and to bring lightly worn shoes for donation to a local shelter. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
