Chuska Challenge Info Sheet

CHUSKA CHALLENGE MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL
Buffalo Pass – Red Valley, Arizona
October 13-15, 2016
Yaateeh riders! Welcome to the 22nd annual Chuska Challenge!
REGISTRATION – Online registration for both the tour and race is now open through 10:00 p.m.
on the evening of Thursday, October 12 at the NavajoYES website: www.navajoyes.org Onsite registration will be held at the race site at the Chuska camp just east of Buffalo Pass on
Friday evening and Saturday morning between 7:00-9:00 a.m. on race morning. Registration
includes Saturday morningʼs breakfast, performance t-shirt, race poster, course support, postrace meal, camping and race awards.
FOOD & SUPPORT – Your registration includes a light pre-race breakfast between 7:00-9:00
a.m. on Saturday, on-course support (including energy gels, sweet and salty snacks and fresh
fruit), a post-race meal featuring Dineʼ cuisine and Sunday morningʼs breakfast.
CAMPING – Rustic camping is available at a camping space in the pines, just one mile east of
Buffalo Pass Overlook on Navajo Route 13. There will be portajohns at the site.
ROUTES - The tour route is all trail and dirt road. The ride heads north and west of Buffalo
Pass out toward the dry Big Lake and the dramatic overlook of Cove, Mexican Cry Mesa and
Monument Valley. The route also takes riders through beautiful forest to a second stunning
viewpoint referred to locally as “top of the world”.
The race course is a six-mile circuit from camp, up to behind “the Bear” formation and Roof
Butte, with over 1500 feet of climbing on each lap. Riders then drop east off Roof Butte to road
7500 before hitting up with N13 and climbing back up to camp where riders will complete a
challenging loop course, laden with obstacles. After finishing up at camp, riders head back out
for another loop of mountain riding. Rider with the most laps after three hours of riding is the
winner
PACKET PICK-UP – Packet pick-up will be available on Friday at camp and Saturday morning
betweem 7:00-8:30 a.m. on race morning. The race and ride begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.
AWARDS – There will be race awards, including cash prizes for overall winners and runners-up,
male and female. There will be age-group gear awards in the following categories for male and
female: 15-18, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60+.
The Chuska Challenge is sponsored by the Navajo Nation-based nonprofit organization Y.E.S. for Dineʼ
Bikeyah (NavajoYES), with major support from the Navajo Rangers, Navajo Parks & Recreation and
Navajo United Way.
CONTACTS:
Tom: 928.429.0345
Jim: 608.201.8175
[email protected]
www.navajoyes.org
DIRECTONS – Our campsite is nestled in the towering pine trees in a scenic spot at about 8500 feet
elevation. Situated between the communities of Red Valley and Lukachuai, the site is just east of Buffalo
Pass overlook in the northern Chuskas. Below are the directions from a variety of locations.
From east (if travelling from Shiprock, Durango, Farmington, Cortez, Tʼiis Nasbas, etc.)
Head south on U.S. Highway 491 out of Shiprock. Five-plus miles south of Shiprock will be the junction
with Navajo Route 13, with signs indicating Red Valley, Cove and Lukachukai. Turn right and head west
on N13. You will see the Red Rock Trading Post and school in 22 miles, then will pass by Red Valley
Cove H.S. and NHA housing on your way to the mountain. About twelve miles from Red Valley you will
arrive at camp, which will be visible on your right (north).
From south (Window Rock, Ganado, Gallup, etc.) Travel 60 miles north on Navajo Route 12
from WR to the junction with Navajo route 13 at Lukachukai (aka “L.A.”), From LA, head east into the
mountains. From the junction, you will travel about 12 miles to Buffalo Pass, on your left as you approach
the summit. Continue one mile east of the Pass to our camp, which will be visible from the highway.
From north (Kayenta, Shonto, Black Mesa, Tuba City, Monument Valley, Page) Travel east
eight miles from Kayenta on U.S. Highway 160 to the junction with Navajo Route 59 at the top of Church
Rock hill. At the junction, turn right and head south 44 miles – past Chilchinbeto and Rough Rock en
route to Many Farms. At Many Farms, travel 16 miles east to Round Rock on U.S. Highway 191. At the
junction at Round Rock, turn right and head south on Navajo Route 12. Continue 15 miles to Lukachukai,
where you will turn left onto N13. From the junction, you will travel about 12 miles to Buffalo Pass, which
will be on your left as you approach the summit. Continue one mile east of the Pass to our camp, which
will be visible from the highway.
www.navajoyes.org