Tour of the White Mountains
October 5, 2024
Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ
All Tour of the White Mountains Results are live and typically appear within 5 minutes after the participant crosses the finish line.
If you have any questions or wish to appeal your results, please email us with as much information as possible including Rider Name, Rider Number, Distance, DOB, Estimated Finish Time, and GPS file if available.
Two weeks after the event, results are etched in stone (no, really –we have a guy with a hammer and chisel…) Kidding aside: please bring any concerns to us immediately (again, email is best), and we will address them expeditiously.
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006
The Tour leverages the Pinetop Lakes activity and equestrian center to provide a complete family experience. Attendees enjoy the onsite amphitheater for event activities and live music, nearby accommodations, campground games, a robust communal campfire and more!
At 7,000 ft. a limited field of riders will discover the challenges and gratification from riding awesome single track among a pine forest backdrop while witnessing the endless beauty (and perfect distraction) of the fall season in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
All finishers receive a custom award emblazoned with their distance and are welcomed to the post-ride after-party with live music, BBQ and cold Dragoon Brewing Company beverages.
The communities of Pinetop-Lakeside are sure to please any visitor with their quintessential small mountain town charm and top notch restaurants.
For the benefit of: Tour of the White Mountains benefits TRACKS.
Event Guide
- All backcountry bicycle event participants are required to wear eye protection and a helmet that complies with U.S. CPSC safety standards for bicycle helmets.
- Each rider is expected to complete the entire course. If they do not complete the entire course, the participant is considered a Did Not Finish (DNF). If a rider is a DNF they should not cross the finish line upon return to the start/finish-line area. They are expected to report to the Epic Rides Tent to inform an Epic Rides crew member that they are no longer on the course and did not complete the ride.
- Each participant must be considerate of other riders when passing or being passed. Verbal communication and/or the use of a bell are necessary for a successful pass. When being passed, please provide adequate space when available for the faster rider to go by.
- Participants are required to complete the entire course on the same bike they started the event on. All bikes in the singletrack-centric courses should be of the ‘mountain bike’ genre (geometry, tires, cranks, handlebars, etc).
- The nature of mountain biking requires a mountain biker to be self supported. Because Epic Rides’ events are a mild deviation from the solo backwoods experience, participants are allowed to accept support from other registered event participants, official event aid stations, or crew support (when applicable) stationed at aid stations on course. Pacing and intermittent hand-ups in non aid station locations is prohibited.
- Always abide by the laws and rules of the road and/or governing land agency when appropriate.
- Headphones connected to MP3 players or similar devices that prohibit a rider’s ability to hear activity around them are not permitted.
- Littering is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Picking up trail trash is good karma.
- Thank the volunteers; the event couldn’t happen without them.
- All bicycles must be completely human-powered. No pedal-assist is allowed unless specifically registered for the gravel e-bike fun ride event.
- If a participant breaks the rules, or attempts to bend the rules through a “loophole,” the decision regarding appropriate course of action will be made by a board of critical thinkers and experts in the sport of mountain biking. Your actions are at their mercy.
A Free Kids Event
Epic Rides is proud to host a FREE fun ride for kids of all ages and skill levels. All participants will receive a number plate and finisher’s award. Parent’s/guardian’s are encouraged to join the fun on a bike or foot.
Registration Hours
Friday 1:00p – 7:00p
Saturday 6:30a – 8:30a
Start Time
Saturday 9:15a
Course
The course is a loop of approximately 1/8 of a mile and is held on a dirt road/trail closed to traffic. Kids will ride as many laps as they can in 20 minutes. This is a beginner-level course and perfect for kids that aren’t quite ready for the challenge of the 9-mile singletrack distance.
Rules
All participants, including parents, are required to wear helmets. Gloves and eye protection are recommended.
2019 Dedication Nick Lund – The Engine Behind the White Mountains Trail System
The 24th Annual Tour of the White Mountains is dedicated to local trails hero, Nick Lund. For 11 years Lund served as not only the Event Manager for the Tour of the White Mountains but also as the President of TRACKS, the local trails group responsible for all the incredible singletrack featured in the Tour.
Before moving to the Pinetop-Lakeside area, Lund had a long and successful career in higher education, earning his Doctorate while being recognized as one of the founding faculty members of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. He also had a decade-long stint in the corporate world as a business manager in Southern California. Although Lund had a mountain bike and would go for rides on the beach when he lived in Florida and on dirt roads along the Colorado River when he lived in Yuma, Arizona, trails didn’t enter Lund’s life until he and his wife retired and moved to Pinetop-Lakeside in 2005.
“My wife and I wanted to get back to the mountains, and we fell in love with the beauty of Northeast Arizona,” said Lund. “Shortly after arriving, I met a retired Grand Canyon ranger named Doug Brown and biked with him a lot. At the time Doug was the president of TRACKS, and after a couple of years, we got to know each other well. One day he told me he was leaving as president and that I should take over.”
The opportunity appealed to Lund, so he applied and got the job. TRACKS is a powerful volunteer organization that gives back thousands of hours per year to the trails, and during Lund’s decade-plus tenure at the helm of TRACKS, the organization went from 130 members to now more than 550 members. TRACKS members cover a spectrum of outdoor recreation from hikers and mountain bikers to equestrians, cross country skiers and folks who just like to work on trails.
Thanks to TRACKS and its valuable partnership with the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, the
White Mountains Trail Network boasts more than 200 miles of trail running from Show Low, through Pinetop-Lakeside and out to Vernon.
During his tenure as President, Lund was also the Event Manager for the Tour. Thanks to the efforts of TRACKS and Lund, the Tour has become so popular it now fills to capacity each season. The success of the event is a combination of a warm, welcoming and passionate community and high-quality singletrack routes that keep people coming back every October.
“It was a great move for Todd Sadow to put someone local in the lead position for the event,” said Lund. “My connections to all the locals helped the event succeed, as we got more than 100 residents to volunteer at the event.”
Locals do everything from marking the routes to running the aid stations. Even the children of local volunteers participate, riding in the event. The Tour gives locals something to take pride in, an asset that brings the community together each October.
One of Lund’s proudest achievements during his tenure at TRACKS was the Emergency Responder project. This project helped simplify locating an injured rider on the trail network. Previously Navajo County Sheriff’s Auxiliary had to search hours to make a rescue and had to send multiple responders, but thanks to a grant funded by Arizona Game and Fish, Lund and TRACKS developed a labeled white diamond marker system along with GPS coordinates, so when an emergency call came in, responders could locate exactly where the person was. Since project completion, all rescues have been 45 minutes or less and involve one responder.
Lund recently stepped back from the event manager position for the Tour and the lead role at
TRACKS, but he still helps out, processing all TRACKS member applications and maintaining the database.
Although he’s taken a step back, Lund is still getting after it, recently celebrating his 77th birthday with a 22-mile mountain bike ride. We couldn’t think of a more fitting dedication recipient for the Tour than Nick Lund.
For the benefit of
T.R.A.C.K.S
T.R.A.C.K.S is dedicated to using, promoting, preserving, and protecting multi-use trails throughout Pinetop-Lakeside and the White Mountains. It strives to support and assist the development, maintenance, and improvement of non-motorized trails, and to provide a resource for education, communication, and social interaction designed to enhance the enjoyment of outdoor experiences on the trails.
White Mountain Nature Center
Established in 2003, the Nature Center is a tax-exempt, nonprofit educational organization. Located on 10 acres in Lakeside next to the Big Springs Environmental Study Area, it includes 5 acres leased from the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside on its Mountain Meadow Recreation Complex. It is a valuable resource for sponsors and donors to exhibit goodwill and concern about the future of our natural resources.
The Nature Center seeks to connect people through nature education, wildlife rehabilitation, and open space preservation in the White Mountains of Arizona.
Arizona Cycling Association
The Arizona Cycling Association is a non-profit youth development organization, building strong mind, body, and character, guided by the principals of inclusivism and equality. The league promotes interscholastic mountain bike racing, provides training and education to new teams and coaches, and offers a comprehensive infrastructure to grow youth cycling in a professional, safe and engaging manner.
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Southern Arizona Search and Rescue
SARCI is a non-profit corporation that coordinates six all-volunteer local search and rescue groups serving Tucson, Pima County, and Southern Arizona. Through SARCI the skills of these six teams are combined into a unified, professional resource available to local law enforcement and emergency service agencies primarily in Pima County, but also available upon request to participate in SAR missions throughout the United States and the Republic of Mexico.
SARCI members are highly trained search and rescue volunteers who donate thousands of hours of time to missions including wilderness searches, technical rescues, cave rescues, equestrian rescues, water rescues and recoveries and search dog operations, as well as continuous ongoing training.
Courses
Photos & Videos
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Come join the fun!
Volunteering at an Epic Rides event is often times more fun than riding the event itself!
Opportunities include anything from Goodie Bag stuffing in the weeks prior to the event to jumping into the action on ride weekend as a course marshal, exchange tent facilitator or finish line ambassador.
As a small token of gratitude, all Volunteers will receive:
- An Official Event Volunteer T-shirt
- Event Goodie Bag full of samples
- $40 off a future Whiskey Off-Road or Tour of the White Mountains
- 15% off Epic Rides retail sold at the event
- Endless appreciation from the Epic Rides crew -and the entire mountain bike community.
All volunteers should be prepared to spend quality time in the outdoors. Please remember to bring proper clothing, food & water, sunscreen, and an open mind. Everyone tends to agree; participating in an Epic Rides event at any level provides memories that last a lifetime!
Questions? Email us at [email protected]
Thank you,
Epic Rides Staff & the ever-loving mountain bike community!
Official Sponsors
Host Community
Community Sponsors
Industry Sponsors
Bike & Gear Expo
At an elevation of 6,800 feet, Pinetop-Lakeside is surrounded by the natural beauty of the White Mountains, the Apache/Sitgreaves National Forest, and the Fort Apache Reservation. Hiking, biking, horseback riding, hunting, and fishing are popular recreational activities; camping and picnic facilities are provided throughout the area, and the White Mountain Trail system provides over 180 miles of developed multi-use trails.
Here, sunny skies and four classic seasons enhance a variety of activities. In winter, visitors can enjoy sledding or tobogganing, snowboarding, ice fishing, and, of course, world-class downhill and cross-country skiing at the nearby Sunrise Park Resort. Miles of groomed trails and first-rate facilities draw enthusiasts from around the world.
In summer, with stubborn patches of gleaming snow still clinging to her summits, the White Mountains offer visitors a variety of scenic attractions and an unlimited array of outdoor activities. Some 50 alpine lakes and 800 miles of cold, crystal-clear rivers and springs draw visitors throughout the season to this mountain playground.
While Pinetop-Lakeside is renowned for its outdoor activities, Pinetop-Lakeside has a diverse selection of eateries and shops to enjoy after a long day on the trails.
Whether you’re enjoying the comfort of Buck Springs Resort or enjoying the great outdoors with your campsite at Pinetop Lakes Activity Center & Stables, Pinetop-Lakeside is able to fit your every need for your weekend adventure.
Finisher’s Award – 9, 30, 35 & 50 Miles
Every Tour of the White Mountains finisher receives an official Tour Camping Mug, each one specific to the distance the rider completed.
Plan to sit around the campfire sipping on your favorite post-ride beverage or morning brew with your new favorite mug.
35 & 50 Top Finishers
Those who complete their course fast enough to finish in the top five will receive a custom, locally-sourced, carved bear.
All categories will receive product from industry sponsors in addition to the customized awards.
All Tour of the White Mountains Results are live and typically appear within 5 minutes after the participant crosses the finish line.
If you have any questions or wish to appeal your results, please email us with as much information as possible including Rider Name, Rider Number, Distance, DOB, Estimated Finish Time, and GPS file if available.
Two weeks after the event, results are etched in stone (no, really –we have a guy with a hammer and chisel…) Kidding aside: please bring any concerns to us immediately (again, email is best), and we will address them expeditiously.
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006