Fire Mountain Inferno

Can you handle the heat? Find out at this year’s Fire Mountain Inferno! One of the most exciting riding events in the NC Mountains, the Fire Mountain Inferno offers cross-country racing for all levels of experience as well as intense enduro-racing throughout the Fire Mountain Trail system in Cherokee, NC. More than just a race, this event offers various vendors and food trucks for everyone to enjoy.

Registration

Now open online through April 30, 2020.

Limits
There is a limit of 120 participants in the Enduro races on Sunday.

Schedule
Friday, May 1
All Day – Enduro and Cross Country practice – Courses will be marked
5:00-7:00 PM Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Festival Grounds (441 Sequoyah Trail, Cherokee)

Saturday, May 2
8:00-9:30 AM    Course open for practice
7:30-9:30 AM    Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Fairgrounds (441 Sequoyah Trail, Cherokee)

Enduro Racing
9:15 AM    Rider meeting at trailhead
9:30 AM   All racers up Uktena

Sunday, May 3
7:00-9:00 AM    Course open for practice
7:30-12:00 PM    Packet Pickup/Late Registration – Cherokee Fairgrounds

Cross Country Racing
10:00 AM            Beginner & Junior (17 & Under) Categories (M&F)
12:30 PM             Expert Category (M&F); Sport, Masters, Single Speed Category (M&F)

Entry Fees
Enduro
Now – April 30, 2020: $60 – All Categories
On-Site $75 – All Categories
Enduro Junior – $10

Cross Country
Now – April 30, 2020: $30 – Beginner, Sport, Single Speed & Expert Categories
On-Site $45 – Beginner, Sport, Single Speed & Expert Categories
Race Day: $10 – Junior (17 & Under)

Dante’s Double (Both Days)
Now – April 30, 202-: $85 – All Categories
On-Site $100 – All Categories
Junior – $10

Courses
The Cross Country races will start at the Cherokee Fairgrounds and begin with a climb on the pavement to the trailhead. The Enduro races will start near the trailhead in the upper parking lot of the Oconoluftee Village.

Cross Country
Beginner & Junior – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9 miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 3 laps of the beginner loop (2.3 miles each lap with 312 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644901. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 8.7 miles with 1261 ft elevation gain.

Sport, Single Speed – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 2 laps of the Sport/Expert loop (4.75 miles each lap with 650 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644917. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 11.3 miles with 1625 ft of elevation gain.

Expert – Start climb from the Fairgrounds up to the loop, .9miles with 325 ft elevation gain: https://www.strava.com/segments/17644883. 3 laps of the Sport/Expert loop (4.75miles each lap with 650 ft elevation gain): https://www.strava.com/segments/17644917. Then there is .9 miles back to the finish line at the fairgrounds. Total: 16.05 miles with 2275 ft of elevation gain.

Enduro
Up Uktena Trail then down Spearfinger Trail (Stage 1) – 2 miles with 630ft of elevation loss: (https://www.strava.com/segments/17644957)

Up Uktena Trail then down Kessel Run-Upper Half (Stage 2) – 1.4 miles with 486ft of elevation loss: (https://www.strava.com/segments/17644988)

Continue down Kessel Run-Lower Half  (Stage 3) – .6 miles with 200ft of elevation loss (https://www.strava.com/segments/20238652)

Up Spearfinger and down Uktena (Stage 4)

Photo courtesy EBCI Destination Marketing