Cloud Gravel Invitational

02/15/2023

With the snow we recently got in the Sacramento Mountains, we thought it would be a good time to make an announcement.

Thank you all so much for coming and participating in rides, and support for AFTD to find a cure.

With last year's fire restrictions closing the ride, and various outside influences already this year, we are putting the Cloud Gravel Invitational on permanent hiatus.

Obviously our work with AFTD will continue, but we are not likely to bring back the ride this year, or possibly next year. We will have an informal "get together ride weekend" sometime in the fall -- likely September -- but will not have an organized event.

The maps of the routes will continue to be available on Ride with GPS for anyone who would like to ride the routes.

Again, thank you to every participant and supporter!
We'll see you out on the trails!

06/20/2022

Autopsy results show a 40 percent loss of dopamine neuron and the late comedian’s widow shares the heartbreaking symptom he likely hid from her.

06/12/2022

Just off the route for both the 55 and 90. The forest is still closed, so we are still officially not having the ride as scheduled, and we are still looking at alternatives.

New Fire Start: Bird Fire
Jurisdiction: Lincoln National Forest, Sacramento Ranger District
Size: 2 acres
Cause: Lightning
Date/Time Detected: June 11, 2022, 4:30 pm
Location: Near Bird Spring in Dark Canyon between Highway 130 and Rd 233 (aka Dark Canyon Rd.) Google Map to Fire Location: https://goo.gl/maps/wRcA9ViNPoj2Cy2G9
Firefighting Resources: 2 Engines, 1 hotshot crew.
Fuel Type: Dense dead and down logs.
Evacuations: None
Fire Update: Firefighters are on scene at the Bird Fire, named after Bird Spring in Dark Canyon. The fire is burning in dense dead and down logs. The 2-acre fire was caused by lightning from the recent thunderstorm that brought more wind and lightning than rain. Two engines and one hotshot crew are responding to the incident. Aircraft is available tomorrow (they are unable to fly at night) and will be used where needed.

You can expect another update tomorrow mid-morning.

05/31/2022

Imprisoned in one's own rapidly shrinking brain is how a doctor once described it to me. "I wouldn't wish Frontotemporal Dementia or Alzheimer's, or Levy Body Dementia on my worst enemy."

As the patient's brain slowly dies, they can change physically and may eventually forget who their loved ones are. Patients can eventually become unable to speak or communicate, can become bedridden, unable to move & unable to eat or drink.

There will be people who will scroll by this message because Dementia or Alzheimer's has not touched them. They may not know what it's like to have a loved one who has led a battle against Dementia, Alzheimer's.

I don’t ask people to copy and share, because I won’t do that when a post says it. I just want you to know I’m doing this on behalf of all caregivers who love or care for someone with this disease, and for those who are suffering from any of these horrible diseases.❤️

We have a fundraiser to help find a cure: https://www.classy.org/fundraiser/3737089

05/24/2022

This fire that popped up today is on the bikepacking route (and just off the road almost everyone would come in on to head up to W**d, and on to the start/finish line)

Thank goodness crews were able to limit it to just six acres, but it’s a good example of why the USFS closed the forest today.

Incident Name – Bear Fire Jurisdiction: Forest Service, Sacramento Ranger District Size: 6 acres Cause: Unknown Date/Time Detected: May 23, 2022, around 5 pm. Location: Off Bear Canyon Road ne…

05/23/2022

The U.S. Forest Service has announced the Lincoln National Forest is closed until at least July 30.
That means almost every area the Cloud Gravel Invitational goes cannot be accessed for the ride, and the 2022 ride is officially cancelled or postponed until later.

We are currently deciding between postponing the ride until the fall or waiting until next year. We will be sending an email to all registered riders tonight discussing options.

Any input from riders is appreciated.

05/21/2022

MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
We are keeping an eye out on all goings on with forest restrictions due to fire danger…
this closure right now only affects the bikepacking route, because it is the only route that travels through any part of the Mescalero Reservation. We will look for an alternative coming out of Cloudcroft.

We talked with Forest Service officials, and they are expecting to review/make an announcement about restrictions on May 25, ahead of the Memorial Day weekend. So we should have an update sometime next Wednesday.

Suggestions are always welcome.

Reference: Relative humidity at our cabin this week is only 1%.

05/19/2022

Why is it so hazy? Smoke from the Bear Trap Fire on the Cibola National Forest and the Black Fire on the Gila National Forest is drifting east across much New Mexico, including over Ruidoso, the Tularosa Basin and up into Texas. Learn more about smoke patterns here. https://fire.airnow.gov/ #

05/18/2022

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
The Black Fire is over in the Gila, which is west of the Lincoln National Forest. We are keeping an eye on all fires in New Mexico, and US Forest Service response and restrictions relating to them.

Currently, the Lincoln National Forest is at Level 2, which means no fires of any kind.

The Hermit's Peak fire in northern New Mexico is now the largest in state of New Mexico history and has prompted Level 3 fire restrictions in that part of the state.
Level 3 is a closure of the forest to all outside people other than officials, fire personnel, and residents who live there.

Forest Service officials who are friends of ours have indicated they are reviewing and discussing going to Level 3 restrictions in both the Gila and Lincoln -- possibly as early as next week.

If Level 3 restrictions happen, the 2022 Cloud Gravel Invitational will have to be cancelled or postponed. We are looking at dates in the fall -- just in case.

I welcome any feed back and suggestions. Feel free to direct message me, email me, or text me with your thoughts.

In spite of everything, have the best day ever!
Blake Ovard

Black Fire Update
Acres: 77,360
Containment: 0%

Full Update will be posted later this morning

05/15/2022

Go and check out the The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration website, and while you are there, check out our event listing. It's also a great tool to sed to your friends and request they donate to your fundraising efforts!

Blake Ovard is hosting the Cloud Gravel Invitational—a gravel cycling event—on June 17-19, 2022 in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. Participants can sign up for one of four distances: 25, 55, 90 or 200 miles (with elevation gains ranging...More

05/10/2022

I would like to send a huge shout out to Chaparral Sanitation Co. as our official Sanitation Station sponsor! They will be providing the best in portable potties right at the start/finish line base camp!
We are so excited they are working with us, and believe in what we are doing by making every dollar from this ride go to the The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration!
THANK YOU SO MUCH Chaparral!

(And, might I add, if you are in Otero County, New Mexico, Cloudcroft, New Mexico, Mayhill, New Mexico, W**d, NM, Alamogordo, New Mexico, or anywhere else — you need to call them for all of your needs!)

05/09/2022

From this weekend: Here’s the main camp area, and start/finish line. About where the van is, is where the main tent/sign in will be.
Scouted several of the routes, and they all look pretty good following the winter weather. So, it looks like all routes will be the same as last year, with no changes planned at this point.
I will be sending out another update to everyone registered sometime this week…
Wait, you’re not registered, or have a friend who needs to register?! Register NOW while you still can— there’s only a few spots left!