Sandia Snowshoe Classic – Friends of the Sandia Mountains

Announcing the
22^nd Sandia Snowshoe Classic 2026
Saturday, January 24, 2026
– sign up at sandiasnowshoe –

For more snowshoe events in New Mexico, check out:
Santa Fe Snowshoe Classic, January 31
Chama Chile Classic, January 17

Thursday, 11/27/2025 Page .S016
Copyright (c) 2025 Albuquerque Journal
Click to enlarge image.

REI Coop   Cabra Coffee   Triangle Grocery   Burger Boy
Rumor Brewing   Heart & Sole Sports   Trail Rider Pizza   Ribs
Roots Farm Cafe   Sandia Peak Tramway

Pre-event Updates

December 28, 2025 – Steve Roholt reported: The start/finish is covered, but the snow is further down toward the gate this year. Highway and parking areas clear. There are a few snow covered icy spots on the highway mostly above 10000 ft. New snow from this last storm one inch if you’re being generous.

Most of the course including the section of the Service Road has good coverage. The usual spots along 130S are getting thin/bare, but overall the course is well covered. I walked with hiking boots and traction devices today. Even if we don’t get significant snow, what’s there should hold up as it’s well consolidated and there are only a few problematic areas (exposed rocky areas) that may need attention. Of course, a foot of new snow would be nice!

Happy New Year!

December 23, 2025 – Race Director Mike Madden reports: I picked up the free EM January newspaper at the East Mountain Library on Saturday. To my surprise, our Snowshoe Classic is featured on page 8! See attached photo. BTW, we have 99 registered runners as of this morning (a big number, given three weeks of record breaking mild & dry weather)!

December 18, 2025 – Steve Roholt reported: It was 35 degrees with wind today. I was up there 10-1. The course itself is pretty well covered with consolidated snow. I did upper Switchback and Buried Cable today. It would be nice to have more snow, but what has fallen so far has laid down a good base. There are a couple of melted-out spots on 130 South, but I did not go to look today. 5 weeks out. Much can happen in the meantime!

December 15, 2025 – Race Director Mike Madden reports that 85 participants have registered.

December 10, 2025 – Steve Roholt reported: I spent some time shoveling snow and packing with snowshoes with the goal to level out the Upper Switchback Trail. I’m in the process of discussing this issue with Sam. This trail is adopted by the New Mexico Cross Country Ski club and is used for the snowshoe classic. It’s a non-wilderness, multiuser, all-season, official FS trail.

Upper Switchback Trail. Descriptions below. Click to enlarge a photo.

Left photo: Looking up, about 8-12 inches undisturbed snow. Most of this trail is NE exposed and early season sun angle is low. There are a few sun-exposed spots that are a bit thin, but overall trail coverage is very good. Note the canted trail.

Middle photo: Looking down. Shoveled from the back (up) slope to the lower critical edge. Walked through and packed it with snowshoes. In trail lingo it’s benching and backsloping; not dirt but snow.

Right photo: There is ample backslope snow, prevailing winds tend to cause backslope drifting as well. There is a fair amount of canting throughout the trail system. It’s just how the Sandias are at that elevation. The corridor is mostly 6 feet wide.

The idea of this type of snow management is to take from where it’s not needed (above/backslope) and put on the downslope/critical edge. The lower edge of the trail needs to be stable. Shoveling is easier with lighter snow, and shoveling from top to bottom is not as strenuous. It’s generally best to do this early in the season as the packed snow starts a wide, level base. Then when it does snow it generally falls level. Snow gets further consolidated from users (CC skiers and snowshoers) after a few days.

Obviously more snow is better but we have no control over the weather!

Sandia Snowshoe Classic History

FOSM has sponsored this January event under a Forest Service permit since 2001 with cancellations in 2018 (lack of snow) and 2021 (COVID). Registration fees are set to provide modest net income after expenses. Generous sponsors provide refreshments and “swag” for the participants. Registration is limited to 175 participants.

Former director Lou Romero (2014-2017) has published a brief history of the event. The intention has always been that the event be a fun time for participants of all ages and skiils, but elite racers participate.