My write up from my ITT ride of the 300 last year:

https://steller.co/s/7zY9afBGRge

Cue Sheets for both routes are now updated and can be downloaded here: https://tourdelospadres.weebly.com/ride--route-info.html

Route updates for this year:

The bottom paved part of Santa Barbara Canyon Road right after Ventucopa (tour route only) has been completely re-paved and is now brand new smooth pavement.

Big Pine Buckhorn Forest Road (both routes) has been re-graded as Gregg mentioned.  Hopefully no rock slides and downhill walk a bike this year.

Camuesa Connector trail (both routes) has been completely re-built thanks to SBMBTV efforts.  Last year there were some sketchy wash out sections. 

Both routes this year avoid the recent Thomas Fire burn area, so as a result no Romero Trail this year unfortunately.   But Jesusita Trail has been added back to the proper route to provide a little more singletrack.   

All this being said, I would expect faster finish times versus last year due to better road/ trail conditions.  Winter has come late this year.  Lots of rain predicted for next week. 

Hi Justin, last year there was a group that rode the short course in May.   It can get very hot by that time of year sometimes, it just depends.  This year has been a drought year so far (we just got some rain/snow though).  I would expect summer to come sooner this year. Water sources will still be fine in May though. 

All route info is here- https://tourdelospadres.weebly.com/ride--route-info.html

Except for the cuesheets, which will be coming in the next few weeks.  

Yes the short hike up to Big Pine Summit is part of the proper route.  It is optional for the tour route. It is a chance to get off your bike, sign your name in the book at the summit, and enjoy the massive views before dropping down to Bluff.   It is wilderness so you need to leave your bike down near the fireroad.  You are correct, all the other little out and backs to campgrounds and springs are optional.  Those are just included as part of the GPX track so it is easy to find water and camping.   

Hines Peak is awesome. That area near Ojai all burned in the Thomas Fire.  Will take a few years to recover :-(

I have the carbon version of the Horsethief.  It felt way lighter than my aluminum Stumpjumper that I had before.  No problem on the walk a bike of the high elevation passes of the CTR.  I am sure both bikes are great bikes, I just like maximum squish and comfort, since the trails I ride near me are rocky.  The Spearfish is probably a faster bike on less technical terrain, but the Horsethief can conquer junky and chunky trails all day long.  Message Salsa on Facebook and ask them when they are doing a demo day near you.  That's how I rode my bike before purchasing.

Get the Horsethief!  Mine has completed the AZT300, CTR and TDLP.  You won't be disappointed, this bike can handle anything!

The mudslides completely devastated Montecito last week. The slides all occurred directly downstream of the Thomas Fire burn area, mainly in creeks.  The loss of life is really tragic.  The Santa Barbara area is ok though.  Romero Trail is obviously not on the route this year.

Some friends and I backpacked to the top of Sierra Madre Ridge this weekend via Aliso Trail from Aliso Campground (near Cuyama).  Was thinking about adding that trail to the tour route, but it would be almost all hike a bike in the uphill direction, so probably not.  It was a fun hike though. 

If you stay a night at Kokos motel, I bet he would let you park there.  There is also street parking on Mt. Pinos Way (in front of Ace Hardware might be a good bet).   

Fresh thread for this year.  Hard to believe this is the 5th year already

The good news - The recent Thomas Fire was a monster fire, but it actually only burned a small portion of the route, which will easily be re-routed.  Also Camuesa Connector Trail has been completely re-built thanks to LPFA and SBMBTV. It is riding super fun right now.  

The bad news - Santa Cruz Trail is still not ready.  The bottom of the trail has been reconstructed after the devastating storm that destroyed it last winter, but two-thirds of the trail still needs to be re-built.  So it will still likely not be on the route for 2018.

This winter has been very dry so far, but looks like rain on tap finally for early next week.  

Still no team has ridden a tandem bike on either route  Will this be the year?  

It is probably time to start a fresh 2018 thread and retire this one.  Will do right now...

Get a frame bag next. That rigid bike looks like it won't handle much technical riding. Stick to well graded dirt roads.

The 2018 start date looks like March 16 according to the FB page.

The Dixie will never die

Unlike last year, it doesn't look like it was a good year for the ladies.  Hopefully another female goes out for an ITT so we get a finisher. 

I thought that was you.  You certainly smoked me.  I left on Thursday afternoon a few days before the group  

This route looks awesome.  Wild and remote country, which is what bikepacking should be.  Wish I could say I am 100% in, but it will have to be a last minute decision for me due to issues beyond my control.   Aarond, did we chat at Spring Pass on the CTR last year?  Early in the morning?  I had just woke up and you looked like you rode through the night.  You said you were gonna quit, but I think you smoked me on seg. 23 and 24. 

Long time no talk Brad M. I finally got around to my write up from last year.  I will for sure be back to do this one again.  The CT is such high quality riding.  Have fun out there everyone 
https://steller.co/s/78NPLqrLqLS

Trip report from last weekend...  

Tons of water in all the streams right now.  2-3 liters is all you need.

Keysville / Kern Canyon / Badger Gap Trail are all riding nicely, but temps are a bit hot in that area.  We rode evening and morning hours in that area and it was pretty nice.  Plenty of water along all of those trails though.  

Rancheria Road is riding great and has been maintained recently.  

Unal Trail- Freaking awesome!  No downed trees and trail is clear and clean.  

Portuguese Pass - Fireroad here is closed to vehicles, not sure if it is closed to bikes too. The whole area is pretty burnt. We stayed on the fireroad here.  Portuguese Pass Trail is definitely closed right now  due to the Cedar Fire last summer (there was red tape at the trailhead).  

Pup Meadow Trail - Needs some work, but it is fine.  Just a lot of tree debris on the trail still from the winter.  

Fireroads west to Windy Gap (22S04 and other roads) - Excellent shape.  

Windy Gap to Slate Mountain Summit.  Oh boy this was hard.  The 1,000' walk a bike is not too bad after Windy Gap, the real ass kicker was the snow along the ridgeline before Slate Mountain.  Some snow drifts were 6 to 9 feet high.  I was the first person to summit Slate Mountain this year, and I can see why.  1 MPH moving speed getting through the snow drifts here.  A good alternate might be Crawford Road (21S94) but that road does go through the Tule River Indian Reservation. Not sure if that section is open to the public.  

Bear Creek Trail - Needs a lot of work.  A lot of snow at the top too. I would not recommend attempting this until Mid July, and even then, there will likely still be a lot of downed trees.  The lower section gets fun though.  This trail just needs some love.  

Camp Nelson- We made the restaurant by 7 pm.  They close at 8 am.  Good pizza and tacos.

Nelson Trail - Excellent shape.  The walk a bike back up to Quaking Aspen is not too bad.  Such a beautiful trail.  

Upper Freeman Creek Trail- Freaking awesome!!  Best trail of the trip! W

Lower Freeman Creek Trail (after crossing Lloyd Meadows road) - hard to analyze this trail, since we got lost and ended up walking through the woods.  I think you are supposed to cross the bridge at the private property.  We thought that might be trespassing.  

Lloyd Meadows road - for pavement this is pretty nice.  We rode it on a Monday and barely any cars.  

We tried to scout out forest road 22S53 (near Elephant Knob), but it was a bust.  Private land owner is blocking access to 32E43.  So I don't believe there is a way to bypass Johnsondale here and score more dirt.  

Johnsondale store was open when we were there and it was a great place to stop.  It was a hot day and we needed a drink.  

We were going to go up Sherman Pass Road to Cherry Hill Road and then down lower Cannell Trail, but it was too late in the day and we had to get back to the car so we just hit the pavement back to Kernville.  The third person in our group that cut the loop shorter did in fact ride this section and it looks like Big Meadow to Kernville is riding nice right now.  I suspect there might be snow on upper Cannell like there was on Slate Mountain.  You could see lots of white up in that direction from down below.  I would not recommend going much higher than 8,000 feet right now. 

https://goo.gl/photos/uC4BvPDADdfhuPUH9

Interesting article. Curious, what do you do with your food at night?  I have used those extra thick zip lock bags (lopsack I think they are called) with 100% success before in CA and in CO, but that is only black bear country.  Do you think bear spray is a recommended piece of gear?