He posted on Facebook that he broke three spokes on the La Garita detour and was hoping to repair the wheel and get back in the game this morning. Said he was having a great ride otherwise.

Scott - good to know. Three spokes! On the detour of all places...

Bummer about AJ - great run, and he wouldn't have bailed into Lake city for that long - or at all - if something wasn't wrong.

I couldn't imagine either of them not stopping in Silverton for food.

Which means Neil will most certainly catch them...

I think it must be the new Peak 6 expansion encroaching north along the ten mile range

...and avoid all caffeine for a month before.

Perhaps the hardest part of the whole endeavor! 

but not so much nervousness as I've felt in years past.

Probably because I wasn't there 

I don't envy them that HAB up Ten Mile right now. If you've packed too much - it's right there that you realize it!

Anyone know if there has been weather or other trail condition issues?

Was a perfect day and evening in Bailey yesterday - and cool and calm this morning.

And the Greyhound is off, chasing the bunnies. Go NB 

Starting a day later, and a will still handily beat most of the pack 

Looks like Neil got his shifter replaced. And will return to start on Monday for an ITT

Nice.

Neil?

Tailwinds, fair skies (even though I mentioned the M word earlier) and safe travels everyone! I'll be watching some blue dots - and looking for lots of them to start bouncing over the next week or so 

I assume we are talking about Saturday's Discount. I just called them and the hours are 7a-8p.

Yes - at the corner of Hwy 24 and CO 300

Almost.  There's a pretty big gas station / store about a half mile off route, just east of where the alternate comes back to the main route...

That gas station has absolutely everything!! Even candied crickets - since I'm sure you all have those on your shopping lists.

...of what I like to call the wstc (working stiffs triple crown) comprised of AZT 300, Dixie 200 & CTR.

 

I just converted to a 1x11 set up with a 32T ring up front, wondering what people run on the CT?  Would 28T be preferred?

You certainly wouldn't be wishing you had that 32T ring! Awful lot of climbing out there. I ran a 28T, but I only had a 1x9

@Woodland,
CTR 2012, first day, after having been pinned-down on the Kenosha side of Georgia Pass for about an hour....My palms sweat just thinking about that night...
-B

Exact same night I was referring to   I slept on the East side. I still remember the feeling of the hail pelting me through my bivy, and trying to stem the flood as it came through the mesh opening in my MSR ac bivy. Ah man...I'll remember that night forever.

I'm not fast so was wondering if carrying 2 days food would cover the longer sections between supply points?

IanMac - if you're not so fast, than probably not the Princeton Hot Springs to Silverton section. Of course, all depends on how many calories, how much you need, how many miles you cover a day. You're talking a good, rugged, remote 180 miles with nadda. Of course, you can drop into Lake City - and I mean, drop! - if you really need to.

And - keep in mind, Mt. Princeton is the last resort before that long stretch. The City Market in BV is your last good resupply before Silverton. Hit Mt. Princeton if you need a few last minute items. I didn't mean to imply that you fully restock at Mt. Princeton.

Hush! Don't utter the "M" word. 

Ha, sorry Barry - but I've done my fair share of time huddled under a tree in the dark listening to the heavens trying to pound me into the ground!

It's only fair that us spectators get a good show. 

I'm just fooling. You know all too well how it goes. You get every kind of weather in the span of one day out there, and you just can't count on any forecast - or worry about it. Get your kit straight, get your head in the right place, and remember what's really important (that somehow or another you get to go ride your bike for a week in the mtns of Colorado - we are so lucky) and let the weather gods do what they will - but don't let that be what stops you.

I wish to hell I was joining ya'll. Be safe.

A sad note, and a reminder to all participating in the CTR to send a generous donation to the Colorado Trail Foundation. Gudy was a visionary.

What a woman! Here is another good article about her - she didn't sit still for long.
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/18/mother-of-the-colorado-trail-gudy-gaskill-dies-at-89/

I will always remember sitting on her bench just above Junction Creek around 1am after 3 years of trying to ride that trail, gazing at the stars and the lights of Durango - and having a 'chat' with Gudy, telling her how damn impressed I was with her trail and the work she must have done to put it all together. I didn't realize at the time how much else she accomplished in her life.

If you get there this year, take a moment and sit on her bench and thank her.