Very impressive for a 21 Y/O, exciting to see. I'm super stoked for him.

And with a 5am departure from Del Norte, Calvin D is sitting in on a brunch in Platoro, having caught the tandem and passed the EH ghost.  Dude is clearly 'feeling it' and making better and better time as the ride progresses.  Passerby in Platoro: "watchya been doin' today?"  Calvin: "aw, nothin', just a little ride up and over Indiana Pass from Del Norte 'fore lunch."  His 150mpd avg ain't bad, either.

FWIW, Calvin hit the Goat Creek trail head in 3rd. He and Josh Kato came into Bolton Creek together too not terribly far behind Alex and Jefe.

I was intrigued by the "hey look at Calvin D trending faster" posts, and took a look at the splits.  Sure enough, he's the only one I see who's taken time out of Jefe since Lincoln, being ~60 hrs behind then, and recently ~48hrs behind at Salida.  His overall Race Flow line also supports the getting-faster-as-race-gets-longer trend.  Excellent riding.  I wonder what it's like to track and hunt down a tandem. 

Then, there's his great Spot okay message:

Regardless of whether he beats JayP's "ITT record" of 15:16:14, he seems destined to be close to beating the "Grand Depart record" of 16:02:46 of Ollie Whalley. The current projection on Trackleaders is for 16:11:35, so it could be a tight finish there.

There's no distinction between an ITT vs Grand Depart, in my opinion (although when I mumble to myself, I convince myself that an ITT is harder).  Record time is record time.  Across +/- 16 days, the route and the challenge is hard.  I'm very glad that there is no fire closure across the Polvadera this year and hope it holds true for all riders, as all well clear sailing through the Gila for all as well.

... like singing to yourself / screaming at yourself / talking to the trees, smacking yourself in the face, doing stand up comedy, whatever it takes...

And maybe a 5min 'handlebar nap' or two, or a dozen.  I've done this and all of the above, but on 6hrs sleep or more per.  To loosely echo what Justin the Ranger says - looking to make up or shave off hours in the sub-17d realm is serious next level stuff for me.  I'm impressed simply by where Jefe is at, given the snow/water/weather challenges up North, let alone the potential of setting the record.  Pulling for a strong NM finish!

U know - pure bliss
In the moment
I would like to stay here forever

That's what I call the 'sweet spot' - been there twice in my life via bikepack racing.  May or may not involve chills up and down the spine, possibly a tear shed (or two).  You go, Mark C!  Enjoy!

MTBCast gem from Big Dave Wilson: "This event/race is not for the faint of taint."  Classic.

Is Como Depot following this year? Looks like Jefe passed right by there..

Como Depot chimed in yesterday to this thread, so assumption is that they are following again this year.

1_So is the new I-15 Butte alternate the official route, or an "option"?
2_Yikes. Airlifts and forest service "lifts"? Anybody have any pics of Richmond Peak?
3_Sorry Marshall.
4_Jefe!

1_official, is my understanding, but was 'released' close enough to GD to allow the 'old' way to also be in play
2_pics look eerily similar to your Fleecer '10 pics
3_Ditto
4_Ditto ... catch that ghost!
5_Alice D!

I don't want to turn into the race sheriff

You just did.  And, I disagree with your opinion.

We, even the veterans, are merely spectators.

As a veteran, that's one of my ways of spectating.  It's an innocent, whimsical observation meant to point out that no matter the volumes of information available about the potentially tricky nature of S Fk Poorman Ck (like the map cues themselves, or the GDMBR guide book, or the past 8 years of blogs and forum posts, etc, etc) riders still miss the turn, year after year.  And, year after year, they figure it out for themselves (as in this case, as well).

The turn at S Fk Poorman Ck claims another victim ...

Go Alice D!  First place female now (non-ITT), on a SS no less, climbing Huckleberry where there's reportedly snow?!  Go get it, Alice - pulling for you to make Lincoln tonight!

Hmmm...on the Race Flow, first place is Jefe, and second place is Lorenzo. Alex is not on the Flow list. Oversight, or someone know something we don't? Just sayin'

My guess is that the software/coding can't reconcile the backtrack he did, 'cuz he was on the flow chart not to long ago.

I have a question about the ghost markers.  Do they only move so often, or is this where JP actually rested back in 2012?  This seems to be stopped and then makes big jumps.  Thanks
Steve

As far as I understand (which may not be far), the ghost markers are the actual historical track of the current record holders.  JP lost his spot somewhere between Helena and Lima, or somesuch, during his record run, so his 'ghost marker' makes a big jump in this section.  Hope this helps explain.  Basically, ghost markers are not an average, but a specific person's historical data.

Thanks. It was a hard decision, but like Marshall said, "You don't really even have a decision to make."

Sounds like something Marshall would say, honestly.

Snow starting at least at 5,000' level.

FYI, the top of Huckleberry is just 6,000' level.  Some racers (like aforementioned Marshal) are cresting soon as of this post, 6:42pm race time.

And, ... there's no stopping for leader Jefe at the Montana High Country Lodge in Polaris.  What a baller.

I have to stop racing. I saw a physician in Seeley Lake. I apparently have really bad bronchitis and I would be risking permanent damage by continuing.
Good luck to all out there!!!!

Bummed for you, Justin.  Was hoping you would make a 2nd finish this year.  Get well soon.

as far as he wrote on facebook, he is about to quit.
sorry to read that.

Bummer, indeed.  I was hoping he just left something in Ovando and was going back to get it.

Oh, the weather.  Seeing a bunch of Spot dots (riders) near the back of pack skipping the Whitefish Divide / Red Mdw Lake section and taking Hwy 93... props to all for tackling Richmond Peak in these conditions, and for tough folks for pushing on to Lincoln from Ovando ...  bring on Huckleberry Pass!!  Go Alice Drobna on the SS currently having made to Seeley Lake!!

Must not be any snow on Elk Pass, 'cuz the first peeps cruised right over that puppy.  ETA Elkford in under 8hrs, perhaps?  Oh, and hey, it's a bikepacker's party at the Bolton Creek store (mile 60)!

Ah yes, the yearly "do I take the paved bike path through the campgrounds and picnic areas or stay on the road" is going on in Kananaskis Trail country.  Both are valid options, I believe.  I found the paved bike path to be really neat and a welcome change after the wide open Smith-Dorien road.

http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide14