Has anyone ever attempted to bikepack the entire Continental Divide Trail? I am not referring to the Tour Divide/GDMBR that is mainly on dirt roads, but the actual Continental Divide Trail which is more singletrack than roads. I am just looking for some beta, or good stories really and wondered if there were any CDT thru-bike trip reports on the internet you could help point me to, even if the report is of someone who didn't complete it, or if you know of someone who tried and could point me in their direction and/or shoot me their email address.

Thanks!

Just found out i have some extra vacation after the CTR this year and i am debating if it will be too brutally hot to do an ITT of the AZT 300 in late July right after the CTR since i have never been to arizona in the summer. What you think-- bad idea? Too hot in july to do this and have any fun?

I am doing an ITT but dont care about my time, i just want to finish. I voted 285 for speed and ease of riding it downhill going northbound, but i will probably do whatever the group consensus is, because Tarryall does seem more in line with what the race is all about. Unless im too tired and afraid i wont be able to finish when i get there, in which case i will just coast down 285 all the way to the diner in Bailey

I meant to post four days go, but 96 days until the CTR people! Time to start ramping up the training rides...

Anyone have any quick tips on a good way to get back to Durango after the finish? Bus, trains, anything? Do people try to coordinate rides?

Not sure about going that direction but I am getting a one way car rental from Denver to drive to Durango and am happy to give a ride to anyone who wants one. I will be starting probably about a week early if anyone else has a flexible start time for an ITT and wants a lift.

I was looking a the guidebook and noticed the services listed don't show any open/closed times for the stores. I know they must change but does anyone have a cheat-sheet for services and times they are open? I can call some places later this summer to make a list so we don't all have to call ahead to find out this information.
Also does anyone have information for some of the detours? The guidebook doesn't list any water stops etc. on the detours and this information would be nice to know.

I just picked up Eric the Black's CT atlas and it has google maps style pics of all the resupply shops in town, with detailed pics of every shop in town on the main strip, post office hours, and places to get stove fuel. Haven't decided if I will be carrying the official CT data book this year or eric the blacks. They both have their advantages and disadvantages but if a map of all the stores in town if important to you, then check out eric's guide.


EDIT: Also, go to the climbingdreams website and click on a link to a detailed trip report of someone who finished in the same amount of time that you are personally aiming for and read all about how much food they brought, what time they rolled through each town, what was open, etc... to get a better idea of where you might be and when if all goes to plan.

I already have a pretty kick butt solar charger for bikepacking, but check this little guy out: http://www.powertrekk.com/

Only weighs about 8 ounces. I wonder if this will be awesome enough to become the de facto standard for the backcountry? Either way, I am stoked to try it out! (no affiliation, just always looking for cool ways of powering devices where there is no power)

Sounds good thanks. Are you guys all happy enough with the standard Garmin brand handlebar mount for the etrex 30? I once lost a GPS this way so I am extra cautious about these sorts of things. Ill probably keep the lanyard attached to something with a mini carabiner or something in case it does slip out of the mount I will notice quick and it won't be lost forever, but I'd like it to not come to that haha.

New edition-- nice! I also just want to throw out an idea some people might like to utilize like I did. I just used one of those super cheap "scan a book to a pdf" services on the interwebs so that I can 'carry' the full on official CT guidebook along with me on my iPhone (which adds no extra weight to my pack, unlike last year when I took all three books along with me lol). So don't just buy one copy, buy two so you can keep a paper version for your home reference and get one scanned to a pdf to keep with you on the trail on a mobile device should you need it. It cost me $3 to get it scanned-- they keep the book since it needs to be destroyed to scan it but it's worth it to lighten my pack by that much. In fact, I don't think I have ever paid less money to lower my pack weight more haha. I'll still carry the small databook with me, but it just adds another resource/camp reading material should you want it.

And don't share the file illegally-- the CTF needs our money more than we do!

I used to be a delorme man so I could text with the spot messenger but Im thinking about switching to the etrex 30 this year. Any opinions as to the best Colorado topo map software I should buy to put on there? There are several different options, and I didn't know how high resolution I should go (100k vs 24k) to be most compatible with the standard CTR files put up by Toby? (thanks again Toby!)

The only thing currently holding me back from the etrex 30 is that I cannot recharge AAs while in the unit. I have an amazing solar panel that works wonders on the trail to charge my iphone, and point and shoot camera via USB, but the etrex does not let you charge AAs that are in the unit, you need an external charger for them which adds weight and bulk. Are there any comparable Garmin GPS units that will let me recharge the batteries currently inside them via USB cable while being used?

In case you're curious about the solar panel, I use the Suntactics sCharger 5 which weighs 8 ounces. Not the absolute lightest, but I cut out weight in so many other areas of my setup that I felt like it was ok.

I am looking for a size M/L Osprey Hornet 24 and 32. Let me know if you have one in great shape that you are selling.

Thanks

Old school thread getting bumped back up. I think I'm pulling the trigger on an Osprey Hornet 24 or 32. The 32 is only 1 oz heavier so I am leaning towards that but I have heard the suspension system on the 32 isn't good enough for the load that can fit in there. I am not planning on packing it heavy at all, but I want to know that I have enough room for a few huge bags of potato chips, or whatever bulky and light junk food I feel like picking up in the towns I roll through. To me, I think the 1 oz penalty is worth the ability to carry more gear if I need to, but I was curious if anyone had experience bikepacking with one and if you would still recommend the pack to someone in the market?

^^^ Love the Ellsworth. Nice choice. Full suspension on the CTR makes my rear end happy!

Score! I have vacation from June 15th until August 5th. Anyone else going to get started on the trail before the 'official' start? I'm bummed I can't come out in August, I was really hoping to catch the Perseid meteor shower (August 10-13th) from the trail, but any ride is better than no ride at all! I want to give myself enough time for at least 14 days on the trail (no excuses to bail just because I run out of time) even though I'd like to finish in about 8 or 9 days ideally, so I will likely start riding July 15th give or take a few days, maybe even a few days earlier just so I don't feel rushed and stressed about making it back in time for rotations. I am POSITIVE that I will get passed by the top contenders since I am planning on a slow and steady pace.

I'm looking forward to a Durango start. 285 will be mostly downhill that way I also think a Durango to Denver race will decrease the likelihood of giving up partway through. If you're feeling crappy, it's hard to keep pushing to Durango knowing you are getting farther away from where you need to get back to eventually, and having the longest, most remote and committing sections yet to come in front of you. This way, even if you are on the fence about giving up, knowing that every step gets you closer, and not farther, away from civilization/your flight back home in time for work, will make it that much easier to keep pushing through the bad feelings. This is going to be awesome.

I learned so much by failing last year. You really need to experience a heavy pack to know how important a light one is. I am leaving so many things behing that I brought last year. I made a spreadsheet and am literally cutting off over 20 pounds off my setup. So yeah, I think it might go a little better this time around haha! No more DSLR, heavy lens, tripod, tent, jetboil, pump filter, and enough clothes to last me a month. Bare bones this time. Counting the days until the start.......

I'd probably go in July. You might have to walk in some snow up high, but the days and nights will be 10 degrees warmer. And you'll get a lot more daylight. Plus, any snow that you have to cross will be old and firm. September, while stunningly beautiful in Colorado, is colder and darker for sure. And stormier.

Yeah for sure. I get to see my schedule tomorrow so my fingers are crossed!

Snowpack will determine whether July will be good or not. Some years it can be great, and other years it can suck. The tough part is that it's hard to tell how much snow is up there until very late in the winter. We've had years when the mountains were very dry until spring--and then the snowpack went up literally overnight.

If you can, waiting until April before making a final decision would probably be best.

Yeah I know it's totally up in the air, I have to choose by Monday though lol. I'm making my decision this weekend and hoping for the best weather wise. Just trying to maximize my chances based on how rideable the trail 'usually' is by those months.

Man med school scheduling is getting in my way of this ride! I get 6 weeks off, and can either take it from 6/17-7/29 or 9/16-11/04. Which do you think maximizes my chance of getting to ride the CT? I think mid september is kinda late and risking snowfall/colder temps (although thunderstorms might be less common), but I dont know if the trail will be melted out by the first week of July. If those were your two choices of vacations to take off and you had to choose now, think July is maximizing my chance of a dry trail and good weather so I can get this ride in during my vacation? Obviously there's no way of knowing, I just want to choose the one that I am most likely to be able to ride the CT during

Im certainly hoping July is doable as well! I am really in a bind here in terms of schedule. I am a third year med student picking out my rotation schedule for next year and doing everything in my power to get August off, but it looks like I will have the month of July off instead. I hate to hope for low snowfall, but I am dying to get back out and conquer this beast over the summer and looks like my only chance will be the last two weeks in July. I will probably have more thunderstorms than I'd have in August, but if it is melted out I might as well go for it. Maybe Ill see you on the trail if you are trying for July too! It's going to be MUDDY I bet...

Was the whole trail rideable in July last year? I know it was a horrendous snow year and that helped but if it was, then maybe this coming July will be melted out too.

I'm definitely starting in Durango next year I have decided. So that's at least two of us! Ill be starting the 11th or 12th most likely.

CTR 2013 timing?

All I'm saying is, the Perseid meteor showers peak on August 12th 2013, and there is a full moon on August 20th. For the 'normies' in the race who take about a week or longer to finish, starting the race on Monday the 12th would provide for some mighty fine meteors during the first couple nights on the bike, and an awesome full moon for the finish. Maybe it's too early to chat about the 2013 start date, but Im just saying, it'd be pretty cool if those events happened during the race (which I hope to be officially participating in next year