Definitely something to be proud of Andrew, great job.

Snotel is what I've been looking at.

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

380" of snow so far in Steamboat Springs this winter, we've had a rash of warm weather since mid February which has decreased snow pack levels throughout the region. I live on the road up to Lynx Pass(RCR 16) a few miles above Stagecoach Reservoir, the dirt road has now thawed to mud in the lower elevations, it's still impassable past where winter maintenance ends(Morrison Creek area). We've been getting some nasty spring storms which I hope doesn't lead to a lot of late snow storms through June or we could be walking through snow on Lynx Pass in late June(last year the pass was thawed by mid June). I actually rolled my truck 2 nights ago in the latest storm on my way home from work. Luckily crawled out of the flipped vehicle without a scratch on me, now I'm trying to figure out how this affects whether I can do TD financially. The road to the starting line has been a tough one so far for me, but by hook or by crook I'm determined to make it to Banff.

This is now on my radar, would be nice to be able to come down and meet you as well Christopher.

Anybody using lifestraw? Giving the personal unit some thought.

I was CTO/Head Systems Architect for a major webhosting/outsourced support company until I burned out three years ago, moved to Steamboat Springs and became a ski/bike bum. I now work at a little ski/river shop to scrape by and picked up an extra job cooking this winter to fund my Tour Divide. I make a lot less money now but I am able to either ski or ride my bike every day and I do a heck of a lot more smiling than I used to.

I use mostly "regular" food as opposed to energy bars. Cashews, Sunflower Kernels, Almonds, Peanuts, Peanut M&M's, good quality chocolate bars, some potato chips and I usually bring some fresh fruit as a treat, be it strawberries, grapes, or whatnot. Cashews are incredible, super dense, good fats, good protein. Potato chips give me a bit of salt replacement and some carbs, fresh fruit is quick high quality sugar and helps me re-hydrate at the same time. Chocolate bars are dense calorically and peanut M&M's well.. are just an addiction... and they don't melt before you can eat them. Personally I've found that when riding every day energy bars just get too expensive at around a buck each, most of the foods I mentioned(except perhaps the fresh fruits) are readily available at gas stations if you don't want to pack them from home. I will also occasionally use Honey Stinger gels, they seem to do well to get me back in the game quickly if I let myself get too close to bonking.

Has there ever been a categorization of all the climbs on the Tour Divide like the UCI does in Road Racing? how many cat 1 or 2 climbs etc.?

You can look at Mike Hall's Strava activity for TDR which gives the road racing category of each climb as recorded by Strava.

[~Edit~]

Jefe, Montana, Slowride, Rashasha and anyone else,

We're still a few months away but here's my initial plan:  I'm driving to Banff from Denver sometime the first week of June (flexible there).  Leaving my truck in Banff and riding south with the grand depart.  A buddy of mine is going northbound, leaving his vehicle someplace to be determined near the Mexican border.  He'll drive my truck back to Denver.  I'll drive his car back to Denver.  I can carry 6 bikes and 6 bodies, if necessary, with plenty of overflow room for gear in my Chevy Silverado.  I was thinking a stop at Glacier National Park (or other points of interest) for some riding along the way but I can scrap that if people want to head straight to Banff.  If that sounds interesting to anyone, shoot me a PM and let's make some plans.

-Les

This sounds great Les, I'll be in touch via PM soon. I'd definitely be up for some riding in the Glacier NP area if others are game, although I don't believe Going-to-the-sun road will be open by then.

-John

~Edit~

Spoke537 - Going to the Sun Road that connects East/West Glacier NP was open to bicycles the first week in June last year.  No cars, just bicycles.  That would be a good training ride.

Aha, didn't realize they opened it to bike traffic early, good info.

I'm driving up from Denver as well.  Might be leaving a week or more early though.  Would love to share gas costs if the timeline works.

-Les

I'm already booked into the Y-Lodge a couple days early, was planning on exploring Banff a bit before riding south, I can probably leave for Banff as early as is needed. I'll get hold of you via PM once we get a bit closer to the big day.

-John

Long Ways out....but anyone in Colorado planning on driving up to Banff for the start. Don't want to fly if I can help it....
Jefe

Hey Jefe, I'm driving up from Bonedale- maybe we can figure something out. Always helps to split that gas

If you guys need a third person to share in the gas let me know, I'd definitely be up for saving some money on airfare as well. In Steamboat Springs here.

Methinks I need to recruit a couple new moderators to guard against this in the future.

Drop me a note if you need a mod, I'd be willing to help out and have experience.

On another topic, anybody doing anything special "mentally" to prepare?

Not sure it's anything "special" but for this I rode all last summer in training without anyone on lonely, washboarded dirt roads in wilderness areas around Steamboat Springs, got used to laughing devilishly to myself, enjoying views on/near the divide with no one to share them with, rode a couple sections of the TDR alone to test my resolve, went through many struggles alone, wiped out on my bike and picked myself back up alone. I'm hoping(we'll see once I actually start on TDR) this should have helped me get used to the mental strain of being alone in unfamiliar territory and dealing with whatever may come... alone. This winter I've been doing a lot of backcountry skiing in unfamiliar areas to get used to route finding and being in situations that require keen alertness and good decision making in the face of gnarly terrain, avalanche danger, a nasty storm coming, etc. I think for me that all of this is geared towards making me trust myself implicitly to get through whatever may come.

Then you'll have amazingly fun days too... like Ovando, Mt (SP?).  I could live there.

Used to live just southwest of Ovando on the Blackfoot River... pretty amazing country there.

I would guess from the silence that the answer to my question is "no"
I'll have to look into a possible switch if time and cash flow allow.

Are there any gotchas/cons to riding these kinds of bars as far as handling(or any other aspects of riding)? I'm coming from Easton Haven carbon bars and wondering if I should think about a switch before TDR.

Sorry, sorry.  Uncalled for, I know.

So why'd you post it? sheesh. 

I got myself a Yeti ARC Carbon 29er last summer to ride for TDR this year. Getting a Yeti is an expensive endeavor but well worth it in my opinion. The company and my LBS have been extremely supportive of my endeavors and extremely attentive to how the bike has been running for me. I was also very pleasantly surprised with how lively the ARC Carbon hardtail frame is(Yeti is truly becoming a company that has mastered sculpting carbon). Last summer I was in the saddle for extended rides almost every day while training(to the tune of 9000 miles ridden on it so far) and the bike has been extremely comfortable. I've only crashed once on this bike and it bore it well. Beating up a carbon frame bike comes with the territory, if you don't want to beat it up cosmetically you can put helicopter tape on the bottom tube, under the bottom bracket and on the chainstay to protect from rocks kicked up on dirt roads and single track, and heli tape on any tubes you're mounting bags on. Personally, I like bike scars. Have fun deciding, a new bike is always exciting!

I had asked quite awhile ago, but I'm going to ask again because I saw a different answer recently... What day is the Grand Depart? I think someone said the first week in June when I first asked, but now I saw it is the 13th?

excerpt from TDR Website:

"Divide racing may be challenged at any time, however, TD emphasis is on a 2nd Friday in June (southbound) 'grand départ'."

This would mean June 13th this year.... Friday the 13th no less.

I have also wondered how Tour Divide competitors have stacked up age wise.   In 2011 I arrived at Antelope Well after 21 days, 6 hours, and 40 minutes.   At the time I was 57 years old.   Afterwards I spent a lot of time analyzing my ride and the mistakes I made and what I would do differently.   I also noticed that most riders that do the tour again improve their times.   Route knowledge seems to be a huge factor.   With that in mind I started planning for a return in 2012, but unfortunately a couple of months after arriving back home I found myself in a rehabilitation facility without a clue how I got there.   I still remember the first thing they taught me to say " Hi, my name is John Richardson and I have a traumatic brain injury so I may seem confused."   I was told that on my commute home from work (a ride I've done hundreds of time without incident) I was struck from behind by a 1 ton cargo van going 55 mph.   I spent 3 weeks in ICU but have no memory of it.   Besides the traumatic brain injury I had along list of other injuries.   Certainly makes me thankful I was wearing a helmet.   After talking with the Highway Patrolman that investigated the accident and the guy that witnessed it and called it in, I realized how truly lucky I was.   The Patrolman told me that he had very little hope that I would survive.   He felt I was taking my last labored breaths, and the poor guy that saw it all was so shook up he had to get some counseling.
It's been a major challenge trying to get back to where I was.   I was restricted from doing any cycling or trail running for 6 months after I got out of rehab because I had some issues with balance and coordination, but I did get the okay to jog on the roads and ride my bike trainer.   In the last two years I've competed in many 5K and 10K races, and done 3 cross state bike tours plus 3 Marathons winning my age division in 2 of them.
I feel just as my Doctors do, that being in good physical condition was key to my survival and fast recovery, and I feel much of the credit for that belongs to the Tour Divide.   It's a great cycling challenge and one heck of an amazing adventure enjoyed and endured with the very best of fellow competitors.   Even with putting some lingering crash issues aside it's doubtful I'll compete in the Tour Divide again.   No one beats Farther Time.    But.... never say never.
I hope this post is readable and sorry if I rambled on a bit much, but remember I have a good excuse, I've had a traumatic brain injury so I might seem confused...

Cheers!  Big River John

All I can say is wow, you're amazing for coming back from that. I, for one, am glad you're still around and riding a bike. Best wishes to you.

At 8:45 Mountain it's -32f in Banff.  On the bright side, Elkford reports -12f ... much warmer.  Glad I'm not out on the trail right now.  

I live right on the TDR halfway between Stagecoach Reservoir and Lynx Pass on RCR 16, shoveling snow this morning before dawn it was -33F in the yard, it's warmed up now to a balmy -22F.... BRRRRRRRRRR. Haven't seen anyone touring through in at least a month and a half. Going to be a cold day of skiing today, that's for sure.