Anyone heard how they are going to route around the Santa Fe National Forest which is currently closed to entry due to fire danger? 

2 more seem to have missed the turn for the Gold Dust.

I noticed that for the NOBOs too.  Most (2 of 3?  How many NOBOs remain?) took the optional singletrack heading up the pass, instead of the road. No harm in that though. 

Gary Johnson is having some serious navigation troubles.  Looks like he missed the turn to Brooks Lake, realized it before getting too far and backtracked up the pass and around.   Then, at the bottom went back up Togwotee Pass on the pavement, to the Brooks Lake turn and descended back down the pavement. 

#TourDivide17 Josh Kato called in from near Separ and Lynne Slivovsky called in crossing into Colorado!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td17/

Josh's call-in was a bit broken, but he was warning riders entering the Gila that camping along FS150 (north star road) may not be a good idea due to fire suppression happening along the road.  Pulled this picture from NMFireinfo.com

Will the fires in new Mexico effect the race? Any info?

Don't believe the route runs through any of the active fires.  However, there are several large fires burning across New Mexico, so smokey conditions are widespread.   Currently 97 degrees F in Silver City and 106 in Hachita!

Check SW fires here:  http://gacc.nifc.gov/swcc/predictive/intelligence/admin/google_maps/ics_209_incidents/ics_209_incidents.htm

I've been watching Rob Davidson's painfully slow progress through the Gila today and am wondering if he is having some mechanical troubles, or if the rain has turned the earth to peanut butter. 

Wondering if Saul Britton has some mechanical issues.  He has taken a huge detour into Alamosa (my home town!).  Hope all is well.

[Saul Britton]

Saw northbound ITTer Saul Britton wheeling through the Gila this afternoon.  Couldn't
get a picture quick enough, but these are his lone tracks about to drop into Rocky Canyon. 
He looked good!

Riders on the course! 

Caught quick snaps of three fellas coming into Silver City tonight.  Jim Boland, Brad Crossley, and Dan Gravelle--- Gila proven! 

Is Walter B. sleeping in on his final morning?  Waiting for the roads to dry out?  He's so close to the finish and seems to be dawdling this morning.  Hope everything is allright.  He has put in an impressive ride!

Looks like Calvin is going to call it a night in Silver City. He's putting in a great ride!  Tomorrow he will have the full power and glory of the Chihuahuan Desert on, maybe, the last day before the monsoons come down.  

TD14: Brian Remlinger called in from Pinedale to say he is OUT! He’s going to pedal home to Jackson.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

Good effort Brian!  Hard decision, but at least you can pedal  home.  I have often wondered about the psychology of having a hometown on or near the route... gotta be tough to keep pushing on if things aren't going as well as you'd hoped. 

Sounds like the headwinds in the basin were pretty tough for NOBOers.   Last year was bad too as I recall (watching Dave Nice's Spot was wrenching).  The basin headwinds and Fleecer Ridge sure do take the shine off going NOBO.

NOBO Lindsay Shepard is finishing up her ITT.  Nice job!!

Just had a fire start in the Gila National Forest, SW of Pie Town.  https://twitter.com/SWCCNewsNotes/status/477948130973851648  Windy as hell today in New Mexico.  Hopefully it won't get too big. 

Cjell Money's pace has slowed considerably this morning....  Early season Gila muck??

Lordy that's alotta snow.  Taking a peak at the Leaderboard on tourdivide.org it looks like Billy Rice will be sprinting for the Colorado line by the end of the day and will be contending with that snow very soon. 

Snotel stations for the San Juans look to be pretty dry, though.


Is it time to start the TD '13 Race Discussion thread?

I predict there will be some.... Just kidding.  The last storm cycle that came through New Mexico dropped a little rain state wide, but hardly enough to offset the drought that is going on 3 years.  The Gila had some dry lightning and a few small starts, but I think crews have got on them early. On balance, this spring has been less hot, less windy and slightly wetter (but only very slightly) then the last few years.  But, the fire season is just getting started.

Last years big fire (290K acres) in the Gila started May 9th.
The big fires in 2011 on the Santa Fe Forest (Los Conchas on the Jemez side and Pacheco on the Sangre de Cristo side) started June 17 and 26th. 

I'd be surprised if there isn't moderately sized fire somewhere in New Mexico by the time the race is underway.  Hopefully it will be put out quickly and not incinerate another quarter million acres. 

If you want stay up to date:
http://nmfireinfo.com/

Fire restrictions are beginning in NM.... 

No closures yet, but parts of the state have gone to stage II (no fires, no smoking, no explosive use, no having fun)

http://firerestrictions.us/nm/

Here in Santa Fe it doesn't seem as bad as 2011 or 2012, but the heat just starting kicking in the past few days.  90 degrees F in Hachita as I write this.

Looks like it's a party in P.A!  Tyson, Louis and Aaron are all at the Buckhorn saloon in Pinos Altos taking a well deserved break no doubt.  Seems like the rain has been hitting the Gila pretty good and I bet those roads are sticky.  Good luck guys.

I'm hoping that Kurt and Caroline are at the Grinder Mill and NOT the funeral home as their spot currently shows.   Burritos to GO!!