Jefe crossed HWY 50 around noon and increasing his lead over Ben.  For someone that was just 'touring' it he's still pushing himself hard!  If he keeps with it he will have no problems making it to Silverton before the stores close at 9pm.  If things go really well its possible to make it from hwy 50 to Silverton in 28 hours putting him there at 4pm leaving a full 5 hour buffer.  Missing that is a major bummer though since its highly doubtful he'd have enough food left to get to the finish forcing him to wait till the stores open at 7am.  I know he's thinking about that already!  Weather will be a bit of a factor today too since it looks like he's getting rained on right now but hopefully tomorrow will be clear!   There's a good battle for 3rd going on too (not counting Neil)!

It is nice in Gunnison area! And looking east. Just high clouds keeping it cool that don't look like rain... but you never know!

Neil is one day exactly behind starting right? 

Will Mike try for the free breakfast at the Lost Miner's Cafe in Plataro?  Many have tried -- many have failed.

Olley Whalley did it 2012.....I believe.
Closed when I went by. But couldn't do it I'm sure.

Went for a training ride on Oct 3rd and this is what the top of Goat Creek Trail looked like.  Good thing the race is in the spring!

Hmm... it looked a lot like that in June when I rode it! Or hiked it....
Jarral

Looks like EriK Lobeck may be out??

Yes. Be excellent out there to each other. Stop or slow down if they stop. Some are already on edge if they are out of their element hiking for the first time and then a cyclist can scare some people easily. Hope it works out OK.

What a beautiful night for a high alpine adventure! Moon, calm (in Gunnison anyway). Hope they are having as much fun as imagine.
Jarral

Oh jeesh. Wamsutter is a bleak town.

It's a little warm and windy down the road in Rawlins. Get your chapstick on!

As a native Washingtonian who stills spends a lot of time in the Lake Wenatchee area, I'm rooting for JoshK.

As the Gunnison/Crested Butte valley has sent out many riders for the past 4-5 years and I live here I have to go for Neil! The young gun underdog! And if he can get the record the valley will have the M/F record holders if Eszter dot can hold on. Eszter was living here then so it counts!  Of course it would be fun to see someone in 3nd -5th make a push in the next state to overtake.

Surprised that there aren't odds set in Las Vegas. Or maybe there is? 3:1 JP, 5:1 Neil at the halfway point? Remember this is just an exhibition. Please no wagering.

Jarral

As the sun is setting on the east coast, a question for vets: which sections of the route would you LEAST like to hit at night, for whatever reason(s)? The descent into Radium? Lava Mtn? Richmond Peak (if snowy)?

I did a lot of night riding in '13 and the midnight descent down the Watershed Divide (I think?) just after the Brush Mtn Lodge sticks out as being fun but sketchy. Also flying down Galton Pass, and conversely the flooded and super rocky downhill HAB into Mogollon on the second fire reroute come to mind, also all in the dark..

Oh the rez dogs! and the single track on Boreas pass and the section after Helena (Lava mt?) in the rain and the single track before Silver City. Those bring back the worst memories. Possibly because of poor lighting. But so much beauty at night.

Oh the snow and mud...that was a good time, wasn't it Jarral? I remember spending the entire snow hike over Red Meadow Pass talking about Chinese food with Josh. 

Lael is an amazing rider (and human being). With good weather and good luck, sub-18?

As much fun as it is to watch the EH ghost dot each year, I would LOVE to see Lael crush it start to finish. Maybe that way I could actually get stuff done for the middle 20 days in June...

Having a fast ride up there makes one want to try again! That hike-a-bike section was ankle deep mud and then the 6in of powder on the next pass.... And then the damage to feet, ankles and cycles/gear. I bet El Jefe is chomping at the computer now!!!

I think your record is going to last E. Lael is just in the US now. You were there just a little later even with the slow hiking and getting stuck in Corbin behind the coal train. And then you started to really go fast after the next couple of hikes in MT. So....my prediction. Even though I would love to see your record go down 

Lael Wilcox is flying. She's way ahead of Eszter's time.

Eszter was hiking through snow/mud (with snow and rain falling) for most of the Canada and north MT section that year... The real test will be as they head south. Gotta love the weather condition variables. She looks to be an impressive rider either way. Will be fun to watch.

Scott, The only thing redeeming thing about Rawlins was catching Ez and eating her chips. Nice smile after a windy dry dusty basin to lift the spirits! So I guess a truck stop would work otherwise.

Yeah got all the stuff. Could be out the door in a few minutes!

Jarral

Darn starting to think I should just drop everything and drive to banff or Antelope wells... Jealous of your suffering!

Wondering from Matt's quote of bypassing Rawlins--I don't remember any other towns in southern Wyoming... I needed food and water pretty bad by that point.
By the way, wet/snowy in Colorado the past weeks. Hope it dries out but stays cool for a fast fun trip!

"I am looking very seriously at bypassing Rawlins, WY altogether as there is a major construction closure again this year + a mega windfarm going in over the next few years. The result if I am successful will be to convert nearly 100mi of pavement into less than 5 mi of pavement."
[/quote]

Yes I'll be very used to -20F not 120F! But I adapt pretty fast. It would be easier in March probably to pull off. I remember a few years ago people freezing above Tucson in snow! Heat and snow. You never know. As long as it is not too deep to ride in. Love it!
J

Sorry if I missed it... but on Scott's "Ultra race calendar" the AZT is set at 4/11 and the website says April 3. The race is intriguing in a cholla in the face sort of way.... I have the week of March 23 off. Looks like enough time to do it theoretically-750?.... maybe warm enough in the north.... I also have time early May.... I would love to start with the group but.... Hmmmmm. Coming from snowy country May may be better for getting miles in...

Damn this addiction to riding bikes a long ways. Thought it was going away...
Jarral

Not sure how you got there, but no way it's 80 miles longer.  It's only 33 miles from Basin to Butte.  Somewhere above in this thread Mathewsen had noted it's about 1.5 hours longer than the old route based on people's times taken to complete that section this year vs last.

OH. I was looking at the "route miles" on the individual pages. For example Jefe is at 2838 now. And Calvin is at 2399. I thought it was 2745 in the past for a total. So... On those numbers it is longer by over 100 at the end. Curious.
Jarral

Does anyone know how much longer the new route into Butte took on average? On trackleaders it shows almost 80mi longer-wow. We may need an asterisk on the fastest times. That is kind of a big deal. Either way congrats to all the finishers and those that gave it a go. 

Decided for a bike ride today with the kids. Randomly decided to ride dirt roads. Ran into Walter Brumniach from Australia. He said everything hurt but maybe the lower part of his left ear. Looking good otherwise!

Hope it all turns out well for Bill! Spot track definitely looked like he was lost/confused. I know for myself, that I would do most anything so I wouldn't have to be rescued with the ensuing report on the internet, papers, TV. Oh the shame!

I just check BL's Facebook page. Looks like he hasn't been racing for awhile now. 20 hours ago, he wrote: "Riding open class now, hitting race waypoints only."

I was just curious if he hasn't moved in while and one was to send the Spot link to someone to rescue him who would you send it to. The Yellowstone website doesn't have any emergency contact info. Or the Nat forest. At least with a quick google. Mainly curiosity now as I was wondering how someone would be rescued.

Maybe a nice spot for a sunset there. But it isn't very far off the road if someone is in the area and could hike up there.

Jarral