I will definitely be following:
https://www.bicycling.com/racing/a27815056/lael-wilcox/

Columbine Snotel to 0" today.

I wondered if anyone else had noticed that, too.

Well, I just finished an out-and-back of sorts on the Kokopelli.

The spigot at Westwater was running and had been tested when I went through on Friday. When I came back through on Monday, the spigot had stopped - an engineer was apparently coming to fix it. The rangers had jerry cans of water that they let me fill up with.

So...don't plan on that spigot, or the jerry cans for that matter.

Buck Spring had a nice little pool in it and Castle creek was flowing clear and strong.

And then I remembered that it was the same snotel that people use to correlate GL start dates.  Dohp.

So is the common practice to wait two weeks until after the snotel telemetry bottoms out? What if you were to go as soon as it hit 0"?

I really wanted to try it this year, but come June 14th I'm occupied. Not sure I will hit it right...

I've been wondering about how this year's snowpack would affect the Grand Loop.

Looks like pretty sharp declines come May...

Figures the year I seriously consider trying it we get one of the wettest winters on record - I shouldn't complain though!

Gotcha, thanks for the geography lesson!

Is there a 'traditional' route between GJ and Loma, or can it vary? Dave, I noticed you took the frontage road, but I also saw someone used Broadway/C-340 to connect into Fruita.

Any thoughts on the best place to start? I've been thinking the Koko TH in Loma, but I'm worried that's not a great place to leave a car for several days...

Thanks Dave, so when people refer to 'roubideau' are they referring to that whole area of drainage's coming down from the Unc that the Tab traverses across starting at roubideau creek? I've been trying to figure out where roubideau is!

What's the best source of water in the roubideau area? I see roubideau creek, but that looks too low off trail. Is East Bull creek good, or are any of those runoffs in that area possible water sources? Or put this way, what's the best water after Nucla?

I had a really surreal dream last night, which is rare for me.

I had made it to Silverton in great time....but when I looked down at my bike, there was nothing on it.  No bags, no extra clothes, no lights, nothing...only (scantily clothed) me and a bare bike.  Apparently I had been so rushed at the start I had forgot to carry anything with me.

I have had VERY similar dreams. Was stunned when I read this...

Must get so neurotic about planning and packing before a big ride that our subconscious plays a little trick on us.

And I usually don't remember my dreams, but those ones I can remember waking up enormously relieved to find it was only a dream

If you want Mike Hall's gear list you better be prepared to suffer...hard!

Impressive dedication to the route Dave. I loved riding it in '15. I'll keep tuning in to see what you decide for next year.

@Woodland

Do you consider a hydration system to be a backpack?

Do you wear it on your back, with shoulder straps? Yes, I would consider that a backpack...

This guy seemed to do just fine with a back pack...
http://www.bikepacking.com/gear/josh-kato-tour-divide-pack-list/

Touche! 

I always like riding with a pack, and did the same for the Tour in my attempt this year. Frankly, I feel naked without one.

I just wouldn't try anything new in something like TD. Test it out. Do an overnighter without a backpack...

I like the idea of having a pack in case something went terribly wrong and I had to hike out.

Good luck with your decision.

finishing up his 8th CTR!

Unreal!

I don't know, but on my attempt in 2016 there are a lot of places I would have been better off without a bike!!

Ha, too true

Has a single-speeder ever won the CTR outright?

KERKOVE???

Bummer indeed, he was trucking. He got all the way up to Jarosa mesa and then turned around. That's a lot of hard earned miles to make up for to get back on route - I'll be impressed if he does so.

Yes he uses the email sent in on the LOI.  Only 6 or so people are on the tracker, so he still hasn't gotten around to sending the link out to the vast majority of people.

Cool, all right. I'm going to try and stop checking my phone every 4 minutes for 'The Email'. I'm not sure I have ever anticipated an email more in my life  

Matthew is sending out the Trackleaders signup link individually, but he expects to complete that in the next 48 hours.

Does Matthew use the email from the LOI sent via tourdivide.org? Should I have sent an email or was using the contact form on the website ok?

I haven't received any signup info yet

Oh, this is going to be some reroute!

http://www.koat.com/article/fire-danger-prompts-santa-fe-national-forest-closure/20967986

Damn, I hope there is enough moisture down there between now and then to open it back up. The entire Nat'l forest! That is drastic

Nobo ITT on route on the TD18 tracker...