Just got off the phone with Perry Jewitt (from South Dakota).  He said he had a great ride but decided to ride down Silver Creek to Salida and pull himself out of the race.  He wanted me to tell all of his supporters he really appreciates all the support for him and he is OK other than being tired.  He was having a hard time finding water sources past Fooses Creek and he knew he wouldn't have enough calories to get him to Silverton.

Good job to Perry for a hard ride!    Sargents Mesa takes a lot of riders out.

TNGA will be a very last minute decision for me if I go out due to a grandbaby expected to arrive a few days ahead of the race.  I really want to fly out and do the event.  I noticed the website still states "Pending USFS Review".

1.  Does anyone know the status of this and if it is possible that the permit will not be issued? 
2. I see it is capped at 35 riders - anyone know how close they are to the cap at this time?
3. How much does Mulberry Gap charge to take racers to start/pick up from finish?

Im thinking ITT in Late Sept or October if logistics don't work but prefer to start with the group.

So awesome to see records broken again this year!  When does the "Ultra Records" tab change to reflect the new record holders? I'm sure the riders are too humble of people to even mention it.

Jarral has crossed the finish line! It is nice to see his spot tracker bouncing!

Congrats to Jarral! 

Got a picture of 2 Riders today (Tom Thomas on left, Nathan Mawkes on right) just south of Yellowstone Park.  They were really in a good mood and stopped to take a quick break as my family cheered them on from the highway. They said they are both having a good time and feel good.  Good luck guys - you looked strong.  Hope the mob of people watching the grizzly bear cubs off the road (5 miles ahead of this picture)  didn't hold up your ride.

[I'd say the CT databook is a Top 3 essential item.]

I found the databook to be simply awesome last year.   Not so much for routefinding - honestly, 98% of the route is very easy to follow, with few exceptions - but for knowing how much longer I had to go to get to some landmark.  For me, given that I was beyond exhausted beginning around Bailey and pretty much the rest of the way, it was invaluable to know that in 2.7 miles I was coming to the top of a long climb and would have a precious 4 mile downhill after that.   And then the downhill went by in like 53 seconds and it was back to climbing for another 2 hours.

Seriously.  If you're doing this race for the first time - big, big props to you for doing so, by the way - I'd say the CT databook is a Top 3 essential item.

I couldn't agree more with TruthRider - the CT databook is absolutely essential.  I lost my GPS on the 2nd day of the CTR in 2010   but had the databook  .  Is was essential for finding water, and knowing big climbs that would let me make plans during thunderstorms. That said a GPS with the route plugged in is a tool I will always use.  Most of the trail is well marked but I had trouble in about 3 spots on the south end (Jirosa Mesa, a few miles out of Bolam Pass, and then about 10 miles from Junction Creek finish) due to signs being down or trail splits with no markers.  Other than that the CT is excellent at being marked at every questionable turn.

Thanks sthig and Litt!  I will PM you when I get my airline ticket to see about logistics of a ride.  Are you both heading back to Mulberry Gap after the ride?  I'm a slow rider so Im trying to figure logistics of getting back to Atlanta (probably from Mulberry Gap) the day after I finish the ride.

Has anyone had problems with their SPOT II stop working? I rode Kokopelli trail this weekend and my spot just stopped working for no reason.  New batteries were installed so I know that wasn't the problem. It didn't take any hard falls when it stopped working.  I keep it facing up and go by the instructions.  This is the second time I have had to replace it and need to figure out if anyone else has had the same issues.  Wont send out a GPS signal any longer 

I currently have 2 to 3 racers staying at my house the night before the race.  Plenty of floor space and cots if anyone else needs a place to crash. The trailhead is a quick 20 minute, mostly flat, paved ride. I can also drive people over to the start. If anyone is interested just PM me and I can get more details (logistics from airport, bike shops nearby, food supply nearby).

In 2010 I had the same problems with Carousel.  I ordered my bags 11 months before doing the CTR in order to have them in time for training in May.  After not getting any response and delivery I quickly called Revelant Designs (known as EPIC designs at that time).  They had all my bags within 6 weeks so that I could test them well ahead of the ride.  I highly suggest getting your bags many months before a big ride to test loading, strapping, and weight distribution.  Revelent communicates well and delivers an excellent product.

I live in Georgia and I might be able to give you a ride to the start in Sept. I wouldn't ride west-east since you use up most of the singletrack in the first half of the route. Plus it is a lot rougher; east-west gives you a lot better descents. I know most of the route well so let me know if you have any questions.

Awesome!  I will keep in touch with you about a ride.  That would help a bunch if it works out. I'll PM you as the date gets within a few weeks to get the logistics together!

I am planning to ride "Trans Georgia" this Sept. if it is still on.  I live in Colorado and havn't decided if I will drive or fly.  If I fly, I am looking for a ride to the start (or to the Mulberry Gap) from the Atlanta airport. Anyone driving up that way from Atlanta area I would be happy to pay for the gas. 

I'm guessing that the start this year will be moved back to the Waterton Canyon parking lot since it is supposed to reopen on March 1st?  I won't be an official starter this year  but will probably ride sweep for 2 days to about Frisco or Copper Mountain.  If people need a place to crash the night before the race I live about 5 miles away from the Waterton Canyon start.  I will probably ride my bike to the start (easy 15 minute, mostly flat ride). Just send me a personnal message and we can work out the details.  It's a good safe place to leave a car as well if you need to. 

I know this is way premature but my planning on big events vs work schedules is always a long planning process.  Does it look like the TNGA will be on for 2012?  If so - can anyone give me any comparisons of this trip vs the CTR (I was a 9.5 day CTR rider so trying to figure what I'm in for if I travel to Georgia next year to do this thing).  This route really fascinates me and looks like a lot of fun.  Thanks for any advice on this one.

I battle High Altitude sickness about once every year and try to watch out for the signs of it.  I live very near the start of the CTR (Aprrox. 5600' above sea level) and ride the trail a lot.  When I did the CTR in knew the main things to keep me healthy from getting AMS where to stay very hydrated, and be in the best shape of my life. With several days of acclimatization at higher elevations 7000' or above close to the race start and staying hydrated you should be good.  As Bart mentioned as you get older you have less problems with AMS.  From the research I have done on it - it appears the mid 30's age tends to have more problems than other years (not sure why). Having said that I never got AMS when I did the CTR at age 38 but got it 5 months later on a very simple hike at 9000 ft.  I relate it more to hydration more than anything.

Jarral make a wrong turn before Orphan Butte or GPS tracker out of position...hopefully things sort out soon for him.

Looks like Jarral figured it out before he dropped too much further toward HWY145.  Probably set him back over an hour.

Congrats to Garrett Peltonen for his finish this morning.  Probably some fun night riding coming into the Big D.

It's a big fork in the trail.  Here's the visual:  https://picasaweb.google.com/LyndaWallenfels/CTTripJuly2011#5633434183997713570  The CT heads right up a pass beyond the sign in the distance.  

Glad he figured it out, just a little blip in the scheme of things...but pretty tough timing!

Wow - that's a tough place to make a wrong turn and appears to be a significant amount of miles to regain.


Has anyone heard from Lucas Weikart or Gary Fenton?  Both of their SPOTS show Leadville locations but no call ins or change in movements.

I think Kevin might be a robot.  Check him when he gets to Durango.  Molas to Durango is a lot harder on the trail than it looks in the guide book!

He is riding so strong.  I can't even imagine going onto that last section with that short of a break in Silverton after doing the Coney/Cataract segment.  Breaking the record looks a little out of reach at this point but then again going from Saguache Park to Molas Pass in one day seemed out of reach as well and he has proved it can be done.

Watching the radar overlay on Clark Davidson right now (6:45 PM MST) he is hopefully taking refuge under the shortest high alpine tree at timberline (11,700').  From knowing the location on the ten mile range that he is currently on, it is probably one of the steepest slope angles of the entire CT, with a 50+ pound loaded fully rigid steel bike, in what appears to be the bullseye of the rain for the area, he is toughing it out hard core at this moment.   

At the rate Dylan is moving... he may be celebrating his 18th Birthday on The CTR. Go Dylan.... we are so proud of you.

OK.  So this kid is only 17? That's some serious ambition for a kid his age.  He just became my new hero just by starting this thing.  I don't know him and never heard of him but GO DYLAN GO!!!!