This looks like an amazing course. Instead of simply plotting the fastest way to get from point a to b, it looks like it includes every scenic view, and every foot of singletrack. Can't wait to get out there some day!

Nice work. Please keep posting updates--lots of fun following you!

I am doing an ITT starting on Aug. 9th.  I would like to sign up my spot on the trackleaders.com so that friends and family can track me during the ride.  As an ITT’er do I need to use exact same detours as the racers?

If you are racing the CTR, then you need to follow the exact course. If you are touring, then you can do whatever you like!

That being said - how are the San Juan's in September? Maybe I will try a ride from Marshall Pass to Durango in the first week of Sept. Too late?

It somewhat depends on the year, but I think that September would likely be an awesome time to be out there. A little cooler at night, of course. But I love Colorado in September. Crisp sunny days, late-summer/early fall colors. Not much in life surpasses the vibe of eating lunch in the middle of an aspen grove in September. Bring some extra warm stuff, and go!

I just posted an updated GPX that includes the fix. Big thanks to Scott for noticing the problem--I owe you a beer!

2014b: http://tobygadd.blogspot.com/2012/01/colorado-trail-race-gpsgpx-tracks-and.html

I'll get on it ASAP!

Stephen Allen is missing on the Colorado Trail.

https://www.facebook.com/breckpolice/photos/a.373272416049190.83075.120614171315017/767566893286405/?type=1&theater

I'll have to take a look as well, but the intent is definitely NOT to take a longer, harder route there, so the GPX track may be in error.

Also, since Toby spends so much time and energy maintaining his .gpx track, I do intend to make it the official version for the CTR. Assuming he's OK with that, which I have a feeling he is... 

Thanks for looking into it. Let me know what you find, and I'll go from there!

Cheers,
Toby

Also, my previous track, and the one that was used in 2013 by Stefan, are the same actual track as the one that I posted this year...

regarding the GPS track on Tarryall detour:

I rode the Tarryall detour a few weeks ago with some other CTR riders, and we noticed a possible deviation of the GPS track from the Colorado Trail Guidebook and Databook 5th edition. This section is on Rock Creek Hill Rd after leaving Tarryall road and heading back to the Long Gulch singletrack.

I'm going to paste a short bit of my email with my friend Rick who describes this deviation better than I can...

The "Rd. 129 detour", as I call it and you refer to which deviates from the Rock Creek Hills Rd. approximately 2 miles from the Tarryall Rd. puzzles me also.  It is approximately .6 miles longer than following the Rock Creek Hills Rd., but could take up to 30 minutes longer because of the poor conditions.  You're right, the latest CT Databook doesn't mention the deviation and the official CTR website, at http://www.climbingdreams.net/ctr/#results, says to "follow the bike detour through Tarryall as described in the official guidebook".  Toby's latest GPX, however, does include the deviation.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Unless we've gotten confused somehow, I think we are all supposed to stay on Rock Creek Hills Road (Park County 39) the whole time from Tarryall Road to Lost Park Road.

Interesting!

Let's see what Stefan decides. As I recall, I originally based my on-the-ground track on Stefan's hand-drawn track. So it's possible that he intended to include that section? Or either he or I made a mistake?

Thanks for putting together another issue of The Cordillera, Christopher. In so many respects, it represents the best side of this crazy sport. Great stories and a worthy cause. An true work of passion and love.

[NEW 2014 CTR TRACKS]

NEW 2014 CTR TRACKS

I finally finished updating my CTR track for 2014. Here are the major differences:

• More waypoints. Thanks to Jerry Brown and the Colorado Trail Foundation, there are now about 200 more waypoints in the file.
  
• Fewer track points. I knocked the tracks down to 9000 points. This will leave room on your GPS to load additional tracks, in case there's a last-minute fire re-route or something. The track resolution is still excellent.

Here's the full scoop, including a download page:
http://tobygadd.blogspot.com/2012/01/colorado-trail-race-gpsgpx-tracks-and.html

Have fun, go fast, and be safe!

[New CTR track file coming!]

New CTR track file coming!

I've been processing a new CTR track file that will include all of the latest Colorado Trail Foundation's 2014 waypoints. It should be done in a day or two.

Congrats on a great finish, Mark!

How's the recovery going? I can't imagine getting ready for the CTR after what you've already been though this summer.

[Re: SPOT Trace]

Re: SPOT Trace
Anyone have experience with the SPOT Trace? Trackleaders now has the Trace as a renting option, but I'm thinking about just buying one myself.
-Barry

No 911. No OK. No custom messages.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=128

I'm getting served ads for an HP product. The tag line is 'bend the rules'.

Having been an HP customer and supplier for twelve years, I find that stunningly accurate!

I have more information that I cannot disclose. It was obtained after the show last night and I was asked not to disclose it. Not because it was illegal or anything like that but because it involved a third party and everyone had the best of intentions. Suffice it to say what you or anyone else at the border says about you can tip the border agents to have the wrong impression and they might decline your entrance. Jill made some accommodations and obviously made it through. It doesn't appear to have anything to do with the rescue, however.

Thanks for the update. There's always more to every story, eh?

Odd ruling by that one border officer.  If an American has an automobile accident in Canada and requires emergency services, are they going to turn back all automobile traffic from the border?  Seems like some bike discrimination going on!

Yeah, I'm dumbfounded. Sounds like she had the bad luck of encountering a complete idiot.

Good to see Jill got across the boarder... A humbling reminder that coming into another country is a privilege not a right... They don't have to let you in if they don't want to...

Yep. But as a Canadian, I hope that the government figures out that cyclists are the RIGHT people to let into the country!

Really, NOBODY wants to see a SINGLE post in THIS thread about anything except racers on the course. So, c'mon!

Considering that the discussion was actually started by several racers, and perpetuated by former racers and soon-to-be-racers, it would seem that MANY PEOPLE want to see LOTS of post in THIS thread.

But I agree that it's important not to forget the racers who are still out there and going hard. I'm really enjoying watching Mark C. close in on the finish. The guy isn't terribly fast, but he really personifies tenacity, grit, and determination. There aren't many guys who have finished as many of these races as he has. GO MARK!