Hi, is now a good time to talk about the snowpack?

In big snow years like this in Canada and MT, what areas along the route typically hold the most snow latest in the season?

not chloroforming a bear

There's been many 'firsts' on the Divide...

Educate yourself and forget the rumours.
Enjoy the race.

Not sure what rumors you are talking about.

I really hope to see a Grizzly though...that would be a real highlight for me.

I'll watch the video though...after all these years solo camping in Colorado, I think I've developed a bit of complacency around bear safety.

This bell looks like a nice addition to the kit.

That does look slick, lockout feature is key. I like how it hangs under the bars. But that could be tricky with a handlebar bag...

Just to give myself some nightmares and make myself more uneasy about bear encounters than I already am I just ordered this book:
(Amazon - in it's 'you might be interested in' section - offered up a Stephen King book to make matters worse!)

https://www.amazon.com/Bear-Attacks-Causes-Avoidance-revised/dp/158574557X/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

Are bear encounters on the TD in Canada and MT still as numerous as they have always been? Do people still carry spray? I was planning on buying some in Banff.

This is one of the those endless debates that can really only be answered on an individual level by testing.

I used a bivy on my first CTR mostly because I was convinced by reading so many forums favoring bivys in the ultra racing community (I didn't have much experience). But I hated it. It poured rain a couple nights and I spent the whole night trying to keep the opening from filling up the bivy. I used the MSR AC bivy, but probably could have benefited from a bivy with a pole or adding a tarp to my kit. But like someone else has said a bivy and a tarp get pretty close to the weight of a tarptent.

Someone also mentioned it comes down to conditions and this could be accurate too. I used the same bivy on the AZT a couple years ago and loved it.

For me it comes down to security. I really don't like the feeling of having no 'shelter' with a bivy. Even if I am spending only 4 hours in my tent, having that down time out of the elements matters to me more than the weight saved from carrying a bivy.

I think you can still be an ultra-racer and carry a tent. It's just not as cool 

To "sign up" send a letter of intent to tourdivide@gmail.com

There are some pretty good ones posted on tourdivide.org from 2010 and 2011!

"Visitation: Divide racing is not intended to be a spectator sport! However, route-town locals only may interact with (i.e. visit briefly, cheer on) thru-racers as they pass through their locale. Out-of-town visitation to the GDMBR mid-race from challengers' family or friends—even if only a  'loosely-planned', remote possibility for rider rendezvous—is prohibited"

Thank you for copying that in, I couldn't find it in my initial scan of the rules - I wasn't even sure if tourdivide.org is actually up to date.

A rule is a rule you're right...and I didn't mean to challenge one, but I know this one has been hotly debated over the years.

A lot of Salsa's on the list, way more than other brands

Look at all those Cutthroat's!

How do people feel about visitation along the route these days? I know it can be considered support (albeit, not 'direct' support) and it can be an unfair advantage on those people who do not live along the route.

I found this map on the ACA Addenda for the GDMBR:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/default/assets/File/Routes_Maps/Addenda/GDMBR_Canada_Map%20A_Detour_2017.pdf

There is a link for it on the Canada map section

I've been using this:
http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

Racing is just one mechanism for that. It might be the right one for you, but it might not.

Good point - and certainly true - I will definitely be racing and doing my best to honor the original ideals of the race

I just wish I had been a pioneer. This will be the biggest ride of my life though and I'm expecting it to be just as amazing and just as rugged and just as hard as it was for anyone who has gone before.

I'm not really complaining about TD progress (ok, maybe a little). But I do think it's worth noting. I shouldn't knock it until I've tried it though...

Outdoorsmans Closing Letter

The fact that the TD/GDR made the letter shows it was an important part of the shop.

I am sorry I won't be able to visit. One of those shops with legendary hospitality that you heard about every year...

The Outdoorsman in Butte has closed for good?!

It looks like the TD route is different than the ACA route through Butte...any specific reason why?

Ride to Everest Basecamp before the climb, or it doesn't count!

He didn't even take hand-ups from his girlfriend in the car! 

I take a Sawyer Mini ($20 or so at Wal-Mart) - weighs only a few ounces.  It can also be installed inline with a bladder.

I've used one of those in-line before but I don't like the drag it creates on the suction - I feel like I don't drink as much water.

Does anyone know the difference or pros/cons of the Aqua Mira drops vs. the Kataydin Micropur tablets. I've never used the Kataydin tabs before, the Aqua Mira drops have served me well in the backcountry so far, but I like the idea of not having to wait 5 minutes for the two Aqua Mira solutions to become effective.

We have the freedom to make the experience whatever we want it to be, however.

Yes, and it makes me realize how darn lucky we are to be able to have that freedom.

So, back to planning...does anyone carry filters or pumps on the route anymore? Or are tabs/drops enough. I just got a new MSR trailshot, but I'm wondering if I even need it now.

That's a good read, and nice to see that cycling can provide additional tourism to these smaller communities. Ovando has obviously become a hugely supportive town for the TD and I am looking forward to arriving myself! I feel like I already know Kathy 

What do you suppose the percentage of TD riders is to the overall number of GDR tourers over the course of a summer?