The westwater rangers station now has potable water. Just rode the kokopelli in 2021 november. New spigot next to the large garage at the ranger station labeled drinking water.

That's been my experience in colorado too. Used to live up in Estes for a few years. Things seemed to mellow out storm-wise into August but I know that's nothing to bank on. I used an OR Alpine bivy in 2018 on the colorado trail and it worked well, weathered a few storms and stayed dry. I also have a zpack tarp that weighs almost nothing. Going to keep testing them both this summer and make a last-second decision based on the forecast probably...

August! Will it be colder? Drier? I have questions that need answers and I'm not on zucherbook with the boomers. I'll scream at the sky the old-fashioned way thank you. The biggest question at the moment is what nuggets of wisdom are out there from those who have ridden in August. Tarp? Tent? Bivy? or crawl inside a tonton?

[Is FS a must, or a 29+ HT can work?]

Hey,

I need a LOT of preparation and training to do this, so I want to get an early start. Anyway, it's never too early to start talking about these things.

I have a couple of questions that are making me anxious already (well, a lot to be honest, but I'll start with a couple). For background, I started the TDR in 2016 and did 1,250 miles before quitting. I wanted to do this race again next year but for a number of reasons I just switched my sights to the CTR. My first questions:

Is FS a must, or a 29+ HT can work? I did first part of the TDR (Banff-Pinedale) on a Niner Air 9 with a Lauf fork. The bike did really well in the ST even though it was pretty heavy. I recently finished assembling my new bikepacking rig - a Stache Chinese knock-off frame with a Lauf fork and 29+ wheelset - thinking I was going to try the TDR again. Any thoughts on how this bike would do in the CTR?

The one lauf fork I saw in the CTR last year started developing some cracks in the carbon fins around the end of Sargents Mesa. This dude loved lauf forks, and didn't want to speak ill of them. He did finish the CTR and I don't believe it disintegrated.