As to the friends and family rule , I consider myself a friend to all racers and part of the family to . I do not see myself ever racing again but I will forever be routing on the participants . I plan on setting up camp somewhere between Medecine Lodge Big Sheep Creek and Red Rock Lakes Pass . I hope for better weather than last year . 

i am liking the link and all that .

Are you referring to the oldest and youngest racers or finishers ? Cause there is a wide margin here .

i wouldn't dare call it yet but usually el nino years are fast on course. andy, who told you snow was deep up top?
Matt , I was only Commenting on the early start date mentioned not the traditional start date . My bad for not clarifying .
a look at snow telemetry in the TD weather resources section will say otherwise. everyone's below 100%. Togwotee (buried the past two years through july) is hurting. here's the snowpack map: ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2010/snow1002.gif

@ Todd, the south looks full now but usually el nino years warm up early so just bring your kayak for a northbound run. Though, we'll all be gutted if you don't bring your talent to Banff. I guess if I were a Eureka resident I'd want to 'race homeward bound' too. That northbound record is just itching to be set hard.

This year could be a tough start in either direction due to heavy snowfall on both ends .

I think Noah Dimit was 21 or 22 in 07 GDR .

I can't wait for these two to pass through Lima . I plan on meeting them and getting a few pics .

Thank you for these wonderful pictures brought to us at such an expensively green and carbonfree media . Bravo !

I saw there gear up close and personal and they are only carrying air .

I think you miss the self supported factor of this event . If you need to be rescued in anyway you are definitely not going to finish on your own power . The injury or sickness or major failure of bike will in most cases take you out of the race . I do not see your point of circumstance other than a federal bailout .

Go to this link , tourdivide.org/the_rules .

The rule says you cannot advance on the route by any means but your own power . hence you can backtrack but cannot advance .

Stephan Hello again , I once more would like to lend my spot device to the cause . I do not have your info to send the unit but will be glad to do so anytime .

Cheers , Andy

 I don't think matt carries maps anymore.

Any time a racer has to pull the plug this early after so much training and commitment leaves a hole in the soul . I do hope that he is alright . I remember last year riding with him for a bit when he found out he had a job interview back home and had to stop in Whitefish .
Marni great pics from the start thanks .

Hello fellow blue dot follower , I have not been on this new route but it looks like there is quite a few racers bunched up in this area and more than likely they will ride together in this part of the route . If you are going to follow the route for a while I will be over by the Lima,MT crossing next Wednesday . Hope to meet you there .

It looks like matt hit the afterburners on the border to the whitefish divide section . I guess we all will find out how much snow there will be on the route tomorrow .