Thanks Paul.   It’s still better than taking the road into Nucla, just not much traffic out there and the route is hard to follow in areas. I did enjoy the new singletrack, thanks for making that happen. I’d have time in the spring to help if you had a work day then.

Bryan

Nice effort out there. Would have to agree on the paradox. The section from tabequache creek to the new single track has got be some of the worst riding I have ever done. If it wasn’t for my gps I think I’d still be lost out there.

Hey Neil,

I did a fall grand loop several years ago. From what I can remember, Reliable water on the Paradox should be fine. Good spots to fill up would be from geyser creek or buckeye reservoir. Mesa creek before the koski traverse should have water too.  That will get you to Nucla but you can probably find water near spring ranch and also tabeguache creek.

From Nucla, I don’t think you’ll find much water till the Roudideau area. After that good water sources are along the road climbing up to love mesa, when you cross the Dominguez, and at hwy 141(reliable but not good).

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Yeah the private property is north of Nucla, you'd miss it going into town.  I would think by the 20th the snow should be long gone, but if we keep getting this rain it might  still be muddy.  If there is snow or mud, the divide rd. should still be passable.

Hey Aaron.  I've been tentatively planning a grand loop this spring.   I was hoping to go for a really early attempt but the weather hasnt been cooperating of late.  Looks like the columbine snotel site got 8" snow about 3 weeks ago, and we just got some heavy rains in the area.  The precip gauge went up a whole inch in one day.  So I'm thinking it's still maybe a little soggy up there, but it's got to be close.

As for your route questions.  Theres some good info on the Nucla stuff here if you havent seen it. http://www.paradoxtrail.org/  The Koski traverse is the Upper Spring Creek Mesa to South Fork Mesa Creek section.  If your planning to resuply in Nucla, I'd just stick with the main Paradox trail (No Bedrock), but after crossing tabeguache creek stay on the main rd. into town.  You can then reconect with the paradox trail at Glencoe Bench.  Which I believe is the suggested route now.  I was planning to just stick with the old private property route unless a problem a rises.

As for the ST into GJ.  There's a lot of options.  The tabeguache is the fastest route to beer though!   When you planing to start? 

As for other long distance fat biking, the grand mesa has some pretty long snowmobile trails.

I would agree the grand mesa has some serious potential.  I've ridden the Sunlight to Powderhorn snowmobile route in summer, always wondered how possible it would be in winter. 

Cool video Mike.  Love the open desert to snowy icy canyon contrast.  The slickrock moves to ice looked like fun!

I'm a DNF.  Wish that stood for did-not-flat, but unfortunately it doesn't.  After two days of tire issues, I threw in the towel in Williams.  We'll chalk that one up as lesson learned.  Great meeting everyone.  Thats quite the route.  Really enjoyed the Sedona stuff, it almost made the Lime Kiln "weed fest" more bearable. Hope to make it back and see all that I missed.

Great job to all that finished!

Sweet.  Thanks for those gps files. That helps the out of towners alot.

Canyon Inn which is near the breakfast joint on Friday morning is $50/night

$50 a night, eh?  I'll be rolling in tomorrow evening looking for a room.  Maybe I'll try there first.  See you all friday morning!

I'm in.  Just got the days off finalized. This will be almost all new terrain for me, really looking forward to it.  And one of the creators himself might show up!

Good luck.  Weather looks fairly good after today.  You'll probably get lucky with pot holes out there.

My time looks good.

Thanks Stefan.

- Bryan Klahn

Yeah the tabeguache was pretty low, but their were still a few small pools.  I do vaguely remember seeing a irrigation ditch up by spring creek ranch.  Might want to be on the look out when you ride through there.  You could try getting ahold of Paul Koski he would probably give you more up to date info.

I don't remember on Fisher Creek. I think I filled up at Buckeye Rez then road to Hideout Camp.

I did a somewhat modified mid-september Grand Loop a few years ago.  From what I remember:

Salt Creek: Water.  Tastes terrible. Probably running dirty.
Westwater:  Water spicket was still running
Hideout camp: Extremely low water flow, had to dig small hole to get water to pool
Geyser Creek: good to go, also have buckeye res
Koski Traverse: Did the old route and got water at bedrock store. Mesa creek at the beginning I believe is the largest drainage.  Lots of cows in there!
Tabeguache Creek:  No visible flow, but was able to find fairly clean small pool below bridge
Roubideau traverse: Can't remember, but there has to be water in there.  I did the route counter clockwise and remember filtering  below Love mesa.  There's a pipe coming from the hillside near Cottonwood Creek
Dominguez:  Should have water.  Lots of cows in the upper Dominguez when you come off Divide Rd.  Filter well.
Creek along Hwy 141:  Had water.  Tasted terrible.  Probably better to get water at Dominguez.
Spring above No Mas Hill:  Highly doubt it's there.

That's about all I remember.  Definitely bring a filter you can backwash, and enough room to carry a days water.  We've been getting some rain as you know, so that might help, but also dirty up some sources.

Hope that helps some.  Good Luck.  If it's not to hot, might be a perfect time to go, before the hunters move in on the Uncompahgre.

Meanwhile, Garrett Alexander appears to be riding at 5.5mph in his tent.  Late-night spot-watching reveals some amazing cycling skills.  Or, possibly, spot anomalies.

Not sure whats going on with Garrets spot, but he finished after me shortly before Robert and Chris.

Finished up this morning a little after six.  Was hoping to get sub six days but couldn't keep it on the trail last night coming down kenebec.  Ended up having to lay down for a few hours, just didn't have enough left in the tank.

Found out at the finish that I was actually tracking the whole time but just as Dave Stewart. Which is hilarious because I thought I was being chased down yesterday, only to find out it was myself.  Simple mistake with the spots and it all worked out in the end.  Thanks to Mathew, for trying to get me a replacement before we knew what was up.

Anyways happy to be done.  Dealing with some bad leg swelling and blisters but feel good.

Great riding with everyone out there.  Scott sorry to hear about the Achilles, thanks for the backup on the spot issue.  Give me a shout if your ever in palisade.

One spot just opened up for carpool to Denver start from Durango. Let me know if anyone wants that spot.

Just sent you a pm.

Will Scott have spot rentals for ITT'ers?  Rode in Silverton this weekend and things were looking DRY! 

Interesting for sure!  We had some crazy high winds in the Grand Valley last weekend, main reason why that fire got so big.  Hopefully "the ladies" will crush the Grand Loop!