I think Addy covered it.  My husband and I tried the Indian Arm last year as an out and back from Squamish. The bridges have been taken out and there are some challenging crossings.  We turned around at one of the washed out crossings before making it to Indian Arm, but if you had the time and desire there should be plenty of logging refuse to create a makeshift bridge.  The Sea to Sky Trail--esentially the Cheakmus Challange-- is a good ride all the way to Whistler once you are in Squamish.  I heard that there was some work done on the trail near the top of Paradise Valley.  The ride up Highway 99 from North Van to Squamish really isn't bad....

The other ride we considered but didn't get to this year is to ride Whistler to Pemberton on the highway and where possible the Soo Trail.  Once in Pemberton take the FSR to the Skookumchuck hot springs.  The FSR then connects into the backside of Harrison Hot Springs.  Once at Harrison, you could ride Higway 7 back into town.

Have fun!

Addy,

Where you wearing a Cove jersey during the Capitol Forest? 
Em

Lovely!
Did you fly into one of the upper lakes?  Cache food and set up a basecamp or did you pack it in?

My husband and I did a 3 day/2 night ride early in the season (July long weekend I think?).  The passes were still snowed in but the flowers were amazing.  With no resupply once you leave Goldbridge (and pretty thin supply options in Goldbridge too), I've been thinking about doing food drops on the float planes to extend the range.

It's a small window for the alpine but so easy to dream of big trips in the Chilcotins.

I am going without a sleeping pad as well.  Through my testing, I found that I do not need it.....as I sleep directly on my back or stomach.  Kind'a the cool thing about this race/ride/tour....everyone has their own way of getting from Point A to Point B.

my goodness.  no sleeping pads is half a step from no sleeping.  I had a really bad night in a snow cave sans sleeping pad a few years back.  I'm too old to make those kinds of sacrifices when on holiday now.
 

Hi Emily,

We're most likely do the rental car thing (Sportsman and I).  Two caveats-- you have to wait for me to finish the race and we'll be stopping at all the hotsprings between Denver and Durango.  And beer. We stop for good beer too.

Emily from Vancouver

Might this bring some well-needed levity at about mile 200?

It will probably be as bad as my field partner who once spent the entire summer singing ABBA's 'Dancing Queen'.... the only song...the whole summer. 

Hi Ruth,

Don't be worried about bears.  Toby was right that it is traffic and lightening that are significantly bigger threats.

I grew up in CO and have lived in British Columbia, Canada for the last 10+ years.  I saw more bears my first field season here than all my years in CO.  Read the books he recommended too.  The author also produced 2 excellent videos: "Staying Safe in Bear Country" and "Working in Bear Country".  There are likely to be copies of these at your local library or university.  We watch the Working in Bear Country video every year or 2 for my job as a field geologist/engineer.  The more you know the more comfort you will have!  These books and videos describe the situations where you are likely to encounter bears, how to read their stress levels, and how to react should an encounter escalate into something more serious.  But take comfort that most encounters either 1) you aren't aware there is a bear and 2) simply don't escalate with aggressive behavior from the bear.

Get at COSAR card, educate yourself and keep your food/smelly stuff (food, lip balm, trash, toothpaste, chamois cream too) away from your sleeping area.  Get a bear bell for your bike.  Outdoor stores sell bear bells that have a magnetic silencer for those times where you feel OK.  Heck, get an air horn that you can recharge with your bike pump.  Get bear spray and a holster.  I've been known to sleep in my tent with the bear spray (as well as my rock hammer just 'cause it makes me feel better!!).  Make noise on the trail in sections that look like favorable locations for bear habitat. Sing Mr. and Mrs. Bear a song.  Let them know you are coming.  Heck, if we're on the same section of the CTR at the same time this year, riding through bear terrain, then I'll teach you *my* bear song.    

Think of the CTR as exposure therapy with very little chance of an actual encounter. 
Em

I don't think that there is any established route.  Likely you could do a lot by connecting logging roads, but I don't think that there would be any trail system that extensive here in BC.  Of course, I'm basing this on hiking and general experience as a field geologist in the provience.  There is a lot out here that gets inaccessible quickly.

Are you in BC?  The South Chilcotins are hard to beat.  The hubby and I will hopefully be getting in a few 2-3 day trips there this summer, but nothing as big as you are looking at!