Wait, the route was moved to the west side of the Spray River / Lake in 2016, which is the route MH rode:

"TD 2016 v2 update (5/20/16) - Added High Rockies Trail-North, west side of the Spray River"

Is that what you are referring to?

Scott - there are 2 parts to the High Rockies Trails - the one you refer to (North) is a short section you folks added in 2016 (and is still the current route) In 2016 all that was ridden was the 'North' part of that trail which takes you to the west spray lakes road and back on to the original route (circa 2009).  Post 2016 was when the other southern part of High Rockies Trail was added in and riding the West Spray road was removed.

Hope that helps!

Huh, this seems to indicate it's open to bikes and horses as well:

https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/spray-valley/spray-road-west/

I am not so sure.  I do see the purple line in the map you linked.

Either way she is past it now.  <shrug>

Hi - Banff local here.  Spray lakes road is definitely open and legal.  West Spray as well.  Certainly a little quicker than the current route through this first few miles to Boulton creek.  But it's the route Mike did so fair play to her for choosing it.

By the time folks reach HRT, there won't be much of a peloton.  Trail is wide enough - not tight single track.  It's just relentless, short, steep, rough up and down.  Day 1 on the GDMBR is gonna be a real gut check for all those who dare...

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

A little PSA... The High Rockies Trail re-route will add a significant amount of time to Boulton Creek. Especially with a fully laden bikepacking rig.  Plan accordingly!

less than 100mi to go now for Mike.  He has 9.5hrs now to get in under 14 days!  damn, this is impressive.

It's full gas now - à bloc

Allez Mike!

JK and LW record flags are live.  I just turned them on.  Do a full refresh of your tracker map to get them to show.

I thought it interesting that when I switched them on, LW was ahead of JK. 

interesting indeed as it looks like the 2 leaders are 40-45 mi ahead of JK's record pace of last year.

No list that I know of... but I can start you off by saying Mike Hall and David Goldberg have completed both of those.  I'm sure there are others too.

Just curious...

The latest track on the trackleaders site shows the TD 2015 route at about 2867mi.  That's a significant increase to the Tourdivide.org site which lists the route at 2745mi.  Is that just a GPS mileage anomaly - or has the additional sections/re-routes over the past few years actually appended that many more miles?

I wouldn't think I would try charging the GPS, using the GPS and using the lights.  I was planning on a more simple - during daylight hours, charge the GPS (and use it), at night just use the GPS off it's own battery (which should be plenty charged by this time) and switch the dyno to the light only.

Anyone know why this may be a risky plan, I would like to hear your thoughts.

robin

Still using my SP PD 8 dynamo hub which has been dead reliable for thousands of miles including the AZT 750 which I just finished.
My B&M Luxos U light also made the trip and came back unscathed in spite of numerous crashes and super rough terrain. I ended up mounting it off my front stem since the low mount off my fork crown interfered with my sweetroll bag. The light worked very well and in conjunction with my Fenix flashlight which I helmet mounted helped get me through some singletrack night sections very well. The helmet light also came in usefull for night time camp usage.
The handlebar mounted light switch comes with a USB charger which helped keep my Sony Experia Z3v smartphone topped off since plug ins were few and far between. My thought was to use the Sony for GPS, phone, web surfing, and camera to avoid having so many different devices. At the last minute I threw on my Garmin battery mounted GPS and I was glad I did. On my Garmin I turned off all my maps and just zoomed in to follow the track. My phone GPS app was awesome due to the large screen and I left the maps on to check locations etc. I think using the smartphone as a gps would be fine on many routes but I think having a dedicated gps is a good idea. There were several times I used both when I got off track and I was glad I had both.
The phone worked great as a camera and the quality was close to my Canon point and shoot. The true advantage of using a smartphone for a camera is that you can post photos instantly on facebook or instagram so people at home can follow along on your adventure. I also used my smartphone as a music player so I had one less thing to charge and lug around.
Overall I am very pleased with my setup.
I use backcountry navigator as my smartphone GPS app which allows me to download several various types of map for off network usage. I kept my phone in airplane mode with the screen off and apps off to save battery.

I was looking at this setup - especially the Lexus U light with the USB charger on the switch.  Can you tell me if the USB charger could charge a GPS(Garmin 810) while *using* the GPS?

thx

I believe the Adirondack Trail Race is in NY state...

Quick answer: Yes, but you'd know that if you've been reading the thread in its entirety.

Sorry, I must of missed it in one of your 21 posts about... bears... just in this thread.

As Justin points out... move on...

Don't listen to sports store staff, either. They aren't wildlife biologists.

Or online forums... Are you or anyone else posting here wildlife biologists?

Let's be mindful of what we are posting in this thread - as the potential audience reading through here trying to educate themselves on an upcoming divide run may get some mis-information that could put them in harms way.

Perhaps the TD organizer could get a page written by an expert(s) in bear interaction, lightning, women alone in the backcountry etc and posted up on their site, so when potential racers come here looking, they can be directed to a legitimate source?

The final (?) word on bears:


SlowRide brought up a valid point about the probability of getting struck by lightning as being much higher than being attacked by a bear or cougar. The difference is this: the first can kill you on the spot in about a millisecond i.e. almost instantly;

I really hate seeing people use stats like this.  Just to put it into context - how many  (tens or hundreds) millions of people are exposed to lightning every year? How many people are exposed to bear environments every year?  I would think there would be more lightning strikes, but...

I live in a high density bear area.  In the past few years - I personally know of 1 person killed by a bear - 1 person (who I found) mauled to the point they probably wish they had died. I know NO ONE WHO HAS BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNIG...

Please be scared of bears... respect them, expect the unexpected. Rogue bears that attack humans do not react they way we are trained to think they will.  Carry your bear spray. Keep it close for quick discharge. Know how to get the safety off fast... practice and test.

robinb, while I concur with the sentiment, for many I don't think rule enforcement is that simple.....

but we CAN control how simple or complicated we want this to get...

i vote for simple...

Frustration is really seated in things that we cannot control - so let's focus on what we can control.

Course deviation - trackleaders can see when racers do not follow the designated route (unknowingly or knowingly). When that type of rule violation happens, you are relegated and off the trackleaders site - your 'race' is over.

Everything else can't be controlled - we can hope all those entered follow the self-supported ethos - but ultimately that HAS to be left up to the racer - no calling out another racer.  Race your own race...

The TD.org site says it best...

Rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men —Douglas Bader

To thine own self be true - Hamlet

Good to see Jill got across the boarder... A humbling reminder that coming into another country is a privilege not a right... They don't have to let you in if they don't want to...

Yeah but man are those sunny days magical! I already miss it.

Yes they are! We feel very fortunate to live here.  BTW Joe, I didn't known you were coming up here again... Had I known, we would have extended an invite to you... Next time...

I thought June was called 'la primavera'  What do you call the heinous afternoon storms that plague Trans-Rockies in Aug? In the southern Rockies, monsoons are characterized by that daily wind-reversal cycle that stacks & drops.

when folks ask what the climate is like in Banff, I always say 'we have 7 months of winter and 5 months of bad weather'...

Jarral, not sure how rugged your cubs can handle, but I might consider just running the Spray Lake / Smith-Dorrien road all the way to K-country with a minor detour to camp along the west side of Spray Lake (at the campground). Elk River Rd is also super nice / more remote, but Elk Pass connecting K-country and Elk R. Rd might be a debbie-downer. Lots of side trips along Smith-Dorrien...and I'd carry fly rods. Mid to late July b/f their monsoons would be good timing. The only downside to the Smith-Dorrien would be gapers in cars. They can get thick at times. Start your program on the eve of departure with high tea at the Banff hotel and a soak in the upper hotsprings.

Just a note on dept timing... our monsoon season is June - monsoon june as we affectionately call it here. Any time after that is good.