Two riders finished the north 250 this year.

Think it was a freakish storm that hit the Sierras the night before and no one was equipped with the gear to spend the first day in the snow.

I assume riders are using GPS units with mapping software (recommendations?), but I've got no experience using these devices.

I just bought the Gaia GPS app for my phone and will try it out this weekend.  Allowed me to download the maps around a GPX file onto my phone, so that it will provide enough detail when out of bounds.

Sean,

Been lurking and watching the dots all week. Any word on the other four out in the field? 

It's a great thing you do with all the time and energy you provide in orchestrating the logistics for this route.

Hopefully I make the Raley's lot next year.

Berdoo Canyon is not a bad option- if you want to pedal past the entry to the Little San Bernadinos down to roughly Coachella.  I just rambled through Berdoo a few weeks ago.  No water sources whatsoever.  Consider little Morongo Canyon Rd which traverses from Desert Hot Springs to Yucca Valley.  Shorter distance between water sources. 

I live in San Diego now, but grew up in JT.  A ride from SD to JT has been on my list for quite sometime.  SD to Ramona to Idyllwild, down Palm Canyon trail, across the floor to Little Morongo. 

I just checked out the Noble Canyon trailhead- the spigot is still off.  Thinking of calling the ranger station and finding out if they have a date in which that'll be up and running. 

There was a good deal of water running at the Indian Creek crossing- prolly will still be going strong in three weeks.  Also, Granite Springs has a working spigot.  Both of these would need a filter though.  Indian Creek is about 2-3 miles past Noble's trailhead.  Granite is past the Indian Creek segment at the interior start of East Mesa- prolly another 3-4 miles past Indian. 

JG warming up just off the McKenzie River Trail

That's not a knife....