GD - Lost Trail on Recent Tour near Clearwater Lake between Condon & Seeley Lake

[j_smith56]

I just finished touring the GD from Banff to Butte using the most recent ACA map. Lost the trail at FR9814 (216.6, side A, Section 1) after you turn onto a snowmobile trail. Spent a couple hours and never did figure it out.  A large part of that area has been clearcut and the map directions made no sense to me. Any suggestions on where I went astray? Ended up going back down to the hardroad and going up Clearlake loop road.

[redtabby]

Maybe download the GPS track that the TD racers typically use, then look at it in TopoFusion or Google Earth around
the place you lost the trail.  (I'm assuming you weren't recording GPS points from your goose chase which you could
share with us).  That might jog your memory of landmarks or other reference points that could explain what
happened.

Otherwise, how was the tour?  It seems like a great time to be out there.

[j_smith56]

Other than missing a turn now and then, it was great.  Over eleven days only rained for about 15 minutes one day. Great weather during the day and not too cold at night. Roads were very dusty but I would take that over rain or snow any day. Met a lot of nice folks along the way but not very many mountain bike tourists. Had a couple pinch flats one broken spoke. Did lose a tire when a nail went in the tread and out the sidewall.  Glad I had a tire boot since I had to ride on it for three days until I got to a decent bike shop in Helena. Got to put in a plug for Rob at the Outdoorsman in Butte.  He was the greatest in helping me pack bike and ship back home.  Got the best service I ever have had at any bike shop.  Including my local shop that I go to all the time.

[Groundshine]

You were looking for the trails that connect Owl Creek Rd to West Morrell Rd.  I remember lifting my bike over a few blowdowns in 2010.  I believe this is what part of that section looked like... maybe the "steep hill" of cue 219.6?



https://picasaweb.google.com/108377311123808474629/TourDivideRace2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCMC1vfjPtofuUg#5528371132501341890

[j_smith56]

I had to go back down to 83 and take the Clearwater Lake loop road and camped at the Lake. Next day had trouble at the 229.6 junction going to Richmond Peak. Went until the trail stopped at a VERY deep ravine.  Back down to 83...again. Took that to Seeley Lake and got back on the trail there. Made it to Butte without any more issues. Next time I will have a GPS!

[scooteremu]

You were looking for the trails that connect Owl Creek Rd to West Morrell Rd.  I remember lifting my bike over a few blowdowns in 2010.  I believe this is what part of that section looked like... maybe the "steep hill" of cue 219.6?



https://picasaweb.google.com/108377311123808474629/TourDivideRace2010?authkey=Gv1sRgCMC1vfjPtofuUg#5528371132501341890

Nice album and thanks! I had to ask if picture #36 was fake.