2011 Dixie 200 Planning

[DaveH]

I've been getting some email inquiries about the event so let's discuss!  Questions?

The response to the 311 route was mixed last year.  I thought it was fantastic (my favorite ride of the year, actually) while some found the blowdown over the top.  The 200 route skips the portions of the 311 route that had the excessive blowdown, but includes the best singletrack and my personal favorite, the Paunsaugunt Plateau. 

I'll be doing some scouting for an alternate finish as soon as the snow is gone - which very well could be the week prior to the event.  The change I have in mind will have us finishing on a ~3-4k' technical singletrack descent.  Getting there is the question...

Just looking at these shots get's me amped for another ride out there.

The event site is http://2-epic.com/events/dixie200.html.

[6thElement]

Ugh...So many good looking races, so little time!

[Chad B]

I could see myself possibly making it over for this again...let me check my summer schedule.

[dream4est]

I am planning to show up as well. Had the bike/gear all ready for AZT so i have no excuses that way. I was going to come last year as a CTR tune-up but didnt plan properly. Looks like some nice riding for late June- all the similar stuff here in Colorado is still a bit snowy at that time.

[Endurance Junkie]

Think I'll roll up for this one 

[gregclimbs]

I am definately in.

[Chad B]

That 3-4k feet technical descent to the finish sounds horrible, BTW.

[ScottM]

The Dixie 200!!  Wow, I think this'll be a fun one to race/ride/tour/yougetthepicture.  Probably not in the cards for me this year, but I'll be following along and daydreaming...

[dkirk]

Hey Dave,
Drinking beers and raike in Albania. At least that should get me in top form for the 3-4 k loss of altitude Raike would definitely work in a alcohol stove no problemo. Looking forward to this one!
 

[DaveH]

Drinking beers and what and where?  Just bring your global party to Utah, we could use some around here

Glad to hear you'll be joining the fun! 

[dkirk]

Oops, that's raki. Think moonshine made with plums. The double distilled is SMO~O-O-O-V-E!

[JimL]

Oops, that's raki. Think moonshine made with plums. The double distilled is SMO~O-O-O-V-E!

Nice, Albanian moonshine!  Wonder if they have that on tap underground here in the inner-city Daytwa?  Sorry for the hijack. 

[caseygreene]

Hey Dave,
When would be the best time to do this route in the fall?

[DaveH]

Casey,
It gets cold pretty darn early on this route, particularly near Brian Head.  Fall colors are popping the first half of October, and in the later half of October in most years there is snow in spots.

Personally I think late Sept is ideal and Oct is a bit late.  The first year I scouted out the Trans Utah route it was bluebird conditions until late November, but every year since winter arrives in October.

[caseygreene]

Aw shucks, was thinking maybe late Oct or early Nov, but shows how much I know about the area. Thanks for the info Dave. Late Sept dosen't sound all that bad.

[DaveH]

With 5 weeks until the start of the Dixie, there remains 257% of normal snowpack in the Virgin River basin, and snow is in the forecast all week.  It's highly unlikely this will have any impact on the route and/or start date as it stands, but it does mean any further changes to the route are highly unlikely - since those changes I have in mind are over 10.5k' and require prior scouting.

Funny, I haven't heard folks saying much about greenhouse warming of late.

[DesertDog]

Hadn't browsed thru the forums for a while and was wondering if the event was still on and set for the 25th (start date I thought would be used).

Yeah, there could be a bit better routing towards the end, but probably better to just make this 'the' route for the course.  You did also have to change the start/finish point and routing for last years courses because of snowpack!

Just because I'm curious, what was the routing you were thinking about for the finish?  Unless there would be something of a shuttle from the finish back to the start, I can't really see anything other than trying to connect Lower Pond to Hancock to Blowhard to Wood Ranch.  That doesn't make for a long, continuous downhill finish though.

Good luck to all who do the course. 

I doubt I'll be in for it, though I may spend a few days at Bryce/Red Canyon and the Mark and Pauns Plateaus around that time.

[DaveH]

I am torn on those final miles.  The marathon "trail" is more dirt road/double track than trail, but it does have some interesting spots and an awesome descent into Navajo.  Finishing on the VRRT west of Navajo is a treat too. 

That said, the lure of a techy singletrack descent is strong....your guess is close with Blowhard being the key element.  It drops about 3,300' in 6.9 miles.  It also starts out at ~ 10.7k' and is likely to be under 15' of snow June 25.

When you are in the area I highly recommend checking out the Paunsaugunt section of the route.  The stuff from Pole Canyon to Red Canyon is a blast and super scenic, one of my favorite areas anywhere to ride a bike.

[wookieone]

Damn Scott that picture is amazing!

[Mathewsen]

With 5 weeks until the start of the Dixie, there remains 257% of normal snowpack in the Virgin River basin, and snow is in the forecast all week.  It's highly unlikely this will have any impact on the route and/or start date as it stands, but it does mean any further changes to the route are highly unlikely - since those changes I have in mind are over 10.5k' and require prior scouting.

Funny, I haven't heard folks saying much about greenhouse warming of late.

That area is really, really special. Would love to get back there someday without the Unimog. Dave, what I have read is, these late winters in the temperate zones are actually *caused* by global warming. He, go figure. Something about icecap melt offloading all the cold and moisture on the temperate zones.