2011 Tour Divide

[6thElement]

Just need to ride down those plowed roads fast!



(It's British Columbia, but not on the TD route. But from snow concerns prior to a trip last year)

[trebor]

Hey everybody,
I created a web application I think you might find useful for race planning - http://eatsleepridegreatdivide.com.  It is an interactive elevation profile of the Great Divide route.  It shows precise total ascent, total descent, and net elevation gain for any section of the route.

I slow-toured the route last year and hope for you all the best of luck (and weather).  It's a noble goal.

Dave


--
Edit 1: added the option to specify which direction you're travelling for easy route reversal.
Edit 2: added centering on selected sections

Hey Dave - I don't have the route in front of me (gpx, maps or cues). Can you tell me if your app is using the 2010 data or the newly released 2011 data?

I love this tool. Very cool!

[mtbcast]

Here's a nice NYT article on the snow!
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/us/22snow.html

[Giegs]

It shows the main route as of 2010.  Use it as a guideline for elevation changes, not route navigation.  I haven't been following this discussion closely enough to know which sections are or aren't TD legal.

Hey Dave - I don't have the route in front of me (gpx, maps or cues). Can you tell me if your app is using the 2010 data or the newly released 2011 data?

I love this tool. Very cool!

[ridingman1]

as a tour divide rookie this year and someone who has never been to any part of the course, my read on the current situation about the condition of the course is:

Participant safety should be a top concern. After the tragic accident of last year, the event needs to not go through another similar experience. No matter how tough we think we are, we must respect the exceptional weather condition this year. It is history making. I have participated in events where the organizer was too ambitious with the course and time requirements and the event eventually stopped being held because it got a reputation of being ridiculously un-safe.

As the weather continues to warm, snow will continue to melt and the conditions will improve. I can wait until June 10th to find out what the final course is, Fernie alternate or not.

I don't think comparing performances year to year is valid. There is too much variability in weather, road conditions, and participants from year to year. Each year discretely stands on its own. Everyone who attempts this event is amazing.

[rfutah]

Here is a compilation of today's SNOTEL station data along our route.
Montana 5-25-2011
Station      Map Coord   Elev   Water   Snow
Grave Creek   1A – 33.5   4300   10.4”          26”      
Nevada Ridge   1B – 78   7020   18.9”          44”
Frohner Mead   1B – 150   6480   2.4”          7”
Basin Creek         ~1B – 211   7180   8.2”          26”

Idaho 5-25-2011
Station      Map Coord   Elev   Water   Snow
Island Park         Island Park   6280   .1”             0”

Wyoming 5-25-2011
Station      Map Coord   Elev   Water   Snow
Grassy Lk           2A – 254    7265   37.1”           79”
Togwotee           2B – 57   9580   41.6”           100”
Kendall           2B – 125   7740   5.8”           14.0”
Sage Cr           3A – 169    7850   .1”           1”
Battle Mt           3B – 35    7440   0”           0”

 I'll compile Colorado and New Mexico later.
Robert

[krefs]

Here is a compilation of today's SNOTEL station data along our route.

Check out http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/interactive/html/map.html

It provides a much more useful glimpse at the spatial distribution of snowcover along the route. You can also look at past years snowcover on the same date. Note that these are model results based on SNOTEL, RAWS, MADIS, and other met stations and interpolated based on topography, climate data, etc. Based on observations from a variety of places along the course, this model is producing some pretty reliable results right now (it's better at predicting melt than it is new snow accumulation).

[rfutah]

Check out http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/interactive/html/map.html

me likey, definitely corresponds with what I saw around the the Wind River and Tetons yesterday.  Other than the snow, there is a lot of muddy roads and fast, fat rivers.

[6thElement]

Here's the Flathead, Whitefish Divide and Red Meadow. Shows the variation between the 17th, today and this time a year ago.

[mcmurv]

Here's the Flathead, Whitefish Divide and Red Meadow. Shows the variation between the 17th, today and this time a year ago.

So, how do we know which image is which? 

[6thElement]

Lots of purple = a week ago May 17th
Slightly less purple = today May 25th
Hardly any purple = a year ago May 17th 2010

[trebor]

I was wondering if someone could overlay the route to that NOAA snow data... Thanks for that. Very nifty!! Thanks!

[brunch]

Well the Grand Depart is really looming now. I'm very jealous of everyone doing the race this year (snow not withstanding). I have to say that just this morning I had flashes of the Tour Divide popping through my head; it happens all the time and I enjoy it. It's kind of like having a dear friend come to visit.

That's the most unexpected thing about the TD: once you do it you're always doing it. Memories and feelings from the route will come flooding back at the strangest times. I can tell you from editing two editions of the Cordillera that the phenomenon is nearly universal; the TD changes you.

Good luck to everyone and if you haven't bought a Cordillera yet please consider it. At this late date the Cordillera is the best preparation you can do for a run along the Divide. There's even an electronic (PDF) version that you can download immediately.

Here's the Bikepacking thread for more information: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,2096.msg19302.html#msg19302

Here's the purchase link: https://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-cordillera/15659154

Good luck and be safe!

Eric

[trebor]

Pops, we understand this dilemma and it's unfortunate. Information / TD advice about pass-ability may be in limbo as late as days before the grand depart. Why? We want very much for all challengers to have the chance to log an official TD time; one that can count towards the historical GC. Two years in a row without any official times will suck (fire detour last year).

We are not as concerned about getting a track to folks for the Fernie Alternate (if we decide to make it a permissible detour). It's an official ACA alternate on the Canada map. It is a straightforward alternate (mostly paved) to the border. No one should be racing on GPS alone, so make sure you carry the ACA cue narrative for the Fernie alternate. The second area TD may permit a detour is just south of Eureka, MT. We are hoping to make a call on it as soon as possible. It is also a fairly straightforward bypass. More by the end of the week.

Hey ML - any updates about the alternates yet? I know I'm a pest.

[6thElement]

There's still plenty of melt time. I'm hoping for some good melt in this next couple of weeks as the only alternatives are road rides. To miss out Whitefish and Red Meadow would just be a dull 43 mile on US-93 instead of 80 miles out in the mountains.

[DaveH]

I was wondering if someone could overlay the route to that NOAA snow data... Thanks for that. Very nifty!! Thanks!

It's your lucky day.  Go to http://2-epic.com/?p=1563 for a KML file that can be opened in Google Earth and renders all the latest snow info.  Also check the comments to see Kurt's thoughts on the data's relevance in Canada.

Wyoming is the real shocker - it looks like a showstopper to me.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

"Wyoming is the real shocker - it looks like a showstopper to me."

There are about 25 continuous miles in this area over 9000 feet. What if we have to hike all of that? Looks like there could be a re-route though Jackson. This year will be unique, that is for sure!
Jeff

[Area45]

Is it too late to consider the Salsa Enabler Fork? Snowbike light?

http://salsacycles.com/culture/enabler_fork_-_jack-of-all-trades_master_of_many/

[6thElement]

Great work on the kml!

Okay so after I make it through to Whitefish I'll be shipping my snowshoes to Lima ready for WY.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

IN ALL SERIOUSNESS. I am from Florida and have no clue about snowshoes. Are snowshoes going to be a valuable kit component enough to offset their size and weight?  I am running out of room on the bike to store anything else.
Thanks!
Jeff