2011 Tour Divide

[Jilleo]

Good quote, Jeff. I had to look up those lyrics after you posted. I thought the first verse was also quite apt.

It’s all about where you put the horizon
Said the Great John Ford to the young man rising
You got to frame it just right and have some luck of course
And it helps to have a tall man sitting on the horse
Tell them just enough to still leave them some mystery
A grasp of the ironic nature of history
A man turns his back on the comforts of home
The Monument Valley to ride off alone

[kucebags]

Just here to share that there is 8 - 12inches of snow at the trailhead of Elk Pass in Kananaskis just pass the Boltan Creek Store.

post -holing 6inches deep, did not bother going any higher than a 15min walk as it just got deeper and colder.
Not here to discourage just here to share some local trail info

best of luck

[sjanes]

Seems to me its the perfect time to make the most of the situation. It might not be "the route" but it could be the year that someone sets a record for "the alternate route".  Realistically, "the route" that Matthew Lee set the record on could never be the same again.  Someone get out there and set a new record on this year's route!  That's racin'.

[6thElement]

Last one to Mexico/Canada is a rotten egg!

[Newfydog]

OK, have at it guys!  When you're ass deep in snow, hauling a bike, don't bother to ask "wouldn't this be more fun in July?"

Of course, as someone pointed out, I was turned back two Julys in a row for forest fires.  Good luck out there.

[Newfydog]

I'm not sure I'd call the TD a "small" event. It may have a relatively small field, but it's no minor undertaking. The fact that most people require a month of work and are flying in to the start, it's far more problematic to reschedule than a one-day event like the Birkie, where the majority of the participants live within driving distance....

Actually, for that Birke I got a call just before I got on the plane from Colorado.  Skiers come from all over the world for that, and they rescheduled it.

There's tough, and there's  inflexibility.  Just sayin'.

Anyway, I'm not racing, I'll just be watching it, so have a good hike, ITT or whatever you get into.

[krefs]

Skiers come from all over the world for that, and they rescheduled it.

You're right, but the majority of racers by far are American. The 5 most represented states (mostly within a half-day's drive of Telemark/Hayward):

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, Colorado

For kicks, I just compared this to where the most racers on the 2011 TD SoBo start list hail from:

Colorado, Texas, UK, California, Switzerland

Texas is #2?! I see why there's rumor of a "fastest-Texan" title for this year.

All I know is that with a month off work and travel arrangements all squared away, quite a few people would be very annoyed if the start date was switched. Besides, it's tough to have a ski race when the rain melts all the snow. A bike race, on the other hand, is still very reasonable if 1% of the course is snow-covered. In my opinion, it's not about inflexibility - it's about flexibility. Pack and plan accordingly, throw in a few snow detours for the worst sections, and it'll be a heck of an adventure to relish. Besides, if the race was postponed by a few weeks, New Mexico may very well have entirely gone up in flames before any racers get there!

[sherpaxc]

Well said Kurt.  Oh, and God Bless Texas

[EMathy]

Hey Artist!

The whole thing has been really interesting to watch unfold. There is always drama with the TD. Always! This year just has Mamma Nature in the forefront in a big way!

In the end, like I said, I'll get to Mexico. I hope everyone does, no matter what it takes to do so. Not everyone has the gear prepped for this kind of adventuring so we all have to make the best decisions we can with our personal safety in mind. For me many of my biggest goals have already been achieved. I've meet some amazing people who have become close friends, given inspiration and comfort to a few folks in need, gotten closer to the people I love and overcome tremendous hurdles in preparation for the biggest physical/mental challenge of my life. I always said that the hardest part of the TD would be just getting there. In less than a week we'll all be there. In one week we'll be on course. Whatever happens will be icing on my cake. Hitting Mexico will be the cherry on top.

I have a hard time keeping track of all the racers and their plans, man. But be sure to hunt us up in Canada next week if you're there. You're another cool cat I'd like to cross paths with, for sure.

[DaveH]

As I understand it, the SoBo start is going to be split into 2 groups to mitigate the number of riders leaving at any one time.  The time gap between groups is to be small.

So, why not make that time gap more like 2-4 weeks?  Choose your start time as you see fit.

Everyone does this beast for their own reasons, but one thing that bind's all is the desire to start as a group.  Making that split between groups on the order of 2-4 weeks (but one that is agreeable to most) seems a good compromise.

Fixie is starting June 24 IIRC.  Maybe that's a good 2nd launch date

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Has the MTBCast phone number been released yet? I can't find it on the web page.

[trebor]

Has the MTBCast phone number been released yet? I can't find it on the web page.

Top left of the page - just above image of the Ride the Divide movie DVD

[Jeff Tomassetti]

A little comment regarding our call-ins to MTBcast. It is a lot of work for Joe Polk to edit long rambling calls. 
Joe says "It’s a lot of work to prepare the audio, especially for large races like the TD and CTR. Once you’re getting 10 or more calls a day you’re processing 10 or more calls a day. In some cases it means editing heavily. Each audio file has to be clipped, edited, converted to MP3, then posted before it’s put out for the website, be it here or at TourDivide.org, not to mention iTunes "

so, Let's try to self-edit and keep the calls pithy so Joe has less editing work.

[cadetb1973]

I saw this on the news this morning, and when I'm feeling really low over the next few weeks, I just might ask myself, "What would Buster do?"  Hardcore Buster.  Hard-freaking-core 

(this actually got me thinking about visiting my veterinarian for a microchip before I leave):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qJJ7OUZCng

[Rob Colliver]

Fresh from the trails around Fernie.... at 5000' the snow pack has shrunk by a massive 4" overnight! It has not receeded more than 5' up the hill, but snow shoes make moving around loads easier than cycling shoes! They make you even faster when you see a set of 12" wide bear tracks joining the path...

[6thElement]

Watching the snow forecasts it's definitely dropping quite quickly, maybe I'll swap the snowshoes in my kit for a packraft...

[krefs]

Fresh from the trails around Fernie.... at 5000' the snow pack has shrunk by a massive 4" overnight! It has not receeded more than 5' up the hill, but snow shoes make moving around loads easier than cycling shoes! They make you even faster when you see a set of 12" wide bear tracks joining the path...

Rob, thanks for the boots-on-the-ground updates. Can you provide any info on the condition of the route between Elkford and Sparwood after turning south off Fording River Road and onto the gravel road that tops out at ~5000'? Does this road see any traffic/maintenance in the winter months?

[Rob Colliver]

From Elkford down to Sparwood, there is not a drop of snow on the ground - no idea of the state of the trails though.  I only saw them from the air!
My snow shoes are starting with me on Wednesday -  how come I ended up as the rabbit?

[mcmurv]

In case everyone hasn't noticed there are some new GPX files on topofusion:  http://www.topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

Maybe someone will provide some guidance as to what route is the TD one for this year. 

[Nathan Jones]

In case everyone hasn't noticed there are some new GPX files on topofusion:  http://www.topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

Maybe someone will provide some guidance as to what route is the TD one for this year.  

OMG!

Edit: HISTORIC!!!

2nd Edit: NICE WORK SCOTT!!!!!!!!!!!