2011 Tour Divide

[Nathan Jones]

You guys are hitting the panic button again.

Just inquiring, that's what the internet is for Matt!

[russmcb]

Oops, I meant, NOBO!  What's the best guess on the first area of significant snow the northbounders can expect to encounter?  Platoro to Indiana Pass?  Or the elevations between Cuba and Abiquiu?  Just curious.

[Slowerthensnot]

Oops, I meant, NOBO!  What's the best guess on the first area of significant snow the northbounders can expect to encounter?  Platoro to Indiana Pass?  Or the elevations between Cuba and Abiquiu?  Just curious.

me thinks Abiquiui and Platoro

[JayP]

I agree it is easy to psych oneself out and maybe we should all stay home and take it easy instead?!? Just kidding. But it does seem weird to have all this work done for this ITT! But this little ITT has turned out to be quite a draw, (there's still 74 sobo's) must make putting it on seem like more of a job! And that really isn't the point for this. Just makes me feel weird about it all. I mean should matt and all his scouts be doing all this work for Us? Should we all buck up and hike all the snow? Totally F up our lives and wait two weeks? If it were a perfect world we could all wait for no snow, no forest fires, mild weather and peak flowers. Not that I am planning on hiking any more snow than I have to and I am grateful for all the work done as I think it will make for a better race and less chaos. But I think it brings up good questions for future TD's and other "self-supported" "underground" races. How much "organization" do we as racers expect and how much should be provided? So much to ponder.......Jefe

sorry, here i go.....my 2 cents to matt was DON"T you dare do this thinking/rerouting for everyone, they know what there getting into and the route is the route, it is an adventure and they should be ready!! for the people that solely use GPS, open up your minds, get some real maps and make some of your own decisions on where to go and if you really want to do the official route, hike the snow, or go at another time. i am not trying to be harsh here, but damn thiis is suppose to be an unorganized type of event, the rules and route are simple, and people are making it more difficult for others not even riding. if your intent was to ride the GDMBR in full, well, with these suggested reroutes nobody will be actually completing the route. unique year for sure, but at this point everyone will have an astrix next to there name.
guess what, sh*t happens, oh well.....yes, this bothers me and i am going to express it!

[Mathewsen]

on FS road 206 just after lynx pass and then after hwy 134 if your sobo

If Rock Creek is too high to cross, which is doubtful by the time riders from either grand depart arrive there, it is permissable to go around on 134, however, only AFTER performing on the ground site inspection at the creek. Site inspection, plus the brief bypass will amount to a similar effort as fording it in the first place. Note: this creek is typically only as deep as it looks (and no more). Looking at the far side bank in that pic (thanks Dave) and knowing the drop from the pictured waterline to the normal waterline is only about 2.5 feet, i'd wager 8 feet is an exaggeration. I'd say neck high at the most. Lots of bushes down stream to rescue in. Not really a true hazard unless you cannot swim.

[Slowerthensnot]

If Rock Creek is too high to cross, which is doubtful by the time riders from either grand depart arrive there, it is permissable to go around on 134, however, only AFTER performing on the ground site inspection at the creek. Site inspection, plus the brief bypass will amount to a similar effort as fording it in the first place. Note: this creek is typically only as deep as it looks (and no more). Looking at the far side bank in that pic (thanks Dave) and knowing the drop from the pictured waterline to the normal waterline is only about 2.5 feet, i'd wager 8 feet is an exaggeration. I'd say neck high at the most. Lots of bushes down stream to rescue in. Not really a true hazard unless you cannot swim.

just throwing it out there i feel ok about crossing it like that but its a swim for sure.... just an indicator of some stuff to expect

[Mathewsen]

me thinks Abiquiui and Platoro

Reconnaissance on Indiana Pass was performed 10 days by Steve B. (Rec Specialist for Rio Grand FS district). He's currently touring the route from AW and may provide additional reports. He said the snowline there was about 10,800 or so. The correlations may not be perfect but he said Stunner Pass (Platoro) and Elwood / Summitville (Indiana Pass) should all be good to go by the time Nobos arrive.

Our CDT thru-hiker scout just got thru Cumbres Pass (NM border) and reports periodic snowbanks on Brazos Ridge, but only in the scattered fir stands.

Basically everything route-wise will be good to go (enough) so as to not significantly impact pace (save Elk Pass for Sobos), therefore the best way to expend final energy at this point is on logistics, like food/ water resupply contingencies, and your basic 'systems' like equipment, cues and such. No matter what, the personal experience is going to be brilliant for all of you, so keep zen about it. That is essential. TD is a mental race, and it doesn't even get going until about the half-way point. It's not called a grand tour for nothing. It's all about later selections--natural and otherwise. Can you make the metamorphosis? will you reach the chrysalis before breaking? Will you harden?

[russmcb]

Thanks Matt!  I'll leave my snowshoes, skate skiis, and toboggan at home.  Emergency cyclocross tire? 

Did someone do some NoBo cues they're willing to share?

[ONEPLUSONEEQUALSONE]

"unique year for sure, but at this point everyone will have an astrix next to there name".
what is this supposed to mean?

[Mathewsen]

"unique year for sure, but at this point everyone will have an astrix next to there name".
what is this supposed to mean?

What Jay is trying to say is that this year's GC (save full-route biathletes) won't be included in the aggregate (historical) GC. It will be a unique, stand-alone set of results, just as last year's grand depart was due to fire detour. Nothing wrong with that, really. It's not about that is it? Its more personal, right? Divide racing was spoiled with pretty fair conditions for its first four seasons. This kind of stuff happens. As of late, the prize (from within the grand depart) has proven more difficult. But, I rather appreciate that elusiveness. As a challenger it has definitely frustrated me, but I now appreciate (all the more) what we had from `04-`07.

Huge daily SWE loss as of late. It's going to be juicy out there...and of course the progress comes just as the detours are announced: http://www.nnvl.noaa.gov/MediaDetail.php?MediaID=749&MediaTypeID=1

[krefs]

"unique year for sure, but at this point everyone will have an astrix next to there name".
what is this supposed to mean?

I don't mind if my name has an asterisk behind it. It'll be no different than last year when the fire in NM forced a reroute and all finishers were given asterisks. I'm looking forward to spending a few weeks racing across the country, spending some time being introspective as mountain ranges slowly pass by, and enjoying the simplicity of life along the way. Divide racing has been "organized" ever since MikeC instituted time cuts laid down some rules. Who decides that the NM alternates are legit for racing but the alternates elsewhere are not? There's always been someone making decisions somewhere along the way. But for many, it's not necessarily about following the GDMBR route to a T . . . it's about the experiences earned along the way.

If mother nature throws a wrench in things with 20 mile stretches of snow, wildfires, or swollen rivers blocking the route, I see nothing wrong with adapting. Not everyone has flexible scheduling capabilities, so some "official" detours at least allow those starting on Friday to still race one another rather than each individual pulling out maps and figuring out their own detours along the way. I thank Matthew, Scott, and all the scouts for the time they put in to do this. And Jay, I hope mother nature looks upon your effort kindly and that it rains in NM before then so you don't have to figure out detours around closed National Forests. Then you'd be cursed with an asterisk, too!

[krefs]

Huge daily SWE loss as of late.

Perhaps we can take Jay's suggestion of all carrying maps to heart in order to be ready to find ways around flooded rivers!

A prediction from yesterday for the Elk River just above Steamboat Springs:

"There is strong likelihood that the Elk River could reach a 100-year peak flow over the next five days or so and could even experience levels approaching a 500-year event this month, depending on weather conditions,"

Yowza!

[Mathewsen]

Perhaps we can take Jay's suggestion of all carrying maps to heart in order to be ready to find ways around flooded rivers!

In my 20s i was much more whitewater kayaker than bike-racer so I've always LOVED riding the GDMBR during melt-off + lushness. Mostly it's been past-peak melt-off for the grand depart (until this year), so I will sorely miss the feeling of the creekside fireroads rumbling under the tires. Its going to feel so alive out there, even in all your sleep dep. I'm really going to miss it. Take lots of pics for us armchairs.

[6thElement]

Hell I'll take two asterisks if it means I make it to the Mexican border!

[Rob Colliver]

Fernie reporter back again....Sorry I couldn't get up to Corbin and the Flathead yesterday, there was a bad accident on Highway 3 between Fernie and Sparwood. However, it was time well spent getting the new route options and info about resupply in the new places onto the GPS!

This mornings ride up into the back of the Flathead from Fernie saw the trail open and dry right up to 4600' (previously there had been 4x4 tracks in the snow that needed pedal cranking to ride through). The snowpack has again dropped by an estimated 4" and the surrounding streams are going wild - Coal Creek that feeds into Fernie has come up about a foot in the past days.

If any Banff starters are bored at 0800 on Wednesday, pop to the BSH and watch the hare start southbound - I know I will be chased down by the wolfpack starting on Friday.

For my tuppence-worth, I will be taking snowshoes on the first leg  - it will be cold and snowy on the Eiger; make life simples to start with, but after that just 'suck it up Princess'.

Thanks to Arde Olsen who told me about this race, and thanks to all the guys who have put the race together so we can all have a little trailride.
Finally, is there a way to confirm that my Spot is being picked up by HQ and will be blazing the trail for the first few days?

[Mathewsen]

...but after that just 'suck it up Princess'.

Finally, is there a way to confirm that my Spot is being picked up by HQ and will be blazing the trail for the first few days?

Rob, your SPOT is dialed in. We look forward to your call-in from Elkford for many reasons. Please email me your ITTD start time for Wednesday. Bonne chance!

[6thElement]

Matt, where are we picking up our rental Spots in Banff?

Thanks

[Mathewsen]

Matt, where are we picking up our rental Spots in Banff?

Thanks

YWCA Hostel front desk by noon Wednesday 6/8

[Mathewsen]

The above Rob probably had the best LOI submission this year:

As good luck would have it, I fell upon word of this race whilst returning from a kayaking adventure within the Arctic and grasped that this rather long bicycle race is such stuff as dreams are made of, or, whence first hearing of this event should I condemn it as an improbable fiction?

Swift as a shadow, I put away the paddle and took up the challenge of locating a comfortable saddle

Why?  Well it sounded like a good show and it’s fun to pitch in and turn your hand to a new game

Planning to arrive at the Banff Springs Hotel with a lean and hungry look; getting the first week slowly under my belt; rising with the sun each morning, and thinking “what light through yonder window breaks?”

Why rush these first days of June, we have tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow

Progress- In the forests of Montana in the darking hour with little food we say “Up with my tent! Here will I lie tonight— but where to-morrow?”

In my minds eye I see the high passes of Colorado and blow blow thou winter wind and later I see this desert; this desert that lasts for ever and a day and keep in mind there shall be no more cakes and ale until I can count myself a king of infinite space and roll into civilization once again.

Into the final chapter and the game’s afoot, the race is on at last  - but soft, what light through yonder tent window breaks? … it is past time to rise and ride again.

During these 20+ days on the Divide, therein the patient must minister to himself and be not afraid of greatness.  I will be grateful to finish, knowing the course of true Tour Divide riding never does run smooth.

What 's done is done – at the end of the ride  - for you and I are past our racing days, it is time to hang up our shoes and reflect; can we fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and we'll not fail.

Rob Colliver (“The Islander”)
with assistance from William Shakespeare.

[annoying crack]

For all those interested in trail conditions, I did a little stroll along the first 25 miles and can testify that the trail is free of snow and dangerous river crossings.  After that... we'll have to deal with whatever is there. A big thank you for Matt Lee to find us alternatives to keep it a bike ride.
Coming back from my ride, the biggest worry on my mind is where I'm going to find another memory card for my camera here in Banff. it's pretty out there!