2016 CTR Planning

[nepbug]

Thanks Mark.  One more question...I guess there is plenty of water along the way?  I'm thinking I can get along fine with tabs only.  Cheers!

CTR has plentiful water, just tabs is ready to do, that's what I did last year.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[windowace]

okay, so now that aztr is almost over  :icon_biggrin:lets wake this up. whats the best source for route gpx - climbingdreams ctr?

[Bob Loblaw]

I created this MATLAB model of CTR pace and calorie planning in my spare time recently and wanted to share it with people that might geek out over this stuff like I do.

The model still has some inaccuracies, and we all know how plans quickly fall apart out there, but this was a nice mental exercise to familiarize myself with route planning going southbound. It was built using historical pacing data from a few riders, and roughly agrees with their SPOT tracks.

[Yogi the Barry]

@ Bob Loblaw - Awesome!
First time I attempted CTR in 2012, I ran out of food three times and eventually had to bail the third time before Motel Draw. Painful lesson(s) learned there. When I go shopping in BV and Silverton, I will be adding up the pile of food. Eyeballing it doesn't work. Simple addition on a piece of paper is the only thing that works for me, when I'm brain-dead and tired.
BTW, a good way to get a big spike in those calories is to hit Endo's, assuming they are open when you pedal thru Copper. There's also a convenience store at Copper, but you have to experience an Adrenaline Burger at Endo's!
Also, City on a Hill coffee shop in Leadville has very nice Southwest burritos to go.

[Wyatt72]

Hello everyone. Just finished up the azt750 last week and I couldn't wait to throw my hat in the ring for something else. Been reading through the threads this years as well as years past. When I clicked on the link on the CTR page for Toby's gpx file it made it seem that there is an updated version coming. Does anyone know if this is indeed the case and if it is available yet and I just might be missing it somewhere?? Lots of great information on these pages. I'm already getting excited.

[Woodland]

Does anyone know if this is indeed the case and if it is available yet and I just might be missing it somewhere?? Lots of great information on these pages. I'm already getting excited.

According to Toby's blog (last edited April 26, 2016) he'll be posting an updated version - and since his GPX has been the 'official' file, I would just keep checking back.

[Caddisman]

Im assuming u cant get to stagestop in 9 hours with Taryall looming? Maybe 285 was open?

[Caddisman]

Im guessing taryall was not included in that 9 hour estimate?

[J_wowzer]

Seem more like 13 hours which is totally reasonable.

[Bob Loblaw]

Yeah in my figure up there it is actually 12.something. I have a more updated model I can run again and post when I get home. The plot in the new one has finer resolution and some accuracy updates

[schous]

Hi all,
I have a question regarding the spot tracking and, well basically signing up for the race.  I plan to race the CTR this summer but due to work restriction, my window of opportunity will require me to start on the 20th.  So I guess I am riding an ITT.  Is there any kind of notification, sign up, or inclusion in the spot tracking for ITT folks?

[GeorgeHD]

Anyone used a hammock on the CT?  I'm looking to do an ITT this summer but believe some of the miles in the San Juans might not be ideal for hanging a hammock. 

[Stefan_G]

Hi all,
I have a question regarding the spot tracking and, well basically signing up for the race.  I plan to race the CTR this summer but due to work restriction, my window of opportunity will require me to start on the 20th.  So I guess I am riding an ITT.  Is there any kind of notification, sign up, or inclusion in the spot tracking for ITT folks?

Yep. SPOT tracking sign-up usually gets rolling about a month before the start date. I'll post here and on the CTR website. Facebook too.

[nepbug]

Anyone used a hammock on the CT?  I'm looking to do an ITT this summer but believe some of the miles in the San Juans might not be ideal for hanging a hammock. 

I've seen guys out there with hammocks, though not many.  There will be stretches where you won't have any trees at all.  I'm thinking it will be toughest from Spring creek pass to Silverton, no trees after spring creek (well not totally true, you do go through a small patch about 2 hours after leaving spring creek pass).  I think the average time for that section is 12 hours though.

So, it depends on how you plan on riding, but hammock seems doable if that's your thing.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: Hammocks About the only hammock experience I have is from sipping adult beverages in a leisure setting, so I'm no hammock sage for bikepacking. However, all things equal, I would state that sleeping in a hammock would be colder than sleeping on the ground. Depending on how warm your sleeping bag is, this may or may not be an issue. You would need a tarp/fly over the hammock when it rains. Rain during the CTR? Just a matter of how much and how often. And during those times when you might be pinned down in a thunderstorm, tying off between two electrodes during bouts of lightning might be a bit exciting. And then there's also the issue of finding suitable trees, as nepbug mentioned.

Anyone used a hammock on the CT?  I'm looking to do an ITT this summer but believe some of the miles in the San Juans might not be ideal for hanging a hammock. 

[the tortoise]

Torn between my bivy or my one man tent for CTR. Any suggestions?

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: Bivy or Tarp Tent
Torn? Me too. I hate carrying the extra weight of a shelter. Even something as light as my ZPacks Solo Hex, which is 440 grams complete. If I opt for my Mountain Laurel bivy, which I don't need with the Solo Hex, I'd save a bit over 200 grams. But if your CTR run is during a typical monsoon period, then imagine which one you would better sleep in during periods of heavy rain. But perhaps you are Alien-class [I'm just Animal-class and need sleep] and can get by with zero or very little sleep, in a bivy bag, propped up against the base of a rock/tree. It also depends on just how wet the monsoon plume will be during the CTR. Since rain is my Achilles for events like this, I'm doing all the praying I can with the Rain God(s) to pity us and take a break that week...
-Barry
PS - More than likely my sleeping kit [going with either ZPacks Hex tarp tent or MLD bivy] will base around a Mountain Hardware bag [~605 g for the long Phantom 45] and Klymit pad [~365g for O-zone].

Edit: Weight breakdown for ZPacks Solo Hex tarp tent = 320g for the Cuben fabric/floor/guylines, 52g for the Ti stakes and 64g for the single carbon pole = 436g complete

Torn between my bivy or my one man tent for CTR. Any suggestions?

[jakomait]

Tortoise - I had a Zpacks 7'x9' tarp with me for the first 4 years I did the CTR and it's a great option if you want more than 3 hours of sleep per night.  It was 180g and lighter than any bivy sac I could find.  Plus, it helps keeps your sleeping bag dryer than a bivy sac which is important for a down bag that never gets a chance to dry out in the sun.  On clear nights I never set up the tarp but if the weather was questionable it was worth it's weight in gold. 

[dkirk]

Hey all, on a road trip and will be in Denver this weekend. Can anyone tell me what conditions are like on the first sections of the trail? Thanks

[Bob Loblaw]

Dkirk,
They're great right now. I rode from Waterton to nearly the end of Seg 3 couple weeks ago. There were some downed trees but I think they're cut now. As a word of warning, the Buff Creek trails will be crawling with ultra-runners Saturday