2016 Tour Divide Preparation

[cmn529]

Diagnus 42° 18.557'N 108° 28.645'W

Solar well  41° 55.499'N 107° 59.839'W ( a bit of a guess)

Awesome, thanks all!

[kiwidave]

I have the 2014 ACA maps so I'm missing the Wamsutter reroute.  Any chance someone could take a few pictures of the Atlantic City to Slater  section and email to me please?

Wamsutter is a TD special re-route and is not part of the ACA route, thus is not on any of their maps. Matt Lee usually will send out an email with details of all sections like this with some cues and some sort of map.

[kiwidave]

Wamsutter re-route and the other 2015 re-routes here from Bill Peschka. Note - 2015 re-routes, maybe there will be more or different ones for 2016.

Here's an extract from an email sent out in Spring 2015 in advance of TD2015, regarding all known alternates.  Doesn't mean this info will be 100% accurate for 2016, but it's a start.

1) Kananaskis Lakes Trail Bypass, AB (required bidirectionally) https://goo.gl/nhhrMi
2) Josephine Falls Trail Bypass, BC (required bidirectionally) https://goo.gl/L3O1Nn
3) Fish Lake Mountain Bypass, WY (required bidirectionally) https://goo.gl/NQu0bz
4) Wamsutter Bypass, WY (required bidirectionally) https://goo.gl/o4XwUf
5) Gold Dust Trail Bypass, CO (required sobo ONLY) https://goo.gl/6SeyCR
6) Chaco Alternate, NM (optional) See ACA Map
7) El Malpais Alternate, NC (optional) See ACA Map
Sapillo Alternate, NM (required bidirectionally) See ACA Map

[Dinodinodino]

Will the re-routes for 2016 be reflected in the gpx track?

[kiwidave]

Depending on timing of the re-routes, yes. If not, we will be told that it is not on the gpx and will be given enough info to be able to navigate it.

[aaron w]

I want to give folks a heads up about a possible Antelope Wells escape option.  

Michael
Silver City Stage Lines, El Paso TX
800-522-0162

While on a tour a a couple winters ago I got sick and ended up in El Paso TX.  Michael shuttled me and my bicycle from el paso to silver city where my car was.  I'm about to be starting a tour in Columbus NM which is very close to Antelope Wells and Michael is driving me and my bike from El Paso to Columbus.  He said he's picked people up in Antelope Wells before.  He could get you to Lordsburg, or Silver City, or to El Paso where he's based...probably where ever you want to go.  There is an international air port in el paso as well as tons of car rental options. For reference he's charging me 130$ to get from el paso to columbus.  

Anyway just thought I'd pass this info along.  If you call him please tell him I sent you...

[kj78133]

Here's some route recon for you --- GDMBR just north of Steamboat from 37,000 feet --- lots of snow!

[Inkerpok]

Power naps ... what do people find is the best options for power napping? I've heard some just nap for 15 mins and it really lifts them and longer makes them feel groggy ... any experience / suggestions?

I usually power napped at night. I would set my alarm for 30 minutes and just lay out flat on the ground without adding much clothing, maybe just a windbreaker to keep me a little cleaner, keep the wind off, and slow the heat loss. Then when my alarm went off I would be seriously cold and it made getting up and moving easier.

[eec]

I want to give folks a heads up about a possible Antelope Wells escape option. 

Michael
Silver City Stage Lines, El Paso TX
800-522-0162

While on a tour a a couple winters ago I got sick and ended up in El Paso TX.  Michael shuttled me and my bicycle from el paso to silver city where my car was.  I'm about to be starting a tour in Columbus NM which is very close to Antelope Wells and Michael is driving me and my bike from El Paso to Columbus.  He said he's picked people up in Antelope Wells before.  He could get you to Lordsburg, or Silver City, or to El Paso where he's based...probably where ever you want to go.  There is an international air port in el paso as well as tons of car rental options. For reference he's charging me 130$ to get from el paso to columbus. 

Anyway just thought I'd pass this info along.  If you call him please tell him I sent you...

An enterprising person near Antelope Wells would benefit greatly from a seasonal car rental business, no? Seems like the options to get from home to the starting line are much more abundant than getting from the finish line back home. I would think with the increasing number of riders doing this it could be a sustainable business.

hmm... maybe I shouldn't have put it out there to everyone else.

[kiwidave]

Just a quick update on the 2016 route from Matt Lee: "I am awaiting final details on one small deviation in Butte, otherwise, identical to 2015. I am awaiting final scouting from a Butte local. Track should be final by Wednesday."

[GregMay]

Just a quick update on the 2016 route from Matt Lee: "I am awaiting final details on one small deviation in Butte, otherwise, identical to 2015. I am awaiting final scouting from a Butte local. Track should be final by Wednesday."

Where'd you get the update from?

[kiwidave]

Where'd you get the update from?

From an email exchange from Matt Lee. It's actually the whole email text copy/paste.

I haven't had a reply on my letter of intent, nor do I know if I am on his starters list. My concern was the maps as Garmin and I don't get on with uploading maps and his was kind enough to reply with a timing heads up on that. I'm in touch with Scott and he is expecting to hear from Matt once the route is finalised and will update the route gpx on Topofusion shortly afterwards. http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

[GregMay]

Ace, thanks Dave.

[Get Mounted]

Nice work Dave.

I'm in the same boat. I still haven't heard back from my LOI and a follow up email to confirm that I'm on the start list (and route change email notification). I've sent it to the TD website contact and trackleaders.

[NelsonC]

Thanks for the update Dave.  Good to know others have not heard anything back either.  I was getting rather nervous.

[Hadfield]

How do you make sure they have a spot tracker for u to rent?

[kiwidave]

How do you make sure they have a spot tracker for u to rent?

Scott Morris (trackleaders) confirmed that they have enough.

[Hadfield]

Thanks kiwidave

[Joraff]

Hi TDers - I've created a small town notes sheet that I want to share. My goal was to be concise enough to fit it all on one sheet of paper (4 pages per side), but that didn't happen so there's now PLENTY of room on the second sheet of paper for more beta.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8oe4581fjkokm64/TD%20TownNotes%20Updated%202016.pdf?dl=0

This doc is basically a reformatting for conciseness of the Pale Spruce town notes doc originally posted here: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2016-tour-divide-preparation/msg81936/#msg81936 with some notes removed I didn't feel were worth keeping, and updates for Wamsutter.

Vets and those with knowledge of the route, can you look it over to point out any issues you see and to add any good information I've left off? You can msg me or leave a comment there on the dropbox link.

Thanks!

[Jbennett]

Hi TDers - I've created a small town notes sheet that I want to share. My goal was to be concise enough to fit it all on one sheet of paper (4 pages per side), but that didn't happen so there's now PLENTY of room on the second sheet of paper for more beta.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8oe4581fjkokm64/TD%20TownNotes%20Updated%202016.pdf?dl=0

This is great and is effectively what I've been working on for the past few days.  Is there any chance you still have the word version of this?  Converting from PDF to a word doc is never as straight forward as I would like it to be.  Thanks for sharing!!