2017 CTR: Planning & Who's In?

[Drewdontdothat]

A friend is pushing off tomorrow from Denver. Any current conditions/closures he should be aware of?

[ScottM]

A friend is pushing off tomorrow from Denver. Any current conditions/closures he should be aware of?

A few segments are still pretty snowy (e.g. Tenmile), but passable.  I am sure Mr. Schillingsworth [sic] will have a report shortly on the DGO fire and closure.

Tracking update, for anyone wondering:  22 registrations so far.  53 spots left.  

[bmattingly44@yahoo.com]

Hey all,

Does anyone have a residence or a contact in Durango for possibly parking my vehicle for a week?  Happy to compensate someone for the space.

Brad Mattingly, Flagstaff

[Bmac2002]

Hey all, I am curious to see if any of you don't use GPS. I am having trouble securing one and am out of budget to purchase. Has anyone ever reversed the directions from the databook for a northbound route? I know the trail is pretty well marked, but I don't want to inadvertently miss any miles and get a DQ. Especially up by jarosa mesa?

[Bmac2002]

A few segments are still pretty snowy (e.g. Tenmile), but passable.  I am sure Mr. Schillingsworth [sic] will have a report shortly on the DGO fire and closure.

Tracking update, for anyone wondering:  22 registrations so far.  53 spots left.   

Where is the trackleaders signup?
thank
brian

[ScottM]

Where is the trackleaders signup?

Stefan posted a separate thread for it.  Info here:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2017-ctr-tracking-registration/

Direct link:

https://form.jotformpro.com/trackleaders/ctr17

We'll be cutting off registrations for the 'grand depart' at 75 this year.

[Bob Loblaw]

Fire in Breckenridge:
http://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/05/wildfire-breckenridge-july-2017/

[tetontodd]

any updates on that Breck fire?

[ScottM]

any updates on that Breck fire?

Sure sounds like Seg 7 (Tenmile) is closed.  Fire was found by a MTBer on the CT.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/article/5321/36112/

Luckily there is an obvious detour... the route CTR used for the first couple years.  The bike path!

But at what cost to the souls of CTR racers, to miss out on that glorious HAB?

[joeydurango]

But at what cost to the souls of CTR racers, to miss out on that glorious HAB?

Huge cost.  Huge.  Or, in the parlance of our times, "YUGE".  Actually, personally, I always liked Tenmile.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Howdy-do!

Another thing to consider with your generous donation to the Colorado Trail Foundation is purchasing a COSAR card ($3). Funds for these purchases go towards the local volunteer search and rescue teams. It's not insurance, but if you're in a huge pickle, call for help! Local Colorado Search and Rescue DO NOT CHARGE FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE!

Here's more information:

http://www.coloradotrail.org/corsar.html

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dola/search-and-rescue-fund

If you own a SPOT, it may be wise to see it if you have their extraction services added on there - flight for life can be $$$ if it comes to that. If not, there are  additional travelers insurance you can get like https://www.roamright.com/ (purchased insurance through them, but no  direct affiliation), or even look into getting a membership to the AAC which comes with trailhead insurance (up to $5,000) (https://americanalpineclub.org/rescue/).

Public Service Announcement Over. Have fun on the trail!

[schillingsworth]

Hey Gang!!

Fresh off a little CT Bikepack over this past weekend. A group of us loaded our bikes on the Durango-Silverton train (always wanted to ride that!) and pedaled back to DRO via CT & Hermosa Creek. (CT was CLOSED at the junction of segments 26/27, so we rode down Hotel Draw)

Conditions on the CT: 4 down trees...total on those 2 segments. Huge kudos to those doing the tree removal. Snow? Yeah, it's still there. Both Rolling Mtn & Blackhawk Passes had snowfields on the north facing slopes. It's still about 1 to 1 1/2 feet deep, but very soft, and deep scalloping (is that what it's called when the snow melts & forms deep pockets & ribs?? Sun-cupped??) Obviously, we made it through, but it's slow going. Snow is melting very fast though and I don't really expect it to be much of an issue. There were still a bunch of small snow drifts in the high, shady forested areas too. Those were all very easy to get by.

Smoke? Nope. Didn't see or smell anything the entire trip.

Justin, thanks for posting those links above. I picked up a CORSAR card before this last ride.

Couple of other notes:
I'm rolling a 29er HT Ti, 23# empty, 39# loaded (at least it was for the AZT) I also use a pack, probably in the 15# range FWIW. That's what I'm used to, so it works for me.

Lights: Dyno powered Supernova E3 Triple II on the fork & Diablo Exposure on the helmet. Each one by itself is a flamethrower.

I have a Sawyer Squeeze, really like it. I've replaced the bags after a couple years of use. However, on the ride this weekend, one of the other fellas had a Katadyn BeFree filter. Whoa!! That thing produced filtered water at least 5-6x faster than my Sawyer. Anyone else have experience with this filter?

Scott, I'm starting to seriously consider NOT doing the CTR this year if we end up having to reroute around Kennebec, Indian Trail Ridge & Ten Mile!! It wouldn't be the same event in my book. Gotta have those!! It would be akin to skipping the Grand Canyon portage of the 750!! I'll be watching the fires closely. Hope it doesn't come to that & I'll see you all in Durango!!

Cheers!

[Paadria]

If there ends up being a reroute, will there be a new GPX file a few days ahead of the race or how do we get the best reroute info?  I assume this forum is the best place for the info.  True?
Shipping my bike from Minnesota in 6 days.  This is getting real, real fast.
Thanks,
Pat

[joeydurango]

Highly doubt there will be a GPS reroute unless someone feels like drawing (and knows how to draw) it on a digital map by hand.  Shouldn't be too difficult, navigation-wise, regardless of what's on the ground up there.  Just a major bummer to miss that last ~40 miles of the CT.  I assume *BUT DON'T KNOW* that the reroute would simply be from the northern boundary of the closure (Hotel Draw road), down Hotel Draw to the east, then down Hermosa Park road to the north Hermosa Creek TH, down the trail to the south Hermosa TH, then ~16 miles of road to Durango.  No good way to skirt the closure and come back to the CT without some major oddball routing and lots more climbing.

[THE LONG RANGER]

It's def. a gamble with the 10 Mile fire as it's almost on the trail. It'll be the land manager's call on if to open the trail or not - they could close it for safety reasons. Entering that area is sort of weird - you go into that huge clear cut area from Beetle Kill, so it would be after that clear cut, and treeline that the fire could have reached.


Going up and over Tenmile is def. a highlight of the trail  though, and I'd hate anyone to miss it. it's the first long hike a bike you face, and the descent is brake-searingly awesome.  



If there's a reroute, it will be very, very easy to figure out the detour: going S -> N, the trail entering up 10 Mile will be pretty obviously closed. Just scoot down the highway, and find the bike path. Take the bikepath between Frisco and Mt. Royal, and all the way to where the CO Trail crosses Highway 9.


Thanks for picking up a COSAR card, schillingsworth! Our local heroes appreciate the nod of support!

[joeydurango]

Oh yeah - I posted the above hypothetical Section 27 reroute in a N > S direction, which is obviously backwards from this year's S > N Grand Depart.  So, reverse everything I said.  And remember, this is hypothetical for now! 

Justin, Tenmile from the south is interesting - the last big HAB you face, super steep in that direction, but man, the descent down the east side is amazing.  Way better than descending the west side, IMO.

[THE LONG RANGER]

WEEEEE!

The views at the top aren't too bad, either. I could only imagine the relief of ticking off Tenmile on your way to the N. Terminus. The bumps up and down just get smaller and smaller!

[joeydurango]

By the time you get to the last climb out of the Platte, you're like "what climb?" 

[schillingsworth]

By the time you get to the last climb out of the Platte, you're like "what climb?" 

That's why I want to go S -> N!! Get the highest stuff out of the way early.

[AZLobo]

Assuming, yeah I know, that the Peak 2 Fire stays at current-ish size and that they do not close the whole 10 Mile area, an easy reroute with the same mojo would be Wheeler to Burro Creek. Same elevation gain and relative smack down as Miners. Drops you off right in Breck for easy supply with much better options and hours than Copper. Bike path down to Tiger Run and Roberto es tu Tio.