CTR 2013 Planning

[Couloirman]

Anyone have any quick tips on a good way to get back to Durango after the finish? Bus, trains, anything? Do people try to coordinate rides?

Not sure about going that direction but I am getting a one way car rental from Denver to drive to Durango and am happy to give a ride to anyone who wants one. I will be starting probably about a week early if anyone else has a flexible start time for an ITT and wants a lift.

[gilitred]

Hey there,
I just put CTR 2013 race on my (2013) planning book from Denver to Durango.
Am from NJ and will arrive July 17th to stay local with friends till July 21st start.
Who is in this year for this direction?
-Gili

[Shirey]

@gilitred

I'm going Denver to Durango and planning to start on 7/21 also. Technically, that trailhead is "closed" until dawn, but I'm still thinking I'm gonna ride in and try to start at 4:30am like all the Durango folks just to be on the same timeline.

[gilitred]

Hey,
I afraid I spoke too fast since I mnight do it from durango to denver
Have u done this route before? How many days do you plan to finish? I plan on no more than 8 (must in other words).
Do u plan to carry panneries? What about tent? I though of a tent but now more incline on bivy to save weight.

[Stefan_G]

Hey,
I afraid I spoke too fast since I mnight do it from durango to denver
Have u done this route before? How many days do you plan to finish? I plan on no more than 8 (must in other words).
Do u plan to carry panneries? What about tent? I though of a tent but now more incline on bivy to save weight.

Hi Gili-
I strongly suggest doing lots of research and reading on this forum and elsewhere (see trip report links on the CTR website) if you have not done any of the trail before and are trying to decide on tent/bivy and timeframe.  Using just the statistics of mileage and elevation gain have caused *many* folks to underestimate the CTR.

Best,
Stefan

[JCarr13]

Yeah, this is not an event that you just jump in too without lots of prep and research. The trail is rugged and the weather can be very unforgiving.
Looking forward to the opposite direction, hope I can spend enough time on my CTR bike before the event so I won't have fit issues like last year.

[gilitred]

Stefan, all.
Thanks for your comments.
I'm doing a lot of reading and prep. I'm avid mtb racer who compete in ultra endurance races. I did kokopeli last year and want to step up my game this year. I wish I could come and ride ctr prior the race but I can't.
Hope I can make it in 8 days. I will arrive to durang on the 19th and hope to meet u guys

[Stefan_G]

Stefan, all.
Thanks for your comments.
I'm doing a lot of reading and prep. I'm avid mtb racer who compete in ultra endurance races. I did kokopeli last year and want to step up my game this year. I wish I could come and ride ctr prior the race but I can't.
Hope I can make it in 8 days. I will arrive to durang on the 19th and hope to meet u guys

Groovy, see ya in July!

[gilitred]

One last note, I just read the book no short cuts to the top by david v . The first american who completed the 14th top peaks in the world and I leanred a lot about respect to nature . I'm not stupid either. I have been in several hairy situations and I know that no stunt or hopping a log worth a broken leg.. U have to be clever and smart, not right. I don't underestimate ctr or any challange that unknown but .in life, if u don't push yourself than u will never acheive any goals.I hope to learn as muich as possible from all of you and wish a safe and fun race.
Ps, how do you keep record of who finishes? Is it up to the racer to report to you?

[Stefan_G]

Ps, how do you keep record of who finishes? Is it up to the racer to report to you?

Yes, the race is self-timed, and it is up to each racer that wants to be included in the list of results to report a finishing (or DNF'ing) time to me.  SPOT trackers are optional, but greatly help with the reporting and validation of folk's effort on the course.

[mtbcast]

MTBCast is available for you to call in as well. There's a chance I can make it to the kick-off!

[Done]

MTBCast is available for you to call in as well. There's a chance I can make it to the kick-off!

MTBCast is a great way to post "live" updates for family and friends during the race. It's also fun to go back and listen to your own call-ins after the race. Joe does a great job of cleaning-up call-ins and sometimes adding amusing introductory comments. Thanks for all of your hard work, Joe!

[mtbcast]

Thanks, Toby! I try to make it fun. Sometimes just hearing someone punch-drunk on sleep deprivation is all it takes.

[MikeB]

There's been some talk of bears and food in this thread, but to the extent that we are mostly pretty high and above treeline a lot, I'm not too worried about bears. (But I probably /will/ tree my food.)

Now, I hate to be accused of worrying about the wrong things for the CTR, but a friend of mine had a very (!) close encounter with a mountain lion whiile mtb'ing in MT...for some reason the big cats make me more nervous than bears.

Tell me I'm being silly...or give me some good advice!

Great thread, thanks to all you folks who are the Brain Trust!

[Done]

There's been some talk of bears and food in this thread, but to the extent that we are mostly pretty high and above treeline a lot, I'm not too worried about bears. (But I probably /will/ tree my food.)

Now, I hate to be accused of worrying about the wrong things for the CTR, but a friend of mine had a very (!) close encounter with a mountain lion whiile mtb'ing in MT...for some reason the big cats make me more nervous than bears.

Tell me I'm being silly...or give me some good advice!

While they aren't a huge issue, bears do have the potential to cause some trouble on CTR. Scaring one while riding at night is my biggest concern--and there's not much to do about it, short of not riding after dark. I do tend to make noise (some call it singing) if I'm riding in places that have low visibility. It's also a good idea to keep food away from your sleeping area whether you are above or below treeline. But compared to someplace like Jasper National Park (where I grew up), Colorado is pretty darn safe. I don't carry bear mace or spend much time thinking about them. Since they are hunted here, they tend to be pretty timid. Every bear that I've seen in Colorado has been running away from me at mach 12.

Cat attacks are pretty rare in the deeper areas of Colorado. Most of the attacks occur at the boundaries of cities/town, where hikers and bikers are intruding into their space. They seem to get used to people, and sometimes consider us prey. If you do come across one, the experts recommend looking like a big and angry ape. Show them your bike, bang it around. Yell at them. Just don't bend over, lie down, turn your back, or try to speeding away.

The truth is that, while you certainly could have a bad time with a wild animal, you are far more likely to get struck by lightening or crash off of something really steep and dangerous. Focus on avoiding the common dangers, not the extremely rare ones, and you'll have a better race!

[MikeB]

you are far more likely to get struck by lightening or crash off of something really steep and dangerous

I /KNEW/ that, but it's good to hear it again.

So far my stars are not lining up very well for 2013, but I am proceeding as if.  And if not 2013, then definitely 2014. 

Thanks Toby.
And thanks to everyone for the great info!

Michael

[joeydurango]

The damn cats scare me too.  I've never seen one.  Chased a few bears down trails though.  I figure, if I let something as rare and improbable as death by mountain lion keep me from doing what I love, then I'm giving up on living anyway.  Shucks, we should be more afraid of dying in car crashes when traveling to/from these races.

[timroz]

Or getting hit by a car on 285 during the race.  For SURE the most dangerous part of the whole thing.

[TruthRider]

Boy do I miss Section 23.  Just stunning views and ridge trail up there.  Can't race this year but need to hit that area again just to revel in it.

Really, the whole route from Spring Creek Pass all the way to the trailhead in Durango is simply the best riding in CO.*


*if you're into big alpine big trail mountaintop riding.   Which I am.  And so, I suspect, are you if you're reading this.

[JosiahM]

I don't think section 22-23 is near as fun for us low land people as it is for colorado residents who are used to the altitudes.  that section made time slow down and my head pound for 11 hours straight.  I remember barely having the strength to hold me head up cause the altitude seemed to make everything on my body feel like it weighed 10x as much as at sea level.  can't argue with the fact that the scenery was amazing but it is difficult to "take it in" when you feel like you have a plastic bag over your head.... can't wait to take it on again this year. LOL