That is a super post Erin. The pics really pop, thanks for putting it all together. I have to admit to some goosebumps in the Thunder Mountain section.
I really enjoyed this observation:
I find it funny that only 5 people attempted the Dixie 200 this year while no fewer than 134 riders showed up for the Tour Divide to get dust blown on their face on fireroad that makes up 99.9% of the route. That kind of begs the question- Do most bikepackers not like real mountain biking?
Good question! Two words: Spruce Trail.
In the 80's/90's I worked as a river guide on the Salt river in AZ. It had this one rapid called Quartzite Falls that was formed by a river-wide ledge and created a river-wide, deathly low-head dam style hole. Very few ran it, most portaged or lined and it was hard to do - all day effort for some groups! Consequently it kept the number of people doing the river down, it was never crowded. Then that ledge was removed (google "Quartzite Eight"), and bam, overcrowding and soon after a permitting system which makes it really tough to get on the river at all.
The Spruce Trail is the Dixie's Quartzite. It's one remnant of the 311 I just can't replace...
