Grand Loop 2009

[dream4est]

Thanks Scott. I want redemption and to get my name on the very short list of unsupported finishers for this route. I may be in for an attempt. Will your File include the new Nucla style way or it is your route from 2009?


Edit- I see you posted the Bedrock route.

JimL how about sharing your GPX of last years ride? I want to compare yours and the Bedrock route.

[Done]

FYI, Grand Loopers... after conferring with the GL heads of state (DH and MC) I destroyed the "mystique" of the route and posted a GPX file on bp.net's GL page.  This should make the route at least 1% more appealing, leading to at least 1% more attempts per year.

Seriously, the route is a pain in the butt to try to follow with those COPMOBA pamphlets, so maybe this will encourage a few new folks to give it a go.  We can all agree it's well worth doing once...

Thanks Scott. While I can appreciate the reluctance to "de-mystify" the route by posting a GPX, it sure does make it more fun to plan a ride now that I can load a GPX into Google Earth. Much appreciated.

This one is now officially on my list for the next year or two.

[JimL]

Ahh...  Demystification!  This loop does need some additional tire tracks, for sure.  Reading those maps and making my original track did take some time and that's part of the appeal of it, IMO.  But track or not- the heat and hikin' is sure to make you wonder 'why to heck am I doing this'?

Here ya go Mark: http://trey.aiserv.net/~jal/grand_loop_11_final.gpx  You'll notice a bit of wonky-ness at the end of the Rooby walking through the woods, my err going up Long Creek and going to Naturita.  I also took 340 from GJ -> Fruita instead of the roads hugging the Monument from the TH.

I'll make sure I take a few pics out there on the Koski, Kurt.

Jim

[Stefan_G]

FYI, Grand Loopers... after conferring with the GL heads of state (DH and MC) I destroyed the "mystique" of the route and posted a GPX file on bp.net's GL page.  

Booooo!!!  

Don't get me wrong, I *completely* agree that the route is a pain in the butt (impossible?!) to follow with only the COPMOBA pamphlets, but with all the high-res maps and Topofusion or GoogleEarth, drawing the course by hand to stick in a GPS is a snap.  Not to mention a great way to get familiar with the layout of the land.

I guess I won't have to keep saying no to friends who ask if I have a .gpx track of it now though...

[DaveH]

I see some good things in store for GL

- riders don't need to be so intimidated by being relegated for missing part of the route (at least if they do it won't be due to lack of route intel)
- what was once a rite of passage may get some action again since the barrier to entry has lowered a bit.

Of course, when just about anywhere between tab creek and gj there will still be much angst and trepidation...

[ScottM]

Ah man, this thread lives on. I think this should be voted "Best Thread of 2009."

[prkoski]

It must be the weather Gods or something, but since the snow is off the Plateau and the riding conditions are still mild on the Kokopelli, I have had four contacts about riders either doing the entire GL or a modified shorter version. Seems like they're all going to be out there next week too following each others' tracks. We'll see if any make it to Nucla. Ride on!!

[BryanK]

Quick trail condition update.  Did the the "Grand Horseshoe" (Loma to GJ) over 5 days this week.  Expect some sandy slow rolling conditions.  There are still a few snow drifts and down trees on the Pool Creek section but are easily negotiable.  Also there is a small amount of water flowing in the stream after the long trudge up No Mas Hill from 141.  A definite savior if it’s warm out.  

Paul thanks for letting us recover in your shop.  It was nice to meet you, especially after just doing the infamous “Koski traverse”.  FYI, route markers on the rest of the Paradox seemed to all be present.

[ScottM]

Nice, Bryan.  Thanks for the report.  So you rode the whole Grand Loop, including Koski Traverse, just not the pavement between Loma and GJ?  Congrats -- that is a 'loop' few have successfully ridden.  Self supported?

[BryanK]

Thanks Scott.  Yea, self supported. We did mail a package ahead to Paul and he gave us a really good tasting beer.  Also, we skiped Yellow Jacket canyon on the Kokopelli because of sand and avoided the private property issue on the Paradox by detouring through Nucla. Maybe after a year of forgetting I'll try to see how fast I can do the complete loop.  Was an awesome trip, think I only saw one person on the entire length of the Tabeguache.

[JimL]

I'm planning to start on Wednesday after the winds calm down a bit.  Probably earlier in the day?  My friend doesn't have internet here in Denver so I'll probably only check in once more before rolling out to GJ.  Hopefully the weather/temps hold out too.  Let the fun begin...

BryanK: Nice job and thanks for the recon info.

prkoski: Maybe I'll run into you this time if i make it to Nucla.

Here's my spot page: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=04p6vV93zMQDNaNm3AireFI8WYJUIQsUT

Maybe Scott will resurrect the GL tracker?

 

[DaveH]

Right on Jim!  Safe travels, enjoy the fun we know awaits out there.

[LyndaW]

Have a great ride Jim

[LyndaW]

Cat Morrison and I are taking our turn at riding Grand Loop this week http://2-epic.com/?p=1718.

Scott nicely gave us our own trackleaders page http://trackleaders.com/grandloop - Thanks Scott!!

[BryanK]

Hey Lynda good luck on your guys Grand Loop. FYI, you might want to check with the forest service and see if the Buckeye Res. area is open again, if you haven't all ready?  A fire a few days ago closed the area down. http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/sunrise_mine_fire_causes_evacuations_road_closures__154600545.html
Looked like JimL was out there around that same time, he might have some more info?

Hopefully its open. Good Luck!

[ScottM]

Oh shoot, not more fire closures on bikepacking routes!

I just added an active fire perimeters layer to Tour Divide.  Transferring it over to the GL tracker (it's in the Map Layers drawer) you can see the perimeter does cover a few miles of the route, climbing away from Buckeye.

Haven't done any reading to see if it's open yet.  Good luck in any case, Cat & Lynda!

[LyndaW]

Bryan,

I had not seen that. Thx for the heads up!! Wow... that changes everything. It is still closed and only 30% contained.

Lynda

[DaveH]

I just added an active fire perimeters layer to Tour Divide.  Transferring it over to the GL tracker (it's in the Map Layers drawer) you can see the perimeter does cover a few miles of the route, climbing away from Buckeye.

Nice work on that Scott!  Very cool.

The ladies are scrambling & gambling.  Start at Bedrock and hope the fire is contained by the time they come back, or do something different?  There is some pent up energy that needs to burn, but not by fire.

SPOT dots will tell all soon enough...good luck ladies!

[ScottM]

Dang, 30%.

Having been in a very similar situation (at least not an active fire in my case), I can appreciate the dilemma and built up energy / readiness.  Sometimes you just gotta go for it.

Will be interesting to watch!

[BryanK]

Interesting for sure!  We had some crazy high winds in the Grand Valley last weekend, main reason why that fire got so big.  Hopefully "the ladies" will crush the Grand Loop!