Grand Loop 2009

[Slowerthensnot]

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!

Thanks Scott!

[JimL]

Hi All,

Wow, that wind was seriously crazy.  I had a headwind for most of the time on the course, excepting (luckily) when cruising right through the fire on Carpenter Ridge.  That scared the crap out of me.  The fight or flight hit like a ton of bricks from the claustrophobic choke of the smoke and the super hot flames from the burning trees and 'mulch'.  It appeared they were doing some clearing in the area?  I'll pass on another experience like that...

As far as my ride, the wind and dryness (read: sand and blowing sand) on course caused my drive train to turn into rubble...  As I was going up the climb to the Koski traverse and lost the ability to shift in the granny gear without chain suck , I turned around and got a ride from a rancher from ~Uravan -> Whitewater, where I gingerly pedaled back to my car at the Tab TH.

Good Luck to Lynda and Cat!  Hopefully the fire is sorted out by the time they get back to Bedrock!

[DaveH]

Daaaang.  I've been near big fires before and that is downright scary.  The edge of Carpenter ridge is not the easiest place to escape to either, good times.

The ladies have decided to start where the route crosses 141 near Uravan.  They had a bit of a rough evening getting it all figured out so are rolling out a bit later than expected but we should see some spot dots soon on route.  After a nice warmup they will be into some of the hardest miles of route, and at mid-day.  I have only passed through there in the cool darkness. 

They plan to move slowly and sleep plenty.  Then again, I know these two, and once the diesel is fired up we'll see about that   They also want to be able to finish on route - the fire is expected to be contained by Sunday.  Not sure how that relates to when the region will reopen though. The latest fire information is at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2877/

[JimL]

Hmm...  I have my drive train fixed up and was thinking of making another run at it.  If the fire isn't contained until Sunday, I can see how starting on 141 might be the best strategy and hopefully get through at the very end.  I'll see how today goes and determine my intents.

I didn't take many pics this time until I started to get to the new stuff, of which I didn't see much.

No sign of fire at the border.




Bedrock overlook.




Turn before descent into Red Canyon.




Red Canyon Rubble.

[bgiro]

This is an old thread, but I thought maybe the best place for my request.

I need a copy of the current GPS track for the Grand Loop.  The GPS track on the route page is going through Bedrock.  I believe Bedrock is no longer on the route, but maybe I'm misinformed.

Thank you for you help in advance.

Bruce

[krefs]

Bruce, I've got a track for the Koski Traverse section of the Paradox Trail that bypasses Bedrock. I rode that a couple summers ago, and it was pretty dang nice. I had heard stories about how overgrown and tough to follow it is, but it was easy to find, wasn't overgrown, and even had water in 3 different places! I'll extract that section of my ride from the track and send it to you...bug me if I don't get it to you in the next week!

[bgiro]

Prefect!

Thank you Kurt

[krefs]

Bruce, and anyone else that's interested...attached is a gpx file for the Koski Traverse as I rode it a few years ago.

[Stefan_G]

Bruce, and anyone else that's interested...attached is a gpx file for the Koski Traverse as I rode it a few years ago.

Oh man, what a hot item that would've been 10 years ago!

[krefs]

10 years! It's sure been a while since the Grand Loop was in it's hayday!

Now, how about a resurrection? Bruce and I might set a start date for the Grand Loop this year...early June probably given the healthy snowpack that's accumulated already this winter up on Columbine Pass. Who else is interested in taking on the Grand Loop this year!?!?

[prkoski]

Tank up in Nucla. There's a cold beer waiting for anyone making it to town.

[T.Ray]

10 years! It's sure been a while since the Grand Loop was in it's hayday!

Now, how about a resurrection? Bruce and I might set a start date for the Grand Loop this year...early June probably given the healthy snowpack that's accumulated already this winter up on Columbine Pass. Who else is interested in taking on the Grand Loop this year!?!?

I'm in,

[bgiro]

Cool!  Great to have more join in the fun.
 
I talked to Paul and the store in Nucla is open and Bedrock store is closed.

[nepbug]

I've toyed with the thoughts of Grand Loop this year myself.  Though, I might just do a Kokopelli Trail blast in early May.

[hikeabike]

I might give this a go, but since I will be coming off the end of long semester, there is no way I will be able to keep up with any fast folks. But I can at least say hello at the start!  Following...

Heather

[bgiro]

I too will be looking forward to meeting everyone at the start.  I hope your semester is good and your ready for a break.

Its hard at this time to get a good handle on a start date as the snow pack in the higher elevations is fairly deep this year.  If I remember correctly, a typical start near the end of May and beginning of June has worked in the past, but that may not be optimal this year.

I'm piecing together a GPS track that includes new the new Paradox route and tracks that I believe Mike Curiak suggested as reroute in the Grand Junction area.

[prkoski]

Here's an update on the Paradox Trail Reroute. After six years the BLM last Nov granted us permission to construct the 4 miles of inter connecting single track in five locations that will make up the entire 17 mile reroute.  It looks like the State of Colorado will be funding the construction. Hopefully we can start throwing dirt by April and have most of it completed and signed this year.  The project will  also provide a trailhead, parking area and kiosks within a quarter of a mile of Nucla.  The West End is about to get some single track love!      Here's the map of the project.  Pictures of the reroute can be seen on FB at : Paradox Trail and West End Rides in the picture albums section.

[JimL]

Hi All,

I'm a potential, however I've been waiting for the Paradox re-route to happen...  And as always, if it's more advantageous (weather wise) to slide the start date and go ITT, that would be my intent.  With a Tab TH start off Monument Rd, Koski Traverse, Paradox re-route.

Hey Paul, what's the chance that some spring Grand Loopers might be able put down some tracks on the new route?

Jim

[bgiro]

I have the new Grand Loop route in GPS format now.

I was directed by Paul to the mtbproject.com website to get the latest version of the paradox route.  I've also included two reroutes of the original track in the Grand Junction area as suggested by Mike Curiak earlier in this thread.

Basecamp calculates the route to be 368 miles with the modifications.

I'll have it available as soon as I have it reviewed.

[prkoski]

The BLM is saying construction can happen as soon as it starts drying out. The first section we tackle will be the NE segment that connects the Delta-Nucla Rd to the original PT route in Coal Canyon and on up to Pinto Mesa. We will still be at the whim of the BLM staff however as they will want one of their people on the ground during any construction. My best guess is we'll start around mid April. We'll open sections as they become finished and signed.  The last section will be the one north of Nucla as that is where most of the sensitive archeological sites are.  Plan on riding the county roads into town from Third Park.  Stay tuned...