 Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #20 on: May 11, 2011, 09:03:19 AM
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DaveH
Moderator
Posts: 975
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« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2011, 09:03:19 AM » |
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That quick soda-pop and a nap was actually an ice cream and a nap, and not so quick...bedrock valley was damn hot right then  I'm not following your resupply logic - every ride has a start/finish, I wouldn't call those resupply points because the ride has either not started or has ended. There are at least 3 starting at Dewey: GJ, Nucla, and the Bedrock store. Even if you started at the Tab trailhead 6pm for the traditional ride, you still have Loma as a resupply option - which we all used in 2007 to fill water - and with the luxury of a clock that wasn't ticking. If I was going to take 4 days to do the loop, I'd for sure resupply in Nucla. Time is calories and 4 days of it would put me over the edge. I'm no MC with a 280 lb load Now I'm really interested in what Stefan has up his sleeve this year  |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #21 on: May 16, 2011, 03:33:15 PM
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JimL
Location: Michigan
Posts: 77
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« Reply #21 on: May 16, 2011, 03:33:15 PM » |
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One awesome thing about TF are the user map overlays.  Snotel hit ground zero today, so hopefully in a few more weeks there won't be any swe spots on the right hand side of the image. Mid-June? Entrada Bluffs in the full-moonlight sounds mighty enticing. CPSC2 is the Columbine Pass station.  |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #22 on: May 16, 2011, 06:29:26 PM
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ZackR
Location: Beautiful Downtown GJ
Posts: 33
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« Reply #22 on: May 16, 2011, 06:29:26 PM » |
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Just got home from a trip to Buckeye Res, which is not open yet due to a massive construction project. I was surprised to see the Bedrock Store closed and for sale. Yikes! That will throw some kinks into some plans. I took some photos, but haven't downloaded them yet. It does not look like they will be opening up any time soon. Bummer. I liked the place.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #23 on: May 16, 2011, 06:38:28 PM
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6thElement
Posts: 234
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« Reply #23 on: May 16, 2011, 06:38:28 PM » |
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One awesome thing about TF are the user map overlays. Snotel hit ground zero today, so hopefully in a few more weeks there won't be any swe spots on the right hand side of the image. Mid-June? Entrada Bluffs in the full-moonlight sounds mighty enticing. CPSC2 is the Columbine Pass station. I need to experiment with that, where are you getting the snowpack images from is it http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov ? Then is it guestimating on how to line them up? |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #24 on: May 16, 2011, 06:41:50 PM
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krefs
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 492
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« Reply #24 on: May 16, 2011, 06:41:50 PM » |
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I was surprised to see the Bedrock Store closed and for sale.
It's been for sale for a few years now...sad to hear the shelves are also empty, though. I guess it's time to revert to the official Paradox Trail and not bother dropping into the Paradox Valley - no point if resupply isn't an option and the water is too contaminated to drink! |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #25 on: May 16, 2011, 06:49:23 PM
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JimL
Location: Michigan
Posts: 77
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« Reply #25 on: May 16, 2011, 06:49:23 PM » |
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Yep, that's the site. Lots of good info in there. You should be able to turn on enough landform features (roads, cities, etc.) on the snotel plots to be able to get a decent alignment /* edit */ in TF.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #26 on: May 16, 2011, 07:21:10 PM
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6thElement
Posts: 234
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« Reply #26 on: May 16, 2011, 07:21:10 PM » |
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I'd played with it before without much luck, just had another go and got it, love it!
Thanks
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #27 on: May 17, 2011, 10:17:04 AM
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DaveH
Moderator
Posts: 975
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« Reply #27 on: May 17, 2011, 10:17:04 AM » |
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It's been for sale for a few years now...sad to hear the shelves are also empty, though. I guess it's time to revert to the official Paradox Trail and not bother dropping into the Paradox Valley - no point if resupply isn't an option and the water is too contaminated to drink!
That would be a different race - it's a big change. GLR has never been about the Bedrock store... What the Bedrock route *does have* is history http://www.bikepacking.net/routes/grand-loop/. Either are great choices. But, at this stage of the Grand Loop's existence as a race route - with no current "organizer" - I'd suggest it remains a personal choice as to which route to ride. (rhetorical of course because we all know it will) |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #28 on: May 17, 2011, 10:25:27 AM
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DaveH
Moderator
Posts: 975
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« Reply #28 on: May 17, 2011, 10:25:27 AM » |
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Latest snow conditions as of 5/17:  The weeks weather outlook:  Those dark purple bits on the east look like 5-6+ feet in the trees to me. I wouldn't get too excited just yet, but dang is it the coolest spring ever or what? Google Earth has a restaurant sitting above the Rubideau...what a tease! |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #29 on: June 06, 2011, 06:49:26 AM
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JimL
Location: Michigan
Posts: 77
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« Reply #29 on: June 06, 2011, 06:49:26 AM » |
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Looks like the snow is gone and the weather for the week looks good. Planning on a Thursday / Friday (06.09 or 06.10) evening start from Westwater. DanNM (and everyone else) are you still thinking of giving this a go?  This report shows Divide Road still being closed to vehicular traffic, but is dated 05.26: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5304934.pdf |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #30 on: June 06, 2011, 10:11:28 PM
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DaNM
Posts: 122
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« Reply #30 on: June 06, 2011, 10:11:28 PM » |
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Jim, my annual GL fever is kicking in. Temps look good. You may have the ideal start time for this year. A definite maybe for Thursday or Friday.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #31 on: June 07, 2011, 06:12:45 PM
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DaNM
Posts: 122
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« Reply #31 on: June 07, 2011, 06:12:45 PM » |
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Thinking I`ll be there Jim, check your PM. Westwater start late afternoon. How many hours to Nucla?
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #32 on: June 08, 2011, 11:29:38 AM
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JimL
Location: Michigan
Posts: 77
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« Reply #32 on: June 08, 2011, 11:29:38 AM » |
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My plan is to start Thursday at ~6pm at Westwater, going through Bedrock. Looking at 4 days and some change? Probably two days to Nucla, then two more to GJ/Fruita and the final push from there on the change. DanNM, check yer messages.
Luckily(?) my friend here in Denver doesn't have internet, so I'll probably only check in once or twice more before the start.
I'll be spotting, there's a link on my blog, linked through my profile.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #33 on: June 08, 2011, 01:26:04 PM
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DaNM
Posts: 122
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« Reply #33 on: June 08, 2011, 01:26:04 PM » |
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I`m gonna have to back out. My window of opp is the 20th, see about temperatures, ya got me going good tho.
Good luck on the monster loop. I`ll post up a link to the Spot tracking from your blog. The Nucla store is open 6:30 am to 8pm 7days. Conditions look great but I still wonder about the snow.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #34 on: June 09, 2011, 08:18:35 AM
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dkirk
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 55
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« Reply #34 on: June 09, 2011, 08:18:35 AM » |
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Hey Jim, Good luck out there. It's good to see someone will be out there at about the traditional time. Maybe with your Westwater start you'll be able to finish the beast and get that monkey off your back! And no writhing around in the dirt this time, okay?  |
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #35 on: June 09, 2011, 09:04:28 AM
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Stefan_G
Posts: 453
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« Reply #35 on: June 09, 2011, 09:04:28 AM » |
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Good luck out there Jim! Hope the weather and conditions are ideal for ya.
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“The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.”
-- frequently (mis)attributed to Thomas Jefferson
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #36 on: June 10, 2011, 04:26:31 PM
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #37 on: June 12, 2011, 06:14:28 PM
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DaNM
Posts: 122
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« Reply #37 on: June 12, 2011, 06:14:28 PM » |
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His Spot is only recording the last 50 tracking points, look now for the confusing navigational section thru Pool Creek. Looks like the night will be spent somewhere on the robidoux, should be interesting if he plans to keep moving after dark.
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #38 on: June 14, 2011, 03:39:04 PM
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dkirk
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 55
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« Reply #38 on: June 14, 2011, 03:39:04 PM » |
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Hey Dan,
Thanks for posting Jim's Spot page. He's still plugging along. He's at a spot that is completely cruel right now. He's at the base of No Mas Hill. You can look over the river and see GJ, but the route turns 180 degrees back up to 9k........... brutal. I think this is his year though! Go Jim!
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Topic Name: grand loop
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Reply #39 on: June 14, 2011, 03:52:06 PM
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DaveH
Moderator
Posts: 975
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« Reply #39 on: June 14, 2011, 03:52:06 PM » |
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You can scroll through the spot history using the navigation bottom left of the page. He's got a long trip in to Naturita in there! Haven't seen that one before. I bet they had good ice cream.
No Mas hill...at least he's got some cooler temps coming as the sun drops lower. Must be warm there right now, that hill seems to take more water than anywhere out there.
He's a long ways from Dewey! Go Jim!
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