TOUR DIVIDE 2014

[Mountain Bike Radio]

You win Joe. Posts deleted. I'm out of this discussion. The negativity is not something I'm in this for.
Thanks all who are interested.

[spoke537]

Anybody Camping in Banff? I'm looking for someone to share a camp sight with.

I'm camping with a few riders, if you're interested in joining us.  Shoot me a PM.

[mtbcast]

You win Joe. Posts deleted. I'm out of this discussion. The negativity is not something I'm in this for.
Thanks all who are interested.

There was no negativity for it's own sake here. This came completely out of the blue. It was avoidable, very much so.

[Dillon]

Now for something completely different.
 Because I hate my Prius I drove over the new route into Butte from the Freeway.  Useful info:
 1. Getting lost should not be a problem.  Just follow the main road you are on and veer left if uncertain.  A right turn after the lake is unmistakeable.
 2. It is a dirt road with some washboarding, coarse gravel and potholes--the usual.  After a sharp climb just beyond the Lowland Camp Ground there are some significant ruts on some sharp descents.  They should be OK on a dry day but be careful if rain fills them or at night.  Control your speed going downhill.
 3. The left turns onto Orofino Gulch and Hornet are on downhill sections and might be easily missed.
   Oro Fino Gulch: There is a large white barn on the left where the road widens, picks up striping and starts climbing.  It is on your way down the other side that Oro Fino might be missed.  It has a road sign but is not conspicuous. Oro Fino has more climbing I was not expecting.  It is a great bike path but a bit tricky as a road.
  Hornet is just after cresting another hill that overlooks Butte.  There is a short, steep descent with Hornet on the left at a red brick school.
  Scenery: Lowland Creek has miles of neatly piled debris from dredging for gold.  You can see Fleecer Ridge from Oro Fino, south and west.  Fleecer still has snow on the northeast side, melting rapidly.
 Since I feel I have used up all my luck involving rivers and logging trucks I'll be starting in Sparwood.  You will all catch me.
 Good Luck,
  Chris

[PKraft_Sr.]

Gentlemen and Ladies
I just wanted to wish you all good luck in this years Tour Divide. I am green with envy as you all get ready to experience one of life's greatest gifts. It is beautiful and It is brutal- it is the Tour Divide.
Enjoy it, soak it all in.
You can do this!!!!
And remember- Live life, every minute, everyday!
Dave would want it that way.

Peter Kraft Sr. - TD 2013

[threepin]

took an evening ride up toward red meadow pass, road is in great shape all the way up to and past upper whitefish lake. Partial snow cover starts about 1/2 mile above upper whitefish lake, i turned around at some blowdown about 1-1/2 miles above the lake (just before what is called swift creek rd on google maps) it looked as if continuous snow cover started about at that road.  Stahl peak snowtel shows about 50% above normal which seems about right.
 The swan/mission snowtels are well above normal as well so richmond peak should be fun.

[TearFilter]

Does anyone know where I can find information on the availability of food and water sources along the course? I thought they would be in the cue sheet but it seems I was mistaken.

[BobM]

Does anyone know where I can find information on the availability of food and water sources along the course? I thought they would be in the cue sheet but it seems I was mistaken.

They are listed on the maps to some extent, but there are many small supply points that do not show up.  Water sources are generally where you see "cross small bridge" on the cues.

[Iowagriz]

Does anyone know where I can find information on the availability of food and water sources along the course? I thought they would be in the cue sheet but it seems I was mistaken.

this is half the fun of prepping for this route.  Studying to see how far from one town to the next re-supply.

Not much help, but if use this link:  http://www.eatsleepridegreatdivide.com/#start=0&end=2691  and zoom in, then you can usually get a good idea of how big the towns are and what the chances of re-supply might be.

[spoke537]

Any Banff Locals on here that would let me park my truck at their house for the duration of the race?  A northbounder will pick it up.

-Les

[TearFilter]

Thanks for all the info. It looks like I better get started with finding the re-supply points.

[mtbjones]

I'm heading out tomorrow morning, saturday 6/7. If anyone else is planning to leave tomorrow let me know.
I'll be riding up the Spray River Trail to where the bridge is out this afternoon to scope out fording the river. I was told it is "chilly but pretty straightforward."

[kato]

Looks like we've got 2 gals and 2 guys out on the course right now.  A gender equal Divide right now.  Cool.

[EndoAgain]

TearFliter,

Another TD rider, I forget who now, posted a link to a site where he broke his GPS stages down by resupply points. Follow this link and you will be mostly there. They are not isolated water sources, those can be gleaned from the AdventureCycling Cue sheets or from stream crossings.

http://www.gpsies.com/mapFolder.do;jsessionid=BC6A29AB48F650B536A9907D537CE53C?id=27512

[tuhduhvuh]

TearFliter,

Another TD rider, I forget who now, posted a link to a site where he broke his GPS stages down by resupply points. Follow this link and you will be mostly there. They are not isolated water sources, those can be gleaned from the AdventureCycling Cue sheets or from stream crossings.

http://www.gpsies.com/mapFolder.do;jsessionid=BC6A29AB48F650B536A9907D537CE53C?id=27512

That's an amazing list.   But (as one example).... as many have pointed out (in this forum) , there is nothing in Hachita!  (not that that would be a disaster in terms of planning).   Lots of places on this list that I (as a rookie) would love to add to my cues,  but not totally sure of the info.  I had mentioned the creation of a shared "wiki" where tour divide participants (past and future) could all contribute and comment on the "viability" of re-supply locations.  I kind of got the impression that this would maybe not be looked on as quite being in the spirit of the race.  I will admit that even though I feel like I am kind of prepared, (went through the cues, followed the  maps from start to finish, condensed that info into some personal cue sheets),  as one person who wrote in the Cordillera V put it,  the "risk manager" in me would prefer a bit better intel.  I had a pretty crazy bonk on one long training ride as a result of a miscalculation in a re-supply location.   I can't imagine feeling that drained and being in a "serious" location out on the course!

Anyway,  amazing work went into gathering that info.   I know it's late and many folks are likely en route to the start.  If any TD vets have feedback on any of the locations in the above list,  I for one would love to hear it!

Best wishes to all participants ,  I truly hope it's a fantastic experience for all of us,  and that we all defy the stats and end up on the "good" side of the historical attrition rate!

-Tom

[james-o]

FWIW to try to put any risk-manager minds at rest, I think the spots you really need to be careful about resupply are either fairly obvious when previewing the route (eg the basin stretch - or la Manga / Cruces basin to Abiqui in my case, simply as it's long, tough in places and I should have bought more in Platoro as the shop at the base of la Manga was shut) or they're highly variable based on conditions and speed, time of day you arrive etc. A big downpour could make a 50 mile stretch of trail an all-dayer if you're caught out so to me planning seemed a waste of time, compared to carrying some emergency food and making the most of what's there when you're there - something I screwed up in Platoro. I noted or highlighted non-commercial points of interest (eg natural water and campsites on the ACA cues), added distance to next resupply possibility alongside the cue for the current one, and towns that were within 2-5km of the route. The off-route store at Ferndale for example is in the ACA cues, that was my stop before Ovando and it was a useful one well worth the quick ~2km on tarmac.

That's with a disclaimer though, from the POV of someone who finds it easier to accept an element of risk and chaos rather than the mental stress of planning, re-planning and attempting control over the barely controllable, particularly over such a long route.
"Be like water" "When my opponent expands I contract. When he contracts, I expand" .. Bruce Lee wasn't a cyclist but I think he could have been a great self-supported racer : )

Best of luck and strength to all .. enjoy!

[mtbcast]

TD14 – NOBO Lindsay Shepard called in from Steamboat!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

[DigitDreamer]

Its not on the new addendum, but last year I was not able to find lodging or camping at the Swan River Lodge on North State Highway 83. It is South of Condon (Map 1, Side A).

I tried calling the number this year and there is no answer. The restaurant south of there is still open. The locals said something about change of ownership and it is now condos, but not sure. I should have sent this info to Adventure Cyclists, but I didn't.

There is a nice campground at Holland Lake just south of the aforementioned area. Cyclists are permitted to camp in the picnic area (without fee, I believe that is what they said). There is a bathroom and potable water there is well. This is the last of my secrets I am going to give away ;-)

[TearFilter]

I added a lanyard around my gps in addition to the mount today after having it tumble off into a ravine. Also dropped my micro sd card when changing the batteries. So a touch of scotch tape over the card reader on the etrex. Hopefully this will help someone.   

[Marshal]

Any early arrivers scouted and crossed the Spray River fording yet?  Pictures, details?