TOUR DIVIDE 2014

[mtbcast]

TD14 – NOBO ITT Nat Henderson-Cox called in from Del Norte!  http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

[robinb]

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

I was there on Friday afternoon and took some pictures.  Sent them to the TD admin, which in turn issued this communique:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1A15MQwmtIVYxHzARSb0-6PwEwd49wLec24Qw_stMVuw/edit#slide=id.p

I didn't try the ford, cuz... well... I didn't have too...

[spoke537]

I was there on Friday afternoon and took some pictures.  Sent them to the TD admin, which in turn issued this communique:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1A15MQwmtIVYxHzARSb0-6PwEwd49wLec24Qw_stMVuw/edit#slide=id.p

I didn't try the ford, cuz... well... I didn't have too...

I assume pictures 3 & 4 are the local snow conditions. 

[JRA]

No TD experience here.  But I do have some experience with swift water and swift water rescues through the course of my job.  Depending on the speed of the current, thigh deep water can be very dangerous to cross, even more so while trying to manage a fully loaded bike.  Use extreme caution if you choose to cross - and search for the widest, shallowest and slowest moving section of water.

[mtbcast]

Well if you don't have cold feet when you get there, you'll have cold feet once you cross! 

[kato]

I see that the ITT rider that left Banff yesterday took the route through Canmore.  Did he know something we don't?

[BobM]

I see that the ITT rider that left Banff yesterday took the route through Canmore.  Did he know something we don't?

Having little experience with rivers, I think I might opt for the ride-around if I were by myself.  Once you get swept away it becomes a problem.

[bpeschka]

I went out to the crossing of Thursday afternoon. Went about 

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[bpeschka]

I went out to the crossing on Thu.  Walked about 75 yds up and down stream.  Didn't see anywhere I'd want to Ford without my bike.  Lots of gravel bars but way deep in between. I'm sure some of the GD people will, scout later this week.  The Canmord loop is twice far and steep.

There's plenty of intermittent snow on Elk Pass trail and at the pass.  Anything on the powerline is  clear.  Snow range from ankle deep to knee deep.

The reroute out of Elkford is marked well on the GPS. Just pay attention to the route line.  Where you leave the road near the Falls, the trail will be hard to see, especially at night.  If you got to the dead end parking lot, you've gone too far.  Backup less than. A quarter mile.  I put a rock cairn where the trail takes off.

Likewise, once you top out on the trail, it single tracks for a while.  When it looks like you've left the GPS track, look. To your right and you'll see a road.  I couldn't find a connector so bushwhacked across.  That puts you back on track.

I'm in Sparwood and leaving soon using the Fernley Alternate.  I and my wife have been trying to assess the route from Sparwood to Roosville.  My wife talked to a Parks Canada guy about the area after Cabin Rd or Cabin Pass.  Two bridges out and high water.  Fordable? Who knows.  I don't want to get all the thru Butt's Cabin to have to reroute.  Or to risk a fording that I ordinarily wouldn't because I don't want to turn back.  I was looking forward to Butt's Cabjn, Wigwam, and Galton.

That's it.  Later


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[AZAnn]

The two bridges that out are in the upper Flathead after Flathead pass not at Cabin road.  There are no plans to repair due to money. River is very high and fast. That was the message from Dave Rebagliati Flathead FRS maintenance I


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[HappyWanderer]

Ok.. That's it.  I am bringing my fishing waders, boots and staff... maybe my belly boat and fins.   Will sell them to a NoBo south of Roosville... Any takers?

[Snowbd2u]

So planning on fernie alt then? Hate to get way back there then have to turn around, although I could tow my kayak! Now that would be an adventure!

[BobM]

So planning on fernie alt then? Hate to get way back there then have to turn around, although I could tow my kayak! Now that would be an adventure!

Eric Sime is climbing Cabin Pass right now (check the tracker) on his way to Banff, so he should have excellent reconnaissance to report when he arrives.

[DigitDreamer]

Looks like Eric is going to make it to Sparwood! Thank goodness, all the hoopla was giving me pre-race jitters ;-) I look forward to his report, but I am optimistic.

[BobM]

Looks like Eric is going to make it to Sparwood! Thank goodness, all the hoopla was giving me pre-race jitters ;-) I look forward to his report, but I am optimistic.

He's been making good time, too, which bodes well.

[mtbcast]

TD14: NoBo ITT Lindsay Shepard called in from Rawlins where’s she is drying out!

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

[Russ Kipp]

We had a real winter with 150 % or more of snow pack in most of Montana.  However this spring has been relatively dry and warm so much of that snow is gone.  Rivers and streams are high but dropping every day.  The Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway opened a couple weeks late this spring but is dry and clear now.  Montana High Country Lodge wishes all TD riders the best of luck and looks forward to seeing them as they start coming by next week!

[blurltd]

So to recap, we have 2 reroutes in Canada.

1st is the Spray Lake crossing which looks doable but I don't want to be that guy that get's swept down the river. Do we have any reroute plans? Man I want to see that section too.

2nd in Elkford around Fording River Road, now onto Josephine Falls Trail.

Are we missing anything esle? Is the Flathead on or will it be the Fernie Alternate?

[mtbcast]

TD14: Tony Litson called in to say he has arrived in Banff!

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

[tanman1337]

Hey so I'm a little confused. I have one last question before I head up to Banff tomorrow. I was just rereading the rules one last time so they are fresh in my mind. The TD website states that we must take the Gold Dust Alternate route just south of Breck at Boreas Pass... but it is definitely not reflected on the ACA maps and it also doesn't look like it is part of the GPX file. Can anyone tell me if this is actually a mandatory alternate and I'm assuming you just have to navigate by cues soley in that section?