Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread

[THE LONG RANGER]

Friends are posting that Boreas Pass is open SoBo till the tank, then it's a big snow field.

[andrew k]

so how much snow does that mean?  1mile, 10miles?

thanks

[THE LONG RANGER]

It would mean quite a bit, as the tank isn't that far from the beginning of the dirt part of Boreas Pass, and it only goes up from there. From Breck, you're going to be traveling on a slightly northern aspect of the pass, which would hold snow a bit longer, than on the other side of the pass, so the Como side would melt out  a bit faster. I'd wager that if there's snow at the tank, there's snow at the very least the summit of the pass.

It's possible that Summit County will plow the road in the coming weeks. For the GD, I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you want to recon a bit of the route tomorrow, Boreas Pass would be a bad choice

[ewoklake]

The Gold Dust would be a pretty fun toboggan run right about now I'd imagine  

[flyboy]

Here's one of my favorite downhill segments into Salida:

https://www.strava.com/segments/12203784

Starts at the county line. Tough climb to get there, and the it's mostly bliss, with just one little rise before the huge downhill into town. Gotta get to the bike shop early to get in line for repairs! I stopped the segment at the stop sign at the junction. Please don't blow through it

That was one sweet roll. Lots of loose, drifty corners. I wasn't aware of that (or any) segment otherwise I may not have stopped to take photos last year. Still, top 10 though. Is that Mr Hall in 20th?  

Fingers crossed that the snow is gone before the racers hit the passes this year. It would be fun to see another fast race.

[kato]

Anyone know the story of our Sobo ITT on course right now.  Looks like he got to the "rivulets" in the Flathead and turned around and went through Fernie.

[GregMay]

I was watching quite bewildered wondering what was going on?

[Rob Colliver]

I saw that Jeff had turned around at the top of Corbin, having spent some time there.... as he came through Fernie and was heading down Cokato Road I went and stalked him.

Jeff has a buddy with him and they played it safe after Jeff slipped down a bank and landed on his pack whilst looking for a dryish route through. They got soaked anyway. The river is the road for what sounds like the usual mile (as far as he could see anyway) and they didn't want to risk another fall.

Sadly he didn't get any piccies.

His goal was the pizza and taproom up Grave Creek road last night - looks like they made it.

He also dropped a section of map and a spare head torch on the road to Elko ( I found them and will return them to Crazy Larry in Banff - if he will come to the start on Wednesday) as he lives in Canmore.

I hope the levels drop soon; the snow has gone at 6000' at the top of Morrissey ridge at last and that is only a few miles from the route in the Canadian Flathead, so with the sun we're getting, fingers crossed.

[Erik_A]

Some inspiration:  http://theradavist.com/2015/06/the-2015-tour-divide-race-grand-depart-in-banff/#1

[JasMattock]

I'm a rookie and starting 6/5. Any advice? And is anyone else starting early?

[cloudrider]

Matt,

Go like the fuckers and if no one passes you then you'll have done a pretty slick time.

Good Luck!

PS: If I catch you, you'll be in deep shit

[Rob Colliver]

Jeff went over Red Meadow yesterday and sent me this piccie, he said it was about a mile of soft snow.

[kato]

Only a mile.  I was thinking there was going to be a lot more than that.  Good news!

[davew]

I've not been following any route updates but.... on Trackleaders it seems to be a different route through Butte. Is this the case or has an old gpx been loaded onto Trackleaders?

The Outdoorsman will be happy with the additional traffic. I hope he has managed to get someone to turn the wrenches for him. The poor bugger was in a right state last year but as always he went above and beyond to help. Papa Johns Pizzas are good too and right next door. I had the exact same conversation with the owner there two years running.

[kato]

Indeed, a new route through Butte this year.  Looks like a good change to me in order to get resupply.

[BobM]

I saw that Jeff had turned around at the top of Corbin, having spent some time there.... as he came through Fernie and was heading down Cokato Road I went and stalked him.

Jeff has a buddy with him and they played it safe after Jeff slipped down a bank and landed on his pack whilst looking for a dryish route through. They got soaked anyway. The river is the road for what sounds like the usual mile (as far as he could see anyway) and they didn't want to risk another fall.

Sadly he didn't get any piccies.

His goal was the pizza and taproom up Grave Creek road last night - looks like they made it.

He also dropped a section of map and a spare head torch on the road to Elko ( I found them and will return them to Crazy Larry in Banff - if he will come to the start on Wednesday) as he lives in Canmore.

I hope the levels drop soon; the snow has gone at 6000' at the top of Morrissey ridge at last and that is only a few miles from the route in the Canadian Flathead, so with the sun we're getting, fingers crossed.

Bummer to relegate onesself that early.  That section is always a river (actually several creeks and rivers) - socks off and wade through it is the way to go.  Trying to stay dry is nothing but wishful thinking on the backside of Flathead Pass!

[AZAnn]

I saw that Jeff had turned around at the top of Corbin, having spent some time there.... as he came through Fernie and was heading down Cokato Road I went and stalked him.

Jeff has a buddy with him and they played it safe after Jeff slipped down a bank and landed on his pack whilst looking for a dryish route through. They got soaked anyway. The river is the road for what sounds like the usual mile (as far as he could see anyway) and they didn't want to risk another fall.

Sadly he didn't get any piccies.

His goal was the pizza and taproom up Grave Creek road last night - looks like they made it.

He also dropped a section of map and a spare head torch on the road to Elko ( I found them and will return them to Crazy Larry in Banff - if he will come to the start on Wednesday) as he lives in Canmore.

I hope the levels drop soon; the snow has gone at 6000' at the top of Morrissey ridge at last and that is only a few miles from the route in the Canadian Flathead, so with the sun we're getting, fingers crossed.

Bill Peschka had to take the Fernie alternate 2 years ago when he left a week early @ the Flathead was at flood stage. Wasn't the question of getting wet. More a survival issue.


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[MikeI]

I saw a comment on FB under an Adventure Cycling post about the route ...  writer said there were lots of down trees on the Richmond Peak segment from last year's fire ...  any locals been up there ?

[flyboy]

I saw a comment on FB under an Adventure Cycling post about the route ...  writer said there were lots of down trees on the Richmond Peak segment from last year's fire ...  any locals been up there ?

I can't comment on the current condition of the trail but it would be nice if they cleared the ST. That was one sweet descent.

On another note, is anyone aware of Guy Martin's intentions? He isn't listed on the Trackleaders tracking page yet.

[BobM]

Looks like Jason Mattock has made it through the water slide portion of the descent of Flathead and should make Butts Cabin tonight.  Hope he has it to himself.