Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[dream4est]

So I am looking to get to Banff for the grand depart. I live in Utah. Anyone who is heading northbound want to drive my car back to the southwest US after getting to Banff/Calgary ?

I am thinking of just driving up. cheap old compact car that gets 30 mph highway.

[KO]

I used this:

http://www.eplalimo.com/

Which has to be the cheapest way to go.

Get your biked shipped out of Gila Hike & Bike.

And prepare for an adventure!

I used this:

http://www.eplalimo.com/

Which has to be the cheapest way to go.

Get your biked shipped out of Gila Hike & Bike.

And prepare for an adventure!

Website says $65 while Greyhound is $44-$53 and I'd like to take my bike with me because shipping a bike is expensive.

[bakerjw]

I received the final map sections from the ACA yesterday and then went online to check all of the addenda. I found an interesting tidbit.

(Mar 2017) RE-ROUTE DUE TO WILDLIFE CLOSURE: The Spray Lakes West Rd., from mile 17.2 to 36.3, will soon be closing due to grizzly bear activity. The High Rockies Trail is now finished and can be ridden, or you can use the Smith-Dorrien Spray Rd./Highway 742. The High Rockies Trail is acc essed at mile 11.5 (at the kiosk where we mention the singletrack going right). You will rejoin the route at mile39.5. There are several spurs from the Trail to Smith-Dorrien Spray Rd./Highway 742 if you need to leave the Trail. See the map here. 

https://www.adventurecycling.org/default/assets/File/Routes_Maps/Addenda/GDMBR_Canada_Map%20A_Detour_2017.pdf

[Iowagriz]

Baker - I'll be watching to see if that is an early seasonal closure, or permanent.

Also note, bridges being replaced south of Corbin. Facebook page says to expect a reroute around that section. Matthew has people checking out options.

Since I'm touring two weeks after the grand depart, I'm going to closely watch what happens in these two sections. Worse case for me is to ride to Fernie, then take Lodgepole road towards Wigwam. That way I still experience the wall

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[Flinch]

Website says $65 while Greyhound is $44-$53 and I'd like to take my bike with me because shipping a bike is expensive.

Check out Bikeflights.com for shipping bike. You box the bike and buy postage online, they pick up from most residential and businesses. Shipping is via one of the major carriers (Fedex, UPS...). I've used them twice. My 55 pound bike box from Deming NM to Reno NV = $65, three day delivery. Beats $150 airline fee.

[bakerjw]

A while back, I received some waypoint files from some other TD veterans and I added them to a list that I had compiled. I did an overlay with the TD2016 route and made it available at this link.
http://www.appalachianbiketrails.org/openlayers_Bing_TD2016.php

Someone asked me for a gpx file of the way points, but I haven't put one together yet as I am still adding to it. In the interim, you can see them all here.
http://www.appalachianbiketrails.org/TD2016_Waypoints.php

No warranties implied or otherwise, yadda yadda yadda. If it is benefit, then great!

[KO]

Check out Bikeflights.com for shipping bike. You box the bike and buy postage online, they pick up from most residential and businesses. Shipping is via one of the major carriers (Fedex, UPS...). I've used them twice. My 55 pound bike box from Deming NM to Reno NV = $65, three day delivery. Beats $150 airline fee.

Unless I'm mistaken , Greyhound will take me and my bike from Las Cruces back to Denver for around $50. Just need to get a bike box from one of the local bike shops.

[skibum4182]

I live in SLC, and am leaving on the 7th to go up, you are welcome to join us.

[dream4est]

I live in SLC, and am leaving on the 7th to go up, you are welcome to join us.

Thanks for the ride James see you all in Banff.

[KO]

Maybe I missed it or just too early, but any info/links to sign for a spot yet? 

[bakerjw]

Maybe I missed it or just too early, but any info/links to sign for a spot yet? 

I still think that they are working on parts of the route still. If I read anything on any of the facebook pages, I will pass it along.

[KO]

I still think that they are working on parts of the route still. If I read anything on any of the facebook pages, I will pass it along.

I still think that they are working on parts of the route still. If I read anything on any of the facebook pages, I will pass it along.

Thanks.  I'm one of the those curmudgeons who don't have a Facebook account and are always out of the loop in all social gatherings.

[Kammieleigh]

I was just wondering if any one has room in there car for 2 heading up to the Grand depart from the four corners area. I am in Durango but could get elsewhere and help with gas money in a carpool???

[iambarnard]

I am coming out of Grand Junction. Have not booked travel. I have been thinking about flying to Calgary the 8th. I open to covering my share of gas, munchies, and vehicle expense for anyone that has space for my bike and I.

[ScottM]

Thanks.  I'm one of the those curmudgeons who don't have a Facebook account and are always out of the loop in all social gatherings.

If you've sent in your LOI to tourdivide.org using the contact form, you should have already rec'd the registration link, or will be getting it soon.  People are signing up, it's getting close!

[kiwidave]

Paul Attalla is doing a reccy of an option for the re-route to avoid where the bridges are out today (27th May): Have a look at the possible route and his progress here (use the replay function):

http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide17

[Flinch]

Paul Attala is doing a reccy of an option for the re-route to avoid where the bridges are out today (27th May): Have a look at the possible route and his progress here (use the replay function):

http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide17

Reroute takes off ~ 3 miles north of Elkford. Looks like a gnarly climb at the start: Paul walked ~3 miles, could be snow but the percent grade is > 10% for last 2 miles - so says Google Earth, summit at 6700' or so. Uber available??

Total detour/new route is 53 miles. Two climbs, at the start (4300' to 6700' over 5.5 miles) then near finish (3500' to 5300' but gentle). Then looks like we then take Fernie reroute for 10-15 miles, to Lodgepole Road, then to Flathead north of Butts Cabin, over Cabin/Galton - can you say 'Snow', I knew you could! Resupply may take some imagination day one.

However, nothing written in calc-alkaline compressive margin intermediate rock yet (I'm a Geologist, humor me). Supposed to get final route in a couple days, the boys/gals are working hard.

[KO]

Reroute takes off ~ 3 miles north of Elkford. Looks like a gnarly climb at the start: Paul walked ~3 miles, could be snow but the percent grade is > 10% for last 2 miles - so says Google Earth, summit at 6700' or so. Uber available??

Total detour/new route is 53 miles. Two climbs, at the start (4300' to 6700' over 5.5 miles) then near finish (3500' to 5300' but gentle). Then looks like we then take Fernie reroute for 10-15 miles, to Lodgepole Road, then to Flathead north of Butts Cabin, over Cabin/Galton - can you say 'Snow', I knew you could! Resupply may take some imagination day one.

However, nothing written in calc-alkaline compressive margin intermediate rock yet (I'm a Geologist, humor me). Supposed to get final route in a couple days, the boys/gals are working hard.

By rerouting, what is the main part we are avoiding?  Also, since we're rerouting, wouldn't it make more sense to take Wigwam Forest Service Rd south of Morrissey rather than continuing straight on Lodgepole Forest Service Rd and making that big u turn heading west south of Flathead which brings us back to Wigwam Forest Service Rd anyways?  I'm a TD rookie and I've never been out there or am trying to make the route any easier, but just looking at the map this makes more sense to me.

[BobM]

By rerouting, what is the main part we are avoiding?  Also, since we're rerouting, wouldn't it make more sense to take Wigwam Forest Service Rd south of Morrissey rather than continuing straight on Lodgepole Forest Service Rd and making that big u turn heading west south of Flathead which brings us back to Wigwam Forest Service Rd anyways?  I'm a TD rookie and I've never been out there or am trying to make the route any easier, but just looking at the map this makes more sense to me.

The "Spirit of the race" is that a reroute should take the shortest path around an obstacle and rejoin the route.  In this case the obstacle is a bridge that has been removed in the Flathead.  It appears that starting the reroute prior to Elkford rather than going south on the main Highway (the start of the ACA official alternate) from Sparwood is unnecessary and has been done to make the race more "fun".  The reason that the Wigwam route was not taken is that it would have cut a large portion of the Flathead, including Cabin Pass, unnecessarily.

[jjmundt]

I'm just curious...is it a permanent removal of the bridge or just a repair / replacement issue?