Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[ScottM]

I think 2015 was the first year for that earlier turn off of Togwotee Pass. Once you made the push up to the top, that entire section of the route was absolutely beautiful. Decent two track just wandering it's way across the CD. The fields along there were in full wildflower bloom and the smell was absolutely intoxicating. One of many favorite memories of my race that year.

Yep, that section is on the CDTbike route is super rad.  Matthew added it to the TD route in 2015, along with Wamsutter.

Looking forward to getting this party started in less than a week.  GD is going to be huge!

[sfuller]

I have said numerous times I would never race the route again, but man, the draw keeps getting stronger...

[BobM]

I have said numerous times I would never race the route again, but man, the draw keeps getting stronger...

The route is different - does that help?

[jjmundt]

I have said numerous times I would never race the route again, but man, the draw keeps getting stronger...

Hehehe...when you presented to us at the Des Moines Cycle Club meeting, you said that as well...one and done.  But I've never ridden any portion of the route and I know how much I've thought about it, pored over the maps, read and re-read the accounts, etc.  It only stands to reason that the "virus" stays in those of you that HAVE ridden it, waiting to re-germinate.

I hope you do ride it again...

[Flinch]

"...I have said numerous times I would never race the route again..."

Odd, my wife has told me the exact same thing! Just one more, honey, I promise! 

[sfuller]

The route is different - does that help?

Bob - Actually, the new reroute and some of the photos I've seen of it really sparked something in me the last couple of weeks. This blog post also got the adventure saliva running a bit for me as well - http://longranger.justinsimoni.com/2017/01/10/making-the-great-divide-mountain-bike-route-even-greater-rollins-passargentine-pass/

Maybe I just need to get out there again, and ride most of the route, but take a few side trips to make it different. *shrug*

[BobM]

Bob - Actually, the new reroute and some of the photos I've seen of it really sparked something in me the last couple of weeks. This blog post also got the adventure saliva running a bit for me as well - http://longranger.justinsimoni.com/2017/01/10/making-the-great-divide-mountain-bike-route-even-greater-rollins-passargentine-pass/

Maybe I just need to get out there again, and ride most of the route, but take a few side trips to make it different. *shrug*

From everything I've heard from multi-year veterans, it WILL be different, even on the same stretches of road.  You will probably be stopping at different points and the weather, road conditions, mental state will all be different from the time before.

[dwengs]

Hey Scott -
Any word on a re-route at Union Pass?  Ashley Benns has been on Union Pass for over a day and still has a ways to go to get to the road!  Wow, Justin, this is your kinda year buddy!  Holy Cow!

[Flinch]

From the web cams in the area, looks like bare below 8400' or so. Togwotee Lodge @8654' isn't bad, T. Pass ~9800' has 54" snow, Brooks Lake Lodge  @9200' has snow (gosh golly darn what the Brooks Lake road looks like right after T. Pass!).

The 2011 reroute took off after Warm River Campground, down to Jackson Hole, then on to Pinedale. (You DO have the 2011 reroute in GPX and corrected cues, don't you??  Am I the only one prepared? ) We've still got a couple weeks before we get to Union, so who knows?

Gotta admit that Ashley has large brass ones that drag in the snow! Street cred bump+

We's all in this together, and fortunately I'm a bit slower, thus have the luxury of employing volunteer 'trail breakers' - ha.

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

Just a quick note to all racers.  I will be here in Hachita again this year offering services for your extraction from Antelope Wells.  I do have bike boxes here at the ranch house and the shower in the guest room is finished.
Good Luck!
Cheers!
jeffery sharp  575-519-9111
sharpjeffery1@gmail.com

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

Jeffery Sharp -- 575-519-9111 --  sharpjeffery1@gmail.com

[bakerjw]

Just a quick note to all racers.  I will be here in Hachita again this year offering services for your extraction from Antelope Wells.  I do have bike boxes here at the ranch house and the shower in the guest room is finished.
Good Luck!
Cheers!
jeffery sharp  575-519-9111
sharpjeffery1@gmail.com

Just a quick note to all racers.  I will be here in Hachita again this year offering services for your extraction from Antelope Wells.  I do have bike boxes here at the ranch house and the shower in the guest room is finished.
Good Luck!
Cheers!
jeffery sharp  575-519-9111
sharpjeffery1@gmail.com

To date I've no extraction plans. As I've told people it is a problem that I WANT to have. Got your info and will see what is in the cards.

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

I will looking for you.

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

oops!

[Pirahna]

Thanks Jeffery, I'll hopefully be giving you a call around the end of September if you're around. 

[ScottM]

Hey Scott -
Any word on a re-route at Union Pass?  Ashley Benns has been on Union Pass for over a day and still has a ways to go to get to the road!  Wow, Justin, this is your kinda year buddy!  Holy Cow!

Nice work by Ashley.     Haven't heard any talk of a reroute from Matthew.  It'll melt a little bit by the time the GD leader gets there, but probably still a slog!

FYI, I put together a V4 of the TD specific garmin basemap:

http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

The Fernie re-route went off the V3 basemap set, and V4 also gets that last tile to Banff that was missing.

Also, I remade a 'meme' that someone put together a few years back.  Can't remember who, but it makes me chuckle as it's a FAQ I get every year.

[Flinch]

At the rate of melt on Togwotee Pass, it will be bare around 17 days from now, assuming melt does not accelerate.

The snow melt data:  https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/snowplot.cgi?TOGW4

Looks like melting is at rate of 1.3" of snow water equivalent per day, translates into 2.9" snow per day. Assuming that melt is similar on Union. I would expect that in 10-12 days the amount of snow on Union will be 1-2 feet, packed, and at my speed, a well worn trail just to my liking!   (Thanks fast guys!) 

[BobM]

At the rate of melt on Togwotee Pass, it will be bare around 17 days from now, assuming melt does not accelerate.

The snow melt data:  https://www.nwrfc.noaa.gov/snow/snowplot.cgi?TOGW4

Looks like melting is at rate of 1.3" of snow water equivalent per day, translates into 2.9" snow per day. Assuming that melt is similar on Union. I would expect that in 10-12 days the amount of snow on Union will be 1-2 feet, packed, and at my speed, a well worn trail just to my liking!   (Thanks fast guys!) 

If you are a purist you would walk to the side in the unbroken snow.  You would also be insane.  I walked in lots of nice, packed footprints in 2012 over Flathead and Galton passes and it was hard to imagine what those leaders had to contend with.

[Flinch]

"If you are a purist you would walk to the side in the unbroken snow."

Ah yes Bob...but then I would be off route, and relegated! We must respect the rules!

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

Another note to racers:  ok tourists also.
    The Hachita Country Store is now open.  The store is in the process of stocking up.  There are cold waters, sodas, starbucks, monsters,  some candy bars, and other snacks.  Toilets available.  There is no fuel yet, waiting for a new digital dispenser.  If you see the Silver Toyota Suv late at night, the owner is there and will get up for you.  There are no established hours of operation.  He is usually away for only a day,  once a week.