Tour Divide 2018 Race Preparation

[taprider]

How much of the High Rockies Trail will be included?
I thought part of the reason for building the trail was to keep riders out of sensitive bear habitat around the west side of Spray Lake

[clancy]

Expect to leave Antelope Wells on 6/3 or 6/4, so it will be a while before I make it up your way, see me on tracking as CD, 69yrs old female.

[ScottM]

2018 GPX is available.  HRT route actually makes the route 7 miles shorter but probably a wash time wise.

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

Matthew is sending out the Trackleaders signup link individually, but he expects to complete that in the next 48 hours.

[danwiz]

while there is still a bit of time left on this....does anyone know of a "best guess" start list?  Is Josh Kato, Jefe Branham, Neil Beltchenko, or Jay Petervary going to throw down this year??

[Angler]

Expect to leave Antelope Wells on 6/3 or 6/4, so it will be a while before I make it up your way, see me on tracking as CD, 69yrs old female.

Wil definately keep an eye out for ya!

[BobM]

2018 GPX is available.  HRT route actually makes the route 7 miles shorter but probably a wash time wise.

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

Matthew is sending out the Trackleaders signup link individually, but he expects to complete that in the next 48 hours.

Thanks, Scott!  Where can we get cues?

[ScottM]

Thanks, Scott!  Where can we get cues?

Matthew usually does provide them for new sections like this -- if he does, look for it in an 'official' TD communique (email) from him.

[MI_pdlr]

Still new to the garmin etrex 30x. I opened the new 2018 file in base camp. I then made it into a route. I then cut the route into 17 sections. They are all loaded in my gps as well as the original tacks file. I can navigate to them in the routes\tracks menu and go to them. Base maps are loaded as well. Am I missing something that will cause me to get lost and eaten by a bear? It's also backed up on my phone with a gps app I can use. I'm a paper map guy but used a Garmin touring unit for previous trips across the USA.

[metalartgate]

Oh, this is going to be some reroute!

http://www.koat.com/article/fire-danger-prompts-santa-fe-national-forest-closure/20967986

[bakerjw]

For reference, I have a google map out there that has the 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 and now the 2018 maps listed.
The biggest differences seem to be getting from Banff to Galton Pass.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wL-HOFLqC_a_UxoXz52vcHPOzj5bpHhk&usp=sharing

[Woodland]

Oh, this is going to be some reroute!

http://www.koat.com/article/fire-danger-prompts-santa-fe-national-forest-closure/20967986

Damn, I hope there is enough moisture down there between now and then to open it back up. The entire Nat'l forest! That is drastic

[andrew k]

how are northbounders getting SPOTs (and to the start)?

thanks

[silverdome]

One less northbound rider this year.  Mike Ingram started the American Trail Race today as the only rider.

[ScottM]

Oh, this is going to be some reroute!

http://www.koat.com/article/fire-danger-prompts-santa-fe-national-forest-closure/20967986

Crikey!  I am skeptical that it'll reopen before the leaders get there.  They usually want 3 solid days of monsoon rains before they'll lift it.

IIRC 2013 had this closure/detour, which made MH's blazing time that year not quite an official record.

[Woodland]

Matthew is sending out the Trackleaders signup link individually, but he expects to complete that in the next 48 hours.

Does Matthew use the email from the LOI sent via tourdivide.org? Should I have sent an email or was using the contact form on the website ok?

I haven't received any signup info yet

[GrizzlyAdam]

Crikey!  I am skeptical that it'll reopen before the leaders get there.  They usually want 3 solid days of monsoon rains before they'll lift it.

IIRC 2013 had this closure/detour, which made MH's blazing time that year not quite an official record.

Any chance that the re-route is decided on soon enough to recreate the GPX before the race starts? This one looks serious enough to just go with it.

[ScottM]

Does Matthew use the email from the LOI sent via tourdivide.org? Should I have sent an email or was using the contact form on the website ok?

I haven't received any signup info yet

Yes he uses the email sent in on the LOI.  Only 6 or so people are on the tracker, so he still hasn't gotten around to sending the link out to the vast majority of people.

Any chance that the re-route is decided on soon enough to recreate the GPX before the race starts? This one looks serious enough to just go with it.

Yep, it's pretty easy to describe -- you just go the way you'd drive on the highway between Abiquiu and Cuba.  96 and 550, IIRC.  That's what we used in 2013, and I don't know of any reason it wouldn't be the same should it be needed.

[GrizzlyAdam]

Yep, it's pretty easy to describe -- you just go the way you'd drive on the highway between Abiquiu and Cuba.  96 and 550, IIRC.  That's what we used in 2013, and I don't know of any reason it wouldn't be the same should it be needed.

Cool, thanks. In the end, it's all just pedaling...

[Woodland]

Yes he uses the email sent in on the LOI.  Only 6 or so people are on the tracker, so he still hasn't gotten around to sending the link out to the vast majority of people.

Cool, all right. I'm going to try and stop checking my phone every 4 minutes for 'The Email'. I'm not sure I have ever anticipated an email more in my life  

[flyboy]

Cool, thanks. In the end, it's all just pedaling...

Going for some redemption this year, Grizzly?