Tour Divide Basics

[Fettis]

"Any fool can be uncomfortable". I know I certainly was on a couple of nights in a basic bivy. Damn, I was jealous of those guys in tents while I was feeding the mosquitoes on the Idaho / Wyoming border. You can soon lose your mojo after a couple of consecutive nights of poor sleep.

[SuzM]

I'm not afraid of bears, hunger, dehydration, extreme exhaustion, pain... but i am really really really afraid of bugs.  Now I'm leaning back towards the plusher heavier bivy... ugh, this decision is a pita. 

[E nelson]

Anyone tried the Nemo GoGo bivy?  More difficult to set up, a little heavier than a simple bivy, but looks like a happy medium for those who may prefer a more tent-like shelter. http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo09-gogo-tent

[Marshal]

"Any fool can be uncomfortable". I know I certainly was on a couple of nights in a basic bivy. Damn, I was jealous of those guys in tents while I was feeding the mosquitoes on the Idaho / Wyoming border. You can soon lose your mojo after a couple of consecutive nights of poor sleep.

Hi John, Did your bivy not have a bug screen or were there other sleep issues?  I ask because I just got a 'basic bivy' but it does have a bug screen, got that with Idaho area in mind.  So if there is a next time you would go the tent route?

[JMeiser]

This summer I'll be using a bug net over my head instead of a bivy with a net.  I've learned this little trick from Miker, Salsa's Marketing manager.  He breaks it out at camp, wears it around all evening, and then wears it to bed.

[robinb]

This summer I'll be using a bug net over my head instead of a bivy with a net.

yep - that's a good method. I've had good success just draping a shirt over my head, as usually the rest of my body is clothed and/or covered by my sleeping system.

if you are really, really afraid of bugs while sleeping (or changing a flat ) in bad bug country, this may be the best $12 you could ever spend http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441932141&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302695921&bmUID=1270087346303

[elobeck]

With regard to the bivy setup and bugs, I too am afraid of bugs and utilized a bibler bivy with bug screen last year. Slightly heavy at near 2 lbs, but lots of room to move and fully waterproof. The bug screen provides great ventilation. Not ideal, but something I borrowed from a friend.

[Eric]

earplugs and a headnet - does the trick even in swarms of mosquitoes.

[forest_on_bike]

Do we have to buy our own SPOT or do we get loaners in Banff? And, do we have to buy a subscription to the tracking service?

I'm trying to decide whether to use my 20% REI discount on a SPOT or a new sleeping bag.

Thanks,

Forest

[Fettis]

Hi Marshall, the bivy I used (Alpkit Hunka) had no bug net, just a chord to cinch up the opening. It was great on the cold dry nights but a poor solution for bugs or for rain when shelter was hard to find. I did have a separate bug net to pull over my head but when it's resting on your face those bad boys can still drill right through. Best option is to keep riding til you're out of those bug badlands.
Anyhow, it was only a big deal on one night with the bugs and one with the rain. If you're going to go light there's got to be some trade off.
Best of luck with the preparation. Having TD on the horizon last year gave me motivation to get out in all weathers and somehow that focus kept me healthy and injury free.
John

[Marshal]

Hi Marshall, the bivy I used (Alpkit Hunka) had no bug net, just a chord to cinch up the opening. It was great on the cold dry nights but a poor solution for bugs or for rain when shelter was hard to find. I did have a separate bug net to pull over my head but when it's resting on your face those bad boys can still drill right through. Best option is to keep riding til your out of those bug badlands.
Anyhow, it was only a big deal on one night with the bugs and one with the rain. If you're going to go light there's got to be some trade off.
Best of luck with the preparation. Having TD on the horizon last year gave me motivation to get out in all weathers and somehow that focus kept me healthy and injury free.
John

Thanks for the info John.. I agree 100% about going light being a tradeoff.  

All bivys are a compromise ‘by design’ when compared to a tent with floor in terms of rain and bugs.  I mean how dry can you stay in a bivy when in poring rain and getting in, getting out to take a pee, back in, changing clothing, washing off the ol feet, etc etc.  The best bivy is only water and bug proof when you just lay there. And this assumes it stayed dry and bug free inside when you set up.  Even a tarp over the bivy (which now weighs as much as the lightest tents) can not compare in terms of being able to sit in a dry, enclosed bug proof environment while you sort out gear or do some body maintenance etc etc.

Humm, almost makes me want to revisit my decision to not get this tent: http://www.tarptent.com/productsheets/moment.pdf

However, once I firmed up my personal TDR strategy all my gear choices fell into place, and a tent, or even a tarp just doesn’t fit my strategy.   If I bring anything ‘extra’ so to speak it will be a item or two of clothing.

[BobM]

Thanks to John, Joe, Marshall, et al. for some great back-and-forth on the shelter dilemma.  I have a minimalist bivy on order from REI which I will try (and probably return).  Oddly, it is Eric Bruntjen's LOI that is tipping the scale for me.  I need to remember that my goal this year is to finish, so my 3 pound UL backpacking tent is likely to be what I bring.  That is a something less than 1.75 pounds more than the REI bivy plus small silnylon tarp, but then again, a liter of water is 2 pounds, so it's all relative.  Lacking a crystal ball I think the smart choice for me will be something I know I will look forward to getting into after a long day and which I know I will get out of in the morning whether raining, buggy or whatever.

Bob

[phil_rad]

Bob,
I agree with you on the tent option, as I just spent a rainy night in the woods. Having a dry and bug secure shelter is something that will make me go past the next town and into the night. So I'm thinking but will see come June! 

[SuzM]

On a new topic, I was super excited to receive my Ergon grips in the mail yesterday, until I read the instruction manual which said that they are not compatible with my GripShift shifters.    I'm very sad about this, I was really looking forward to using them.  Anyone know why this is, and does anyone know of a good alternative that will work? 

[sherpaxc]

Hacksaw and cut to fit.  Works just fine!

[SuzM]

Is that the reason?  I figured I was going to have to return them so I was hesitant to tear into the fancy (wasteful?) packaging to figure it out.  Whew, I was a little worried there for a few... :-)  Although I did a little more research online and it seems like there is a GripShift compatible version available, so I will probably exchange them for those anyway.  Crisis averted! 

[sherpaxc]

Yes, there is a Gripshift.  I had bought new shifters and didn't want to buy new grips so I just measured and sawed them off.  They worked great with no issues at all.  Of course if you can exchange that would be even better!

[SuzM]

good to know, thanks.  if an exchange isn't possible (i bought them at rei with my rebate, not sure if they can order the gripshift ones) then i can just cut these down and call it good. 

[phil_rad]

Down to some small details in my kit; first-aid kit. After reading about Marshall's injury on the CTR, I'm debating on what to bring. What are you all doing for a first-aid kit?

[BobM]

Hi Phil,

First Aid Kit:

2 Immodium
a few antacids and Pepto-Bismols
dozen ibuprofen
half-dozen assorted bandaids
small tube triple antibiotic ointment
moleskin
couple aspirin
hand sanitizer
antiseptic wipes

That's about it.  In case of an 8-inch gash in the leg down to the bone I will cut my jersey into strips, bind the wound, and hit the 911 button on the Spot.  Other than that I just plan to be careful  

Bob

Oh, yeah - in case you have not been to the US before, almost all gas station convenience stores have quite a bit of first aid/OTC medications so restocking supplies should be pretty easy.