THIS IS UPDATE #5: TD Minus 7 Days and Counting…
Fund Raising Update: Thanks to a great Send-off
party, Pledges have reached $21,272, or 85% of the way toward my goal of
$25,000. Every pledge helps the momentum, no matter how small: 1¢ per
mile = $27; 2¢ per Mile = $54; 5¢ per mile = $135… etc. And the anonymous
dollar-for-dollar match for Race Team Training Center pledges is still in play!
FLASH: The fund raising doesn’t need to stop when the
Ride starts! Any pledges coming in during the ride will just be more
fuel to get to Banff – so follow my ride and spread the word!
Thanks to everyone who attended to Good Ride-ance
Party Wednesday – we had a great time and raised lots of money for the
Ski Foundation!
Training & Preparation Update: With all the preparation,
my training has suffered a little this week – still a few good rides up Big
Mountain.
·
The bike went in to Matt at Sportsman for its
final tune-up yesterday. New chain & rear tire, mechanical tweaks, etc.
Also a few lessons in survival desperation on-the-trail bike repairs. GOOD TO
GO!
·
After looking at numerous options for water
treatment on the trail, I settled on a LifeStraw Filter (super light and
compact) and Aquatabs for purification.
·
I picked up my final order of nutrition from
Hammer including Perpetuem, Recoverite, Endurolytes, Hammer Bars & assorted
vitamins – now I just need to portion out 1/3 for packing and 2/3 for
drop shipments. Still haven’t figured out where to drop ship to…
·
Still working on navigation – probably right up
to the starting line. Stay tuned…
Tour Divide Race Update: Lots of communication
regarding last minute route condition updates – including this from Fernie’s
own Paul Attalla – who was leading the race last year until he went out with a
knee injury between Helena and Butte:
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2:26
PM (16 hours ago)
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Riders, Please read the below
encouraging reports on the Canadian Flathead. Paul (fine TD veteran) later
updated that the Howell Creek bridge on lower Cabin pass is intact.
Thank-you
Paul!
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Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Attalla <paul@ferniechiropractic.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: Seeking help with Fording Mine Rd
To: Matthew Lee <heymatthewlee@gmail.com>
Hi
From: Paul Attalla <paul@ferniechiropractic.com>
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: Seeking help with Fording Mine Rd
To: Matthew Lee <heymatthewlee@gmail.com>
Hi
I just got in from a flathead
recon.
Good news
Cabin pass is looking good from
the flathead side. The bridge on Howell creek is replaced and active
logging is under way up to km 80 on the cabin pass road. The road is
in great shape. I was able to get about half way up cabin pass
before I decided to turn around due to isothermal snow but it was spotty,
shallow and melting fast. My guess is that if the weather
continues cabin pass will be fine with maybe 2 miles of walking at the
most. I never made it over the pass so I am not sure about snow on the
other side but again I would expect little walking unless the weather changes.
I came in and left on Harvey creek rd which had been plowed all winter.
Looking at the snow there it is even possible that very little to no
walking may be possible by TD start time on cabin pass.
Bad news
Speaking with loggers and
hunters they tell me that flathead pass past Corbin is in very bad shape.
Riders should expect allot of water on the road and very cold feet.
It is not drivable but I was told once the snow on the summit is gone
ATVs will be able to make it over the pass. My interpretation is that
riders should be fine. However, I will continue to ask my logging and
hunting friends more about this in the coming days.
Good news
The flathead road is in amazing
shape, very smooth and fast due to active logging. It seems that the
weight of the haul trucks combined with the grader work has made the road from
Harvey to cabin very fast and dry minus one short section.
Bad news
Very active logging.
Great caution for any riders not on the weekend or
late Friday from Harvey pass to 80km on cabin pass rd. I have
put the word out to the loggers to expect a 100 riders from
late Friday to Monday. I will remind them again just
before the start of the TD.
Good news
I was told that a large logging
camp is in place on the flathead rd about 5 - 7km south of the turn off to
Butts cabin. If anyone is trouble this could be used. I do not know
the exact location but will try to locate it.
I will attempt to get over
Galton next weekend but I am sure it is also going to be a big shiny green
light.
I will keep you posted.
Paul
Watch for my final
pre-race update next week!
And starting on June 13,
don’t forget to follow me on www.trackleaders.com/tourdivide14
or www.tourdivide.org/leaderboard
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