I live in the middle of Bald Eagle SF (3 miles from the start/finish of the Wilderness 101).  I've ridden most of the of the state forests in central PA.  If you decide to do trip around here get in touch and I'll give you some great places to go.

Get copies of the Purple Lizard Maps:  https://www.purplelizard.com/

The other thing I've noticed, from looking at my oregon vs others' etrex, the better the screen resolution, the thinner the lines. There's no setting for lineweight, and depending on the area/road/path colorings of the basemap (I use OSM openfeitsmaps), i've found it very difficult to discern my route line from the rest of the map. zooming in/out doesn't change lineweight either.

-Donald

I have a Dakota and had the same problem with following a track.  I found that if you "Navigate" the track and it gives you a pink line that's "thicker" that the roads, etc.

Just in case someone isn’t aware, there are a couple of excellent Facebook groups:

Endurance Rides and Bikepacking:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ultraride/

Tour Divide Race 2017 - Racer Updates, Pics, Gear, Resources:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/825014527629477/

bakerjw: I did read your write up and thoroughly enjoyed it. Just curious as to why you're choosing to start so soon after the GP? I'm planning on racing it next year, and would love to start with everyone else, but because of various family obligations, I won't be able to start until a couple days after the GP at the very earliest. I'm considering starting even a month later. The purity of riding it solo is enticing, but also a little unnerving. Would appreciate your take.

Even if you begin with the GD you're going to be doing the VAST majority of your riding solo.  It is, however, nice to meet up with other riders at stores, in towns, etc. 

Try to do as much of your training rides as you can in your local version of "wilderness" so that you get used to not seeing other people for hours at a time.

Learn "nerve gliding" for the ulnar nerve (wrist).  I (and a lot of others) had my pinky and ring finger on both hands go numb by Eureka, MT (day 3).  Full feeling didn't return until about 4 weeks after I got home.  I didn't experience this on previous week-long rides so it was something I was totally unprepared for.

My toes also went numb, but that happens fairly often for me so I knew how to deal with it (massage).

If you're taking the bike on the plane with you, don't seal the box until TSA has inspected it.  I had to open mine (at Pittsburgh, PA) so they could run the explosive sniffer wand through it.  TSA require that they reseal the box with their tape (it's marked TSA so the box shouldn't be reopened in transit).  The box survived one transfer without too much damage.  One the other hand, a guy who arrived in Calgary at the same time I did had his mangled pretty bad.

TSA also asked if I had CO2 and batteries in the box.

I put a layer of Gorilla Tape on the bottom of my bag.  I also use a Voile ski strap to cinch it up tighter.

I used a custom one (no insulation and resized) on the Tour Divide to hold my tent poles and stakes.  Worked great except for mud clogging the zipper.  The only thing I'd change is to get the zipper on the non-drive side.  I have a triple chain ring and I sometimes bash my knuckles on the big ring's teeth getting stuff in an out.

Josh is really great to work with on custom stuff.  I also have a custom frame bag and Stem Cell from Broad Fork.

How long of a pre-Divide taper period are people planning?  One week/ Two weeks?

I live in Pennsylvania so I plan to do some snow riding on my TD bike.  I also will push it up the double track (ca. 800ft) behind my house in the snow.

Check out John Hughes (http://www.coach-hughes.com/index.html).  Multi-time RAMM and other finisher, coach.  I have his book (Distance Cycling) which I really like.