Update! Chris Joyce is in Sargents. I hope that's good news. Wonder what's going on with the Spots.

[Chris JoIce, btw  ]

.....it was indeed, good news!  after an ugly first two days, i went out on my own for Sargents>Denver.

the beginning parts were very muddy and slow going (30mi/day), and the hail-storms didn't help progress much, either!  we ran low on food and got pretty frustrated before arranging a pickup down cascade road.  BETA for others.... water is plentiful, trail should dry up and shape up, some trees down, but nothing too bad.

as a rookie, i learned an aweful lot the first leg of my journey.  extra food is crucial for physical and mental well-being.  upping my hydration was also key to adjusting to elevation and exposure.  and the wet weather was mostly a mental hurdle, but i learned to use my rain gear often and to it's fullest potential (i.e. put it on, leave it on, and tho wet, at least i'd be warm).

second go on the trail was most excellent, and though i wasn't fast (6days sargents>denver), i had an excellent time and enjoyed myself 95% of the time!  lots of hiking (SS), but that seems to be the name of the game for most.  i found trail conditions to be good, re-supplies to be reasonable (NOTE: Tarryall Store has limited hours on Tuesday.... he's a good dude and came down to open for me late on tuesday).

thanks to all the volunteers on the CT... we met a wonderful pair who helped greatly on our second day of the first leg.  without them, our bail-out would've been laden with significant issues for us and our rendevous vehicle.

best luck to all who are going out for the official CTR, and whether you are "racing" or just going for the experience, you will have a great time if you come well prepared and flexible.  ride on! 

"Tight at the front of the pink dot race, with Bethany D very consistent with her daily 4am/5am wake-up-and-ride approach, having caught Lael W today after Lael looks to have rested for 8+ hours last night.  Alice D on the single speed, as tough and solid as she is, will find some spinning out in the long flat-ish Big Sky country and Great Basin roads for the next several days.  Eleanor M and Jill H just another 2-4hrs back.  Yes, tight."   

i nabbed the quote above, because the women are indeed putting on quite a show out there!  also it should be noted that both Alice and Eleanor are rolling single, and leading that catagory too!!