California Sierra Trail Race?

[Sean Allan]

Hey folks, sorry for the late reply here. Yes there in progress, but it's at my own pace right now, certainly not the most important thing going on right now. I have to have some surgery on my hand in the coming months and I get to choose either work or play as I cant hold onto a handlebar after working 60 hours a week or I can't work if I ride my bike 30 hours a week, guess which one wins out since I'm a self employed contractor I have scheduled myself light in Sept and I hope to be able to get out and ride the entire route and provide a seamless track with some mileage cues.

I have ridden almost the entire course except for a small section that I plan to ride this coming weekend, so the tracks exist separately but I'm hesitant to put that info. out there until they are cleaned up a bit.

Here's a bit of a teaser, the first 50 miles, certainly the easiest as well. Not sure what happened with the track though, It's way off up on the road in places where I was on trail just below it. Not particularly fond of the 705, I'll use the trusty 60csx for the actual full meal deal.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/93605593

Not me(although I know these guys), but here's some shots of part of the route. I was in the same area over the weekend and the flowers are amazing this year.

http://forums.mtbr.com/california-norcal/its-spring-tahoe-high-country-8-21-2011-a-732694.html

I'll keep you posted!

[Pawel]

Hi Sean,

In case if you want a company I have free time from 26th September to 9th October. I hope that I will be able to put together/buy some bike until those dates.

[Sean Allan]

Pawel,
Thanks for the offer, I would love to take you around for a bit but right now it's really hard to plan my weekends so we'll just have to see. I'll likely be out and about during those dates so maybe we can work it out. Do you have your bike and gear?

[Pawel]

Sean, I broke my collar bone two weeks ago I will contact you as soon as I will be able to ride.

[Sean Allan]

Pawel,
I bummed to hear that, I've done both of mine and I know how much it sucked, and I wasn't in a foreign country!

Heal up.

[Sean Allan]

O.K.
I've got 319 miles ridden in one GPX file. It's WAAY to big to post here so if you want to look at it you'll have to PM me with an e-mail address and I'll send it along. Off this coming weekend to hopefully find the last missing pieces.

[OurManInTheNorth]

good stuff Sean. Might be heading your way summer next year - when were you planning a race and when would be good for an ITT weatherwise?

[Aslan]

This is great!  I would like to see how you solved a couple of routing issues that I have encountered.  Send it along when you get a chance, I sent you a PM with my info.  Thanks for putting this together and offering it up.

[Kimberly]

Am interested in this route either as a tour or, if timing works, as a race. Keep the info coming and I would love to see the full route track when you have it available. Excited to spend some time in the Sierras next summer!

[JReeves]

As a "local", I'd love to see this take shape!  I've ridden some of the area that it's planned to cover, and it's amazing! 

[forest_on_bike]

Sean helped me map out a short version of the ride that I did over Labor Day Weekend. Check out photos of my ride here: http://teamkaker.com/sierra-trail-race-tahoe-sample/

Forest

[Buttermilk]

Forest - thanks for the report. No better way to enjoy some vacation. Glads to see this route back on the board and I look forward to the 2013 race. I am anxious to ride the Sierra with a bunch of crazies like the CTR.

Sean - is September (perhaps around the full moon) still the target month for 2013? I'd like to roughly block out time to make sure I can make it.

Jeremy

[pfaeth]

Let's start planning this thing for 2013!  I am in.  Bike is ready, and body will be healed...

And Forest, are you the TDMBR Forest? 

[forest_on_bike]

Hi Pete. Yes, it's me.

I'd love to do the Sierra Trail Race this year too, but timing could be bad. I'll know in July if I can committ.

I'm thinking about doing a north-bound ITT on the TD in early June, so that would at least get me back into shape.

Sean was extremely helpful and generous with his time when I was trying to create an "easy" route that I could do in 2.5 days. However, he's got a lot going on and I haven't heard from him in awhile, so I'm not sure if he's committed to launching the race this year.

From what I gather, the GPS route is pretty much done (maybe a few gaps around Hwy 50). Let's see if Sean jumps back in on getting this off the ground. If not, those interested should just pick a date and make it happen.

Forest

[pfaeth]

That's great Forest!  Ya, in 2011 when I tried the Divide, I started in the south.  I liked it logistically as far as transportation, lodging, etc.  The fires and smoke were horrible but it was nice to have a few days of relatively mild terrain as opposed to the Canada section right off the bat.  Anyway, I will check out the tracks and will try to pick a fall day in 2013.  Thanks and good luck with all of your riding.

[Pawel]

Hi folks,

I didn't have time to write a trip report buy I rode most of the "race" route back in summer.The Tahoe Rim Trail is gorgeous!

Some photos:

https://picasaweb.google.com/110527687268855623072/CaliforniaSierraTrailsBikepacking#

Thank you Sean for gps tracks and advises.

[Sean Allan]

O.K. Just so you all don't think I've fallen off the planet...... I haven't checked in on this site in a few weeks, sorry.

This thing was a big undertaking for me and I'm ready to give it a go. I didn't want to put a date out there if I didn't think I could follow through. I'm ready to follow through with this beast.

The route and GPX are complete.

The date will be Sat. July 27th starting and finishing in Auburn, California.

I've been poking around on a website, I need a few rain days( I'm a contractor...) to get it finished up. The route, GPX and details will be there. I'm looking for help from you guys on anything you feel should be addressed.

I know it's 9 months away, but I'm stoked to get this thing off the ground.

A little bit more here. http://www.bikepacking.net/tripreports/4-days-in-the-sierra-nevada/

[Buttermilk]

Right on, Sean!
Got the date on my schedule. Sweet. Glad to have a race in our neck of the woods.
I'll help out where I can.

[kriswilsonbike]

This looks like a great addition to the bikepacking events.  A couple of us are wanting to head to Alaska for the Kenai 250 which is also in July so this would be too close to that event.  But, we would be interested in doing this in late August or September as it would be the in between race between the Alaska one and the races starting the first week of October.  What would be the latest a person would want to do this ride without the chance of getting snowed on in the high country?  Maybe a few of us who were planning the AK ride or CTR could do this as a time trial start somtime in September, as there aren't any bikepacking events in August or September.  Thanks for putting this together.  

Do you have approximate miles and elevation?  Also will you provide any cue cards?  % of dirt to pavement?  Thanks again.  Kris.

[forest_on_bike]

Good to hear from you Sean!

I've got a family reunion and some other stuff going on in July, so I probably won't be able to join the inaugural grand departure on the 27th. However, I'm happy to help, so keep me in the loop.

Kris, it will probably be a little toasty in Auburn/Foresthill in August (average high of 90), so September would probably be a better month to do it. If I'm able to swing it, I'll probably aim for early or mid September.

Forest