CTR 2010 Status and Updates.

[lonefrontranger]

Whoever dropped off those PBR's on hwy 24...thank you.  put a few pics up on eszter and I's site- gooneyriders.typepad.com.  really impressed with folks out there, hopefully my knees will allow me to complete the ride next year.  

eszter is crushing it.  Tim K's spot is not working, but think he is somewheres close to eszter.  

the brit who keeps breaking shit... I very impressed.  he keeps breaking shit, and catching back on. nice work.  

Chris, this is Beth.  Keagan and I have been glued to the progress tracking.  SO STOKED you two did this one this year.  You're a hard man for getting as far as you did, I know the rain the first 3 days must have been just awful.

ESZTER IS FREAKING KILLING IT!!! Dude your wife is amazing, like, I have no words right now.  holy crap she is such an inspiration to me, and please tell her I said so.  I may have to get a 29er and actually learn how to ride it soon...

Cheers man, you totally deserve some PBRs.  If you guys were still in town I'd buy you a pint at Avery.  Taryn says hi too!

For the rest of you guys and gals out there, keep on.  Good luck to Bob and Steve L, too; dealing with those kinds of health issues whilst camping/riding in the backwoods is ... not easy, let alone trying to ride 80-100 miles a day as well.  Geez these people are serious hardmen and women.

[jeffhigham]

Looks like Dave Harris is headed to Lake City...

[Pivvay]

Hopefully just for foooooood!

[pro_out]

Looks like Dave H is heading for the Highlander RV Campground , I've heard they have thing to EAT.  On Lake San Cristobal.

[Pivvay]

Yep and it's closer than Lake City.

They have ice cream and drinks at the bare minimum

[ScottM]

Dave's got things so dialed, and he knows the caloric requirements from last year.  Makes me thing something is up and he's taking the Cinnamon Pass detour instead.  Maybe the altitude is still getting him despite the month in CB?  Hard to say.  Time will tell.

[Carney]

He was at his last bivy along CR 50 for ~15 hours.  That's a long time to sleep even in a warm bed.  Unfortunately, to me it looks like something happened more than just running out of food.

[ScottM]

Man, it's close between our two leaders.  Within an hour, I'd say.  Ethan's got uber veteran status, knowing the route and also how to ride it under the kind of fatigue they are both working through right now.  Sometimes not knowing what is ahead can be an advantage, though, and Jesse definitely has that going for him.  

Wonder if either of them have a phone (guessing not) and have checked positions on the tracker.  Maybe back at Silverton yesterday.

Comparing their lines on the storyboard it looks like Jesse got more rest last night, and it was likely indoors.  That could play a big part in this final push.

Commence the biting of nails...

[Pivvay]

Ooof. Stefan and my 12 hr weather bivy at the AZT was hard enough! 15 hrs, ugh. Hope he's alright.

[pro_out]

Dave's got things so dialed, and he knows the caloric requirements from last year.  Makes me thing something is up and he's taking the Cinnamon Pass detour instead.  Maybe the altitude is still getting him despite the month in CB?  Hard to say.  Time will tell.

Looks like Cinnamon Pass it is.

[jalbersh]

Can he make Carson Saddle via Cinnamon Pass or will he miss that checkpoint? With this detour, he could easily pass Eszter.

[Stefan_G]

Can he make Carson Saddle via Cinnamon Pass or will he miss that checkpoint? With this detour, he could easily pass Eszter.

Yes, he will likely pass Eszter if he detours Cinnamon Pass.  However, even if he did ride up Wager Gulch to make the Carson Saddle checkpoint, that is not the CTR route, so he will not be in the "official" standings.  I'm 100% sure Dave is  aware of this, but he still has to get to Durango to get his vehicle!  He experienced the high altitude and commitment of Coney/Cataract last year, so I'm sure that influenced his decision.  I bet he had his mind made up before he even stopped for the long bivy... We'll find out soon enough.

[jalbersh]

Well, I guess I'm just discovering how this race works. The checkpoints must be done only by distance covered rather than comparison to GPS coordinates. The Leaderboard and Story Board are reporting that Dave Harris just passed the Carson Saddle checkpoint, but he couldn't have if he is on the Cinnamon Pass road. Sure his mileage exceeded the mileage marker for the checkpoint. Oh well, like I said, I'm just learning about the race.

[ScottM]

Well, I guess I'm just discovering how this race works. The checkpoints must be done only by distance covered rather than comparison to GPS coordinates. The Leaderboard and Story Board are reporting that Dave Harris just passed the Carson Saddle checkpoint, but he couldn't have if he is on the Cinnamon Pass road. Sure his mileage exceeded the mileage marker for the checkpoint. Oh well, like I said, I'm just learning about the race.

Yeah, he's out of the race now, definitely.  I could scratch him, but I don't want to take him off the tracker map completely.  There's no setting for 'soft scratch' in the system, yet.  So, the new standings and leaderboard will just have to be a little off for now.  Sorry.

[Fulton]

Cruised home down Marshall last night after getting kicked out of the cabin by an army of mice.  Warm bed and cold beer was too inviting.  Had a great time out there and plan on trying again.  
-John Fulton

[jalbersh]

No problem, Scott. BTW, it shouldn't be too difficult, at some future point, to change the program so that racers must pass within say 100 ft of the GPS coordinates of a checkpoint in order to officially pass it.

[RikPerry]

Just want to say were right behind John Fettis back here in the UK .... Sounds like its one hard race out there. Keep pushing John there's a cold beer waiting for you !!!

[Chad B]

 He experienced the high altitude

It's tough to see another racer and friend bail out, especially when he is as strong as Dave Harris is. I feel like his race was not against time, but rather against himself or better said, the ability to ride at high altitudes. I know a few of us can relate to this battle against disabilities, diseases, etc.

Great fight Dave, I look forward to riding with you in October...

[mtbcast]

Okay, Folks, finally got the updates posted. Here we go:
Late calls from last night:
Nathan Gallion called in from Clear Creek Rd. and apparently ran over his Spot so it’s dead.
Emily Brock called in from Buena Vista to say she’s been battling some congestion but she’s moving forward!

Today:
Emily Sportsman called in from Salida. She’s pulling out as she’s not feeling well. Face swollen.
Nathan Gallion called in to say he woke to a sore achilles. He’s contemplating staying or pulling.
Steve Lacey called in to update his status.
Jefe Branham called in with an update from Silverton.
Not long after Emily called in  Scott Sportsman called in to say he’s out as well.
Dave Kirk called in to say he has pulled out.

Sorry I couldn't get these out sooner.

[ScottM]

No problem, Scott. BTW, it shouldn't be too difficult, at some future point, to change the program so that racers must pass within say 100 ft of the GPS coordinates of a checkpoint in order to officially pass it.

Ah, if only it were so.  The business of determining if someone actually passed a checkpoint is a bit more difficult than it first seems.  It can be done better than it is now, certainly, but there are some subtleties to it.