Spokin' Sportsmans

Not just the CTR

Sportsman — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 20:26:04 +0000

Beyond the CTR, our trip back to Colorado gave us the opportunity to make new friends, spend time with dear friends, and spend time together. Without an agenda, paying loose attention to the time, we explored our way back from CO to North Van. I only regret that we didn’t take enough pictures with friends; Jill, Ed, Jeny, Abe, Sonya, Hillary all come to mind; the friends that met us at the Southern Sun (Chris, Marni, Nick and Faith)

more of our pictures are here

Scott’s side of CTR 2010

Sportsman — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:00:09 +0000

This is a small part of my experience at the CTR..

Now, for the rest of the story….click here

Fun with Failure– Em’s 1/2 CTR

Em — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:47:47 +0000

First, although I married Scott, who has a well established history of riding his bike really far in scenic places, the Colorado Trail Race was my idea. Scott took all of a heartbeat to agree that it was a fine idea. Plus the race started on my birthday! Since endurance riding is not very well developed in BC, I started stacking the deck in my favor with LW Coaching’s awesome training plan. Once I decide what the next adventure will be I will be getting another LW plan.

We drove to CO arriving the Friday before the race. Time to visit with my father, see friends, meet new friends, drink good beer, and have a few days to help acclimate (hahahaha). And time to ride White Ranch.

Our good friend Tory very generously drove us to the early morning start. There was only enough time to unload, pack up, quickly meet a few folks (including the 3 other amazing women- Eszter who would go on to win (!!), Cat who would set the women’s SS record (!!), and another Emily(!!)), get the SPOT and then start rolling.

I’ve never been on a start line for any sport feeling as happy as I did August 2. I was on holiday and I was going to ride my lovely bike for a lot of hours over the next 7-9 days. As Scott says the race is the reward for the training and the training was just amazing. The added mental boost came when Scott decided that this was too great an experience for a solo ride and that he’d like to ride together. Up until that moment we had planned to ride our own races and now I would be able to share this experience with my favorite riding partner. lucky woman!

This was doubly fortunate for me as I was relying on my bike computer, CT data book and cue sheet for navigation. However, the first wheel revolutions showed that the computer wasn’t working! The magnet had fallen off! It wasn’t on my wheel! AGGGHHHH! A few choice words from me before Scott gets me to stop and we trade wheels. I guess the excitement of the morning resulted in us mistakingly grabbing the other’s wheel. Back to singletrack. Food and water in Bailey.

The top of Kenosha held the sweetest surprise! Jeny. Ecstatic Jeny. Smiling Jeny. Encouraging Jeny. Jeny with cupcakes!!! There are times in life where you feel lucky to have met and be friends with someone. This was just such a moment. A moment written in 82 font, bold, italic by an artist specializing in capturing mtb bliss. Of course, I forgot to take a picture :(

Scott and I waited out the first thunderstorm just a handful of mins up the trail from the Kenosha campground. The second thunderstorm rolled in on the approach to Georgia pass. We set up camp, stuffed a couple pizza pockets down and bedded down. We had picked up emergency bivy bags a couple of days before the race and we both put our entire sleeping kit, pads and bags, into the bivy. I pathetically draped my wet kit through the spokes of the wheel that was used to hold part of the tarp up hoping that the second storm would blow through and we’d get a dry CO night. It rained until 2am. I admit to being surprised at another racer who pushed over the pass in the thunderstorm.

The next morning was the beautiful CO I had come seeking. It was the CO that matched my memories of growing up. An hour or so of riding and then over Georgia Pass.

Down to Breck. Up the hell that was the 10 mile range.

Down the 3,000 feet to Copper.

I rode more sweet, flowy, singletrack goodness on Day 2 of my CTR adventure than in all BC training combined. good. gooder. goodest. We decided to sleep low in Copper rather than push towards Searle pass. A good night’s sleep at a relatively low elevation and a chance to dry out gear.

Wheels were rolling at 4:45am and as we approached Searle pass, I saw the first lightning of the day hit the 10 mile range at 7:10 am!!! Standing in the alpine looking to the east, I was amazed at what I had already ridden and pushed my bike over. Unreal. Wonderful. Lucky. And the day kept getting better. Alpine basin between Searle and Kokomo pass.

Summit Marmot.

Not taking pictures of the molybdenum mine waste management.

Scott was thriving. He totally dropped me on the descent into Camp Hale. I don’t know how he does it. Geared, soft-tail me vs. rigid SS him. I am used to BC riding and kept expecting the trail to drop out from under my wheels when the riding called for being relaxed and looking further down the trail.

A storm over Mt Massive on the way into Leadville.

Clearly it was time for calories.

Out of Leadville and into another storm. 3-5 cm of hail. Hunkered down under the pitiful canopy of pine. It could have been Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree for all the protection it afforded. But our wheels kept turning and we rode the aspen covered flanks of Mt Elbert toward Twin Lakes and the Collegiate Range. Near the descent to Twin Lakes, Scott noted that the wayward gps had gone for another walkabout (the particular gps, borrowed from Chris Plesko, a couple of days before the race apparently has a well established history of making attempts for its freedom). Scott went back for the gps and I kept moving toward Buena Vista. The hail and rain started again as I crossed the dam and fought the wind to get my riding toque on.

The trail was pleasant and the riding was good. At Clear Creek, I stopped for calories, red bull and a mental adjustment for the road miles into BV. Big ring rip. Fast. Wet. Muddy. Yoga pranayama breathing to stay warm.

I made it to BV just before dark. First hotel on the right off Main Street seemed to welcome quite a number of racers. Chinese food 4 blocks north. Yard sale in the hotel to dry gear again. Another chance to sleep relatively low. Scott made it to BV just an hour or so later.

We had a slow morning waiting for the outdoor shops to open. Shitty breakfast at Jan’s and a run to City Market. Enough calories to get to Silverton without resupply — discounting the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. The final stop was the Trailhead, where we were greeted by name (! spot trackers are awesome), bought additional rain gear (30% off!) and took advantage of the wash and lube station provided. I was feeling very flushed and a bit wonky on the road climb out of BV back to the CT, but attributed it to the greasy spoon breakfast and red bull chaser. We stopped at the hot springs ostensibly to wait out another thunderstorm as I wouldn’t admit to feeling low. By 2 pm my belly had revolted. Eating was a chore and I would be sidelined with sharp cramps, unable to pedal for 5-10 minutes after eating. I tried eating smaller amounts. I tried eating bigger amounts. Everything hurt. Everything hindered riding. I didn’t even take a picture of the debris flow off the Chalk Cliffs covering the road.

We pushed up from the Angle of Shavano campground in the dark, crossed highway 50 and soft pedaled a few kms towards Flosses where I crawled straight into my bag without eating. At some point in the night I got up for a washroom visit and had trouble balancing long enough to put on shoes. After sleeping for probably 10 hours (maybe more) I opened my eyes and looked at Scott. My face and head was swollen. My eyelids were almost swollen shut. I had big round cheeks. My race was over.

I cried. I wanted to ride Monarch Crest. I could push my bike uphill and just ride down. Sweet single track. Heartbreak. Acceptance and a painted on smile as I encouraged Scott to keep going. Chat with Dylan from MT, sending him up the trail with smile and a task to catch Scott.

Another cry. A slow pack up and the ride down to Salida. Some more crying. The end of the race. Heading into the next long, high altitude section would not have been smart.

I was on my pony, but felt more like this:

Back in Vancouver again, 2 weeks after the start of the race. I am happy with how I rode. I never felt that I was riding outside of my fitness. I slept low where I could and got lots of hours every night. Until the last day, I stayed well fueled and was always well hydrated. I put in some long days, but never felt like I was riding into a deficit. I rode my race until I couldn’t ride anymore.

It is still disappointing to DNF. However, I am thrilled that I could ride so much (thank you Lynda and Dave for the training!!!!!)! I think about standing above Janet’s cabin looking east towards the front range and abosultely thrilling that I had ridden over all those mountains. Wow! It seems incredible that I was able to ride from Copper to BV in day and still feel good enough to get back on my bike the next morning.

I am lucky.

I am grateful.

The big DAY!!!

Sportsman — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:04:59 +0000

The work is over, the driving is behind us (for another week), it is time to play..

all of our training, practice, planning, homework, gear research over the past four months will be put into effect tomorrow morning, on Emily’s birthday

the Colorado Trail Race starts at 6:30 tomorrow morning

The work is over, the driving is behind us (for another week), it is time to play..

all of our training, practice, planning, homework, gear research over the past four months will be put into effect tomorrow morning, on Emily’s birthday

the Colorado Trail Race starts at 6:30 tomorrow morning.. the Live Track of all the racers can be found here!!

WE”RE VERY EXCITED!!!!!!!!

WOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!

moment of weakness

Sportsman — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:15:39 +0000

I have been on the fence, tormented by weakness,

questioning my ability to ride the CTR rigid, or whether I’d enjoy (survive) the ride more with a Reba on the front of my Walt

Until someone near and dear to me told me to MtFU

previously I thought that considering the CTR was M(ing)tFU

In my mind, the decision to be a CTR finisher was M(ing)tFU

Doing it on a single speed (albeit, it will be the smallest gear I’ve ever had on a ss) was M(ing)tFU

but, it has to be rigid

the taunt was stated

the gauntlet was thrown down

I was slapped across the face with a not-so-dainty gauntlet

but I accept the challenge

I will ride my WW from Denver to Durango

I will Man the Fuck Up

(but I still won’t carry my SLR)

Can you go back to where you’re from?

Em — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:35:33 +0000

I’m going back to Colorado, but just for a bike ride.

I’m going back to Colorado, but just for a little while.

I’m going back to Colorado to visit family, visit friends, and visit places that comprise the person I am.

The prep for the CTR has been challenging. Finding the time to do the rides, finding the time to plan the big weekend rides, finding the time to cook good meals, fit in field trips for work, enjoy out of town company, bike commute to work, actually doing my work (!), finding the time to tweak and hack the race gear, finding the time to learn to sew so I can tweak and hack the race gear, keeping the cats alive, but killing the tomato plants, finding the time to sleep and recover from the amazing training, finding the time to keep the right mental attitude. But the big push is done. Tonight we finish packing and drop the keys with the house sitter. Tomorrow we start driving.

One of the tasks has been going over the route. Topofusion (which my work’s web-nannies block! ). Google Earth. Reading the CT Guidebook at my desk hidden behind the covers of the Mine Environment Neutral Drainage Prediction Manual for Drainage Chemistry from Sulphidic Geological Material. As I go over the course it brings up memories and experiences of growing up in CO. Hiking 14′ers as a highschooler. Trying to ‘mountain bike’ in Palmer Park on the Bridgestone hybrid my mom bought me back in ‘96 or ‘97.

My twin sister built part of the Hunt Lake CT/CDT access trail as a highschool trail crew member with the Student Conservation Association.

My dad, who was a trail crew leader with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado, and was at one point was Volunteer of the Year, has worked on trails across the entire state.

I was part of an SCA group that rebuilt a front country campground near Taryall that is used to access the Lost Creek Wilderness.

The Colorado School of Mines geological engineering 6 week summer field program spends week 2 in Durango mapping glacial deposits, week 3 in Saugauche range hunting calderas and volcanic marker beds, week 5 at Molas Pass examining the stratigraphy. Week 6 was environmental geochemistry near Red Mountain pass which spoke to my heart and mind. 12 years later and I still love environmental geochemistry.

My Siren’s color scheme is based on rhodochrosite, the CO state mineral.

It’s been 13 years since I left. 13 years of loving Vancouver and Canada. 13 years of living at an elevation of about 60 m above sea level..

I’m going back to Colorado with a smile, brimming with excitement and a deficit of red blood cells.

I’m going back to Colorado with my Colorado-at-heart husband.

I’m going back to Colorado and will drink good margaritas!

close to final touches

Sportsman — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 03:17:50 +0000

“Let me tell you what Melba Toast is packin’ right here, all right. We got 4:11 Positrac outback, 750 double pumper, Edelbrock intake, bored over 30, 11 to 1 pop-up pistons, turbo-jet 390 horsepower. We’re talkin’ some fuckin’ muscle.”

Melba toast doesn’t pack enough calories, and I don’t know if I have enough fuckin’ muscle, but I do have new rubber…

CTR Prep work at Safeway

Sportsman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:24:16 +0000

There is a section of the CTR that has no replenishment options. Essentially, we have to get enough food in Buena Vista to make it to Silverton (discounting Princeton Hot Springs). This segment contains the climb up Flooses, Monarch Crest, and the dreaded S22 and S23 (Cataract Ridge); possibly two to three days, meaning that we need to carry 24,000 to 30,000 calories :O

So last night, we hit the local Safeway, notebook in hand, in a quest to find calorically dense foods that are light and compact..

And it was a lot of fun, walking down aisles that we rarely visit, inspecting foods that we hadn’t considered prior to our bikepacking training. Laughing raucously. Raising a few eyebrows as we discussed the lack of calories of different possibilities, dismissing them from our master list.

High on the list.. chocolate bars have their place, peanut butter, hot pockets have lots of calories, frozen burritos can be worth 700 calories each, nut mixes..

Ramen has calories (240 of them) and salt, and don’t require hot water.

canned pasta meals are easy (although a bit heavy), but not for vegetarians.

and, possibly the secret weapon (all vegan mother in laws that may be reading this should click away now..)

really, you don’t want to see this…

I’m not kidding..

don’t judge me

you had your chance..

A whopping 1073 calories, 47 g of protein, 4772 mg of salt (!!!).. Oh yes, I see a can of spam being inhaled on Cataract Ridge….

and, of course, don’t dismiss the ubiquitous flask of Stanahans…

mmm, Strannies and Spam, breakfast of CTR finishers…..

Shakedown around Squamish and the Circumambulation of Cloudburst Mountain

Em — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 15:43:35 +0000

The final long, hard weekend of training…

It may be the daily commuting, but Scott and I both had still had some fatigue in our legs this week and we talked about taking it easy this weekend. And then we made the right decision— just go ride!

Neither of us wanted to drive far or spend a lot of time planning a new route. Work has been hectic for us both recently; I was in the field last week and Scott was heading to Ontario on Monday morning. So we sketched in some rough plans for another ride in the Squamish area. Ride about 30 kms of singletrack and then hop onto the Stawamus-Indian FSR. The FSR connects the north end of Indian Arm to Squamish and is supposed to be rideable.

Recent heli-logging operations had opened up part of the view and exposed Sky Pilot.

The first washed out (removed? decommissioned?) bridge was more frustrating for the atv and dirt bike crowd than the mountain bike crowd.

We could get out wheels over and around the barriers after an initial scout on foot.

The second washout (removed?) was too difficult to ford though. I had really looked forward to this trip and was excited to see the northern terminus of Indian Arm so this early return was disappointing.

We camped north of Squamish at Leggett Lake with 100 or so loud, drunk, night owls. At least the constant whooping and hollering meant we didn’t have to worry about bears getting into our food bag, which we didn’t hang, until the drunks quieted down around 6 am which was when we got up to start the day. We were both awake at 3 am because of the noise and Scott actually suggested starting our ride. URGH. Sunday morning we headed north again along the Sea to Sky Trail. Armand, of Republic Bikes, had told us that ATVers had punched a trail between the Chance Creek Basin and the Squamish River valley, essentially allowing a circumnavigation of Cloudburst mountain.

We lost some time with route finding. Since much of BC is still being logged, it can be hard to rely on existing maps as the roads change as the logging progresses.

The ATV trail was a disaster. Ankle deep mud in knee deep ruts.

Interspersed between some nice sections of trail.

The view of the Tantalus Range and the far end of the Squamish River valley were amazing. Almost Yosemite type views. Glacial Valley. Granite batholiths.

I spoke with a friend at work, a geotechnical engineer who started his career in forestry. He gave me a run down on logging road construction b/c the road out was STEEP!! Greater than 18% grade in numerous spots and more than 1000 m of pure downhill on loose, rutted, blast rock road. I burned through a set of brake pads this weekend!

Less than 3 weeks before the race and I’m trying to keep my nerves under control. As a bright friend said earlier this spring– trust the training. AGH.
~~~~~~~~~~~
I think we found a mojo for Scott while getting water at Lake Lucille.

I AM IRON MAN

Loving the Chilcotin

Em — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:11:48 +0000

Since I was in the field on Canada Day, we both took last Friday off for another bikepacking attempt. And it was magical.

We saddled up at the bottom of the Hurley forest service road just outside Pemberton and were rolling by 2 pm. The first 5 kms of gentle rolling along the river abruptly change to a steep and loose, but rideable, dirt road climbing 1100 m over 15 kms to Rainbow Pass.

We brake for moose. Especially mommy and baby.

The FSR ends at Gold Bridge about 60 kms from the start. Although we had packed 5 or 6 dehydrated backpacking meals and some ride food, we had counted on being able to hit a convenience store in Gold Bridge for extra calories before heading into The Spruce Lake Protected Area. Except there was no gas station/convenience store, the general store was closed and the only restaurant/pub was closing in 10 minutes. We must have looked hungry as they kindly stayed open late and we chowed on veggie burgers, fries, nanaimo bars and beer. Another 10 kms of riding found us at the Carpenter Lake campground for this night. FINALLY! Successful bikepacking complete with camping! woooooohhhhooooo

Breakfast was rehydrated scrambled tofu from a bag that, curiously, managed to have 118% of the daily recommended cholesterol!! Fuel, maybe not the best fuel, but fuel nonetheless for our trek up to the ALPINE! HORRAY! ALPINE!

Saturday morning we rode up Gun Creek Road, leading to the double track, leading to the single track sweetness of the Spuce Lake Protected Area. All day was a steady climb, broken only by hike-a-bike sections,

failed stream crossings

and by the need to take pictures.

We first turned towards Warner Lake thinking of pitching camp there. There were suggestions that the local fauna was nearby and active.

I chickened out of camping at Warner Lake thanks to the claw marks on that tree. I didn’t know if there were bear proof food caches at the campground, so we rode to the camping at Spruce Lake with its known food caches. Spruce Lake is kind of the central hub for the horse packing and hiking camps and the most popular location for the mountain bikers that take the float plane in and take the trails down. Of course, while making dinner we saw a blond grizzly and her cubs just about 150 m across the lake!

By Sunday my ribs were aching and reminding me of last week’s crash. Fortunately all we had to do was singletrack back to Gold Bridge and then the dirt road back to the car. 100 kms of not too tough riding if the general store was open. If the General Store was closed on Sundays, then we had 100 kms of not too tough riding with a couple of pop tarts, 4-5 packs of ride food and a flask of Hammer gel. Our luck continues as the store was open.

It looked like we were going to have a successful and uneventful bikepacking trip until some shifting trouble led me to notice that I was missing 2 crank bolts and the last 2 were about to come out. Shoot. I was down 50% of the required bolts and looking at spinning the next 75 kms in my smallest ring. Time to break out the triple power mood enhancers. Beastie boys on the new-to-me-craigs-list ipod. Red Bull. Snickers bar. HOOOOOLLLY gollygoodness. I positively floated next to my bike, spinning along at a much higher candence than I prefer (almost a Scottlike cadence) , and it was all just fine. wheeeeeeeee. I wonder if you could pass an NCAA drug test after consuming red bull and snickers?? that was the good stuff!

We finally got back to the car giddy with success. I think we both knew we had experienced a world that was perfect for the two of us. mountains, biking, camping, remote, single track, wild flowers. This is an extraordinary life.