2 Epic

One real sadistic character must have put that loop together. It is far more challenging than the Grand Loop in many ways. It’s a good thing the terrain is so engaging – it really is a gorgeous route.

According to my GPS:

49 hours moving time
320 miles
47,000′ vert
Elapsed time 3 days 9 hours 55 minutes

Other random facts:

Starting calories: 9,000
Estimated calories of Harold’s place breakfast: 2,500 (bad idea!)
Dave Kirk sightings: 2
Mechanical issues: 0
Number of downed trees hurdled: > 1,000,000
Favorite segment: 5. In my eye it’s the jewel of the 311.
Method to draw out sleeping hotel owners: do laps in their parking lot with your lights on.

More creative details as soon as the hands and brain are willing…

Here is my Dixie Lite race report: I rode 172 miles, 1 day 13 hours and 32 minutes, smiled almost the whole way, took 99 photos, ate a burger each day and had a splendiferous time out in the Southern Utah jungle.

Here is my race report in slide show format:

172.44 miles with 21,000 feet of climbing is what I had on the gps at the finish.

I took 99 photos during the race. Here is the only start picture I have of all five of the Dixie-Liter’s starting at 8:10 am on Saturday morning. My bike is lying on the ground so I am sorta in the pic.

Taylor Lideen, Steve Cook, Fred Wilkinson, Adam Lisonbee and me, aka Lynda Wallenfels.

I finished at 9:42pm on Sunday evening putting my race time at 1:13:32 = 1 day, 13 hours and 32 mins. I must have been last as when I got to the parking lot the only car left there was Dave’s and he is out on the Dixie 311. I was first too tho – 1st place woman ;-) and I was a big winner too cause I had a fab time out there. Big blog post to come from me later with maybe 97 photos in it. Luckily only 3 have me in and only 1 was a self portrait shot at the end which I am too vain to post – eek!

Steve Cook, 3:10pm Sunday, 1:07:09

Adam Lisonbee, 7:08pm Sunday, 1:10:58

Fred Wilkinson, 7:18pm Sunday, 1:11:08

Lynda Wallenfels, 9:42pm Sunday, 1:13:32

David Jones stopped at mile 126 in Panguitch Lake

Taylor DNF

Dixie 311 results to come later – all those guys are still out there. Looks like Dave Harris is sitting near Circleville waiting for the store to open on Monday morning.

Waypoint files are now part of the GPX zip file download for the 311 and/or the D-lite.  If you’ve already downloaded the files but have no waypoints give it one more shot – they are there now.

Other resources you may be interested in:

A 311/D-lite route comparison with proximity to services

Cuesheet for the 311 NOTE:  you will still need a GPS to navigate this route.

311 route and waypoints map is complete

<geek alert on>

Any of the files that you view on the maps at http://2-epic.com/maps/311map.html can also be viewed in Google Earth.  To grab a file, note the link address.  The filename is sandwiched between the “?” and “&” symbols, so the data file for the 311 map at http://2-epic.com/maps/311map.html?dixie311-2010.kml&index=0 is dixie311-2010.kml, and that file resides in the http://2-epic.com/maps/ folder.  To access the file, put it all together for http://2-epic.com/maps/dixie311-2010.kml and do a right click/save link as or save the ugly looking text file your browser dumped at you as file with a .kml extenstion and open in Google Earth.  Simple, eh?

There is so much you can do with Google Earth – it’s connected to most everything.  If you have the ability it’s worth the small effort.

On the flip side, if you can point to a .kml file or a .gpx file on the web, you can load in the map by constructing a URL for it.  For example, here is a link to the map loaded with the CTR file from http://www.bikepacking.net/routes/colorado-trail/ loaded:  http://2-epic.com/maps/311map.html?map=http://www.climbingdreams.net/ctr/CTR2008.gpx&index=1

This might be useful for the last few holdouts that don’t have Google Earth or TopoFusion, but be forewarned – tracks may be simplified so that your browser doesn’t grind your machine to a halt.

<geek alert off>

Alright then.  Whew.

Time to ride!

Short version: the Dixie 311 will start 8AM on Saturday, June 26 at the same time and place as the Dixie Lite. This is 24 hours later than originally scheduled.

Long version: the primary reason for this change is the resupply option in Circleville. There is but one market, and it is closed on Sundays. I learned this last weekend – on a Sunday of course ;) There is also a gas station, restaurant, and a campground store that are open on Sundays, but the supplies are extremely limited. We will all want to have access to the market/general store as it is essentially the last resupply of the race and right before the most demanding section.

From a timing standpoint, I don’t think anyone will be able to hit the store on Sat before it closes. 200+ miles of rough terrain will make that a superhuman effort. But, the front leaders will almost certainly hit the store on Sunday…hence the switch to a Saturday start.

As a bonus all Dixie riders get to start together (311 and DLite). The routes are identical for the first 80 miles or so and rejoin for a short bit on the N end of the Paunsaugunt.

Dixie-311 Segment 4 West Hunt Creek Trail

Is a lot cleaner than it was on Friday. Click on the below pic to see DH get his action on and a panorama of West Hunt Creek Trail.

The trail goes this way.

Dave wasn’t dropping me today ;-)

AND I didn’t have to pick up and lift my bike over any deadfall on the trail. Hucking my bike over trees makes me tired. I think Dave should pack his chainsaw on all our exploratory rides from now on. I like it :-)

The Ergon BC3 pack gets it done. Beastly!

Ready for a weekend in Dixie!

From May 2010

I’ve really been looking forward to laying some tracks on segment 4 of the Dixie route.  I had planned to do it next weekend but it worked out best over Memorial weekend.  This area is rough, rugged, remote…unbelievable though is the quantity of rideable trail, something I honesty didn’t expect to find.

It starts up Casto Canyon, ATV track giving way to singletrack, gently gaining elevation amonst killer views.

There’s a hidden/unmarked trail veering N called the Hancock trail.  It ascends to well over 9k and is nearly all rideable!

Then it gets interesting…

There is no trail that I could see for the next ~1/2 mile. Riding an open ridge is the scenic way to go.

With some scouting about I found the trail that descends to West Hunt creek, yet more sweet trail.

New carsonite signs, let’s hope this means the NFS has blowdown clearing trail maintenance on the books – cause there is plenty of that.

Up towards Adam’s Head the route goes.

Most of the world comes into view at one point or another on the way up to the top of the Seviers. TU riders will recognize this landmark.

The area around Adam’s head ain’t easy. Damn hard actually and I’m still feeling the effects. There is some HAB, and some tree hopping involved. Truth be told, by the time I hit a jeep trail segment I was darn ready for it. At about 10,200′ I finally got into some deep snow. Luckily it was early enough in the day it was still frozen – and rideable! No pugs required.

There was less than 2 miles of that before heading off the edge of the plateau down the Snowbank Trail (yes, appropriately named).

Segment 4 is difficult and remote. It stands as mapped. I will encourage any 311 riders to opt to stick to the Fremont trail (really nice ATV route with zero hike a bike) instead of bailing if this stage seems over the top at this stage of the game. If the NFS or me and some volunteers (ahem!) can get up there with chainsaws prior to the event it will be much more enjoyable.

The other piece I wanted to get a read on was the climb out of Circleville (hello Chad, this is for you). I mapped it to go right up the Piute ATV trail. Well, I’ve had a few close calls with motos out there so the thought of having riders push their bikes up a steep canyon while motos come ripping down didn’t sit right, so I found another way. It’s in the map below. It’s still challenging, but all rideable. You may need to take rest stops though, it’s a long ways to climb from Circleville to the Tushars…I’m trying to make that 5k’ ascent as direct and rideable as possible.

More pics here in geotagged format