12 days till the ride

We are getting psyched and packed, with 12 days til we start the ride and only 10 days til we fly to Banff.  We are excited about the donations, we are up to 35% of our goal.  So to answer some questions that have popped up from people.  The ride will consist of Jen and I, there is no group of people or support vehicle.  Showers....what showers, we will wash up in water sources and yes take the occasional shower at a campground with shower facilities.  Our goal is to camp and not use any hotels/motels that we come across, though we will stay at the occasional 'bicyclist only' lodging, which is basically a trail angel.  The best way to describe this adventure is think about people who have hiked the appalachian trail, except we are on bikes.  We will be pulling BOB trailers with our bikes, packing as minimally as possible.  We will have a water filter to treat the water we find along the way.  The route is mostly off road on dirt back roads, fire roads, forest service roads and some single track trail, about 10% of it is on pavement.  We plan on stopping in libraries along the way to update our blog, we do not have smart phones.  We will pack up our bikes in bike boxes and take them on the plane with us, there is a $150 fee for bikes.  There is an unofficial race that starts at noon on June 8, no entry fee, no winnings and no support.  We will plan to be at the start to take some vid and pics.  We will post at least one more time before we head to Banff.  Hasta luego. 

3 weeks til departure

Today we did the 64 mile North Shore Tour de Cure ride for the American Diabetes Association; they announced our ride and we were able to hand out some of our cards with our Blog information on it.  The donations are flowing in we are up to $750, which is 27% of our goal!  It is truly awesome how giving people have been, we are very thankful to you all.  The plan is to depart on June 9 from Banff, we feel as though we are on schedule with preparations and training.  What seemed to be surreal has slowly shifted to becoming reality, we are so grateful for this opportunity.  Keep the donations flowing, no amount is too small, it all adds up.  Chow for now.  :~`)

5 Weeks to go...

So obviously we are getting really psyched for this as we are posting with still several weeks to go.  Update on the snow, they have had some warm temps and rain, so the snow is melting, hopefully will be gone or at least almost gone in 5 weeks.  Reports are indicating a faster than average snow melt this year.  We also want to thank those who have donated to the American Diabetes Association using our link, we have received some very generous donations.  Currently we are at 10% of our goal.  Donations can be made from now until some time after we complete the ride in August.  We have begun practicing with the video camera and Jen believes that she is just hilarious, laughing at herself, we will see how funny she is after a looong hot day in the saddle!

Meeting up with Friends and Snow

We are very excited that our friends Jason and Laura are planning on meeting up with us around southern Montana the end of June, which is just Awesome!  We are expecting to take a day off with them to visit Yellowstone, they are planning on camping with us, though they will not be riding.  Another friend will possibly meet up with us in Salida, CO when we arrive there sometime in the middle of July.  As for the snow part, right now there is still a significant amount of snow in Canada as they have had an average to slightly above average snow year.  We are hoping that with rain and warmer temps most, if not all the snow will be gone by the time we start.  We will continue to monitor the snow as it may have an impact on our ride in one way or another.  

If you want to send a message or a comment, click on the word 'comments' below and type away!  

Donation Link

So here we are with about 6 weeks to go.  There have been some questions about the donations and donation link.  The donation is in the right hand column, if you double click on the link it will take you to our team page on the American Diabetes Association website.  Then click on 'Support Doug and Jen' this will take you to where you donate monetary funds.  The minimum you can donate is $5 on the site and you can use credit card or paypal to do so.  Any amount is appreciated.  Thank you.

7 weeks to go.....

Ok folks, 7 weeks from today we begin our divide ride.  Some of you may or may not know that Jen and I have a history with the Great Divide.  It was 5 years ago that Jen and I were invited to join a friend of mine, Keith Cunningham and his friend Nat to tour the divide route.  On the second day Jen crashed her bike, breaking her collarbone and sustaining a concussion.  We took at Greyhound bus over a thousand miles to end up 300ish miles from where we were to spend some time in the Yak, MT. (the greyhound bus trip is another story for another time)  In 10 short days, Jen was ready to ride again and we rode another 900+ miles before circumstances made for our need to exit.  This has never left our minds or hearts, the divide gets into you and you can't get it out, you just have to find someway to appease it and live with it.  Now we are going back for some unfinished business with a strong drive, determination and the will to experience this great ride. 

The Start

We invite you to follow along as we set off on an adventure to raise money for the American Diabetes Association in memory of Jen's dad.  We are looking to raise $2,754, equal to $1/mile per mile.  We will begin our Great Divide Memorial Ride on June 9, 2012.  Hope you will take this journey with us and make a donation to a great cause.  Thank You.  Doug and Jen Wenger

Great Divide Route Info

CANADA TO MEXICO
The Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is our premier off-pavement route, crisscrossing the Continental Divide north to south. This route is defined by the word "remote." Its remoteness equates with spectacular terrain and scenery. The entire route is basically dirt-road and mountain-pass riding every day. In total, it has over 200,000 feet of elevation gain. All of this climbing gets the rider into visually spectacular places and incredibly fit shape.
The Great Divide Route is geographically divided into five regions. The diverse nature of the regions makes for an incredible visual, sometimes spiritual experience. The route offers something different every day -- whether it be riding conditions, scenery, points of interest, or folks along the way. It is a route to be enjoyed for its diversity.
A wide variety of road conditions exists along this route. Surfaces range from pavement, good gravel roads, four-wheel-drive roads, singletrack, or old railroad beds. There is an excellent opportunity to view wildlife such as bear, deer, wild horses, pronghorn antelope, eagles, osprey, sandhill cranes, and other birds and animals. The route is rich in history, with ghost towns, deserted mines, wagon routes, and old Spanish land grants. The route is near or goes through several national parks such as Glacier, Yellowstone, and Grand Teton. Temperatures tend to be chilly at night and cool to warm in the days as you are in mountainous regions most of the way. Wind really isn't a factor along the route because you spend a lot of time in the cover of trees, with the exception of the Great Basin area. Snow, hail, and afternoon thundershowers can be a factor. Getting up and riding early to avoid the afternoon thundershowers is advisable. Medical help is often a long distance off of the route, so riding within your abilities and being aware of dangers is a must. Mosquitoes are a fact of life -- take repellant.
Beginning at the Canadian border and heading south to Helena, Montana, you are in the deep woods and steep mountains near Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. This area is native to grizzly bear, elk, moose, mountain lion, thick woods, and has some difficult climbing. Snow can be found on some of the roads until mid-June, and this region can have very cold, harsh weather until July. Montana is characterized by mountainous riding in tall forests with occasional dips into small towns. It is also noted for its friendly people. The capital city in Montana, Helena, has less than 40,000 people and a nice small-town feel to it. The other big town along the route is Butte, which has a definite blue-collar, mining flavor. Montana also has the toughest downhill on the route -- nicknamed "thermarest hill" for all the thermarests it has eaten. Even the hardiest riders have to walk this one.
From Butte to Pinedale, Wyoming, you'll be riding through wide-open mountain valleys. The vegetation thins out into valleys with many different varieties of sage and high-elevation alpine woods. The route crosses the Continental Divide many times, and the climbing is longer with very steep sections on some of the roads. You'll see many cows. You leave Montana crossing the divide into Idaho. You are only in Idaho for 72 miles and ride along some blue-ribbon fishing streams and an old railroad bed on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. You'll cross into Wyoming between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks on a very scenic road with some great backcountry campsites and a genuine undeveloped hot springs. The route cuts through a corner of the Tetons before heading east up over the divide again and then down the west side of the Wind River Range. The prettiest alpine region on the whole route can be found here. Just south of Pinedale, Wyoming, is a stretch with the worst mosquitos on the entire route but makes for a great character builder. Farther on there's the unforgetable sensation of riding on the crest of the divide for several miles. You then hit an extremely picturesque section of high desert following the Lander cutoff -- part of one of the westward wagon routes. Water is very scarce through here, so carry plenty. After dropping into the twin ghost towns of South Pass and Atlantic City, you will cross the Great Basin -- a place of almost no drinkable water and no trees. Big northwest winds blow across vast open territory marked with wild horses and antelope. Rawlins, Wyoming, marks the end of the desert.
From southern Wyoming to northern New Mexico, you'll be in the Colorado Rockies. The ascents on the route stretch out to long mountainous climbs at elevations starting at 8,000 feet or above. Incredible aspen stands, huge mountains, beautiful alpine meadow flora, historical tourist towns, and a less remote wilderness setting are the characteristics of this state. Expect early evening thunderstorms and cold nighttime temperatures. The highest pass of the route is Indiana Pass, elevation 11,910 feet, in southern Colorado. Soon after crossing it, you get to see firsthand what kind of scars mining can leave on the land as you pass right through a federal Superfund site. Heading into New Mexico, the road surface deteriorates, with much more rocky riding. Here the countryside turns much drier, and water sources can be few and far between. Climbs get shorter and steeper. Geographically this region is as remote as any place in the continental United States. Mesas, cliff lines, volcanic formations, and mountain ranges that seem to pop right out of the desert floor are major visual features of this area. Many different cactus and grass varieties somehow provide habitat for small rodents, snakes, and lizards. Townspeople are right out of Old Mexico, with Spanish spoken more than English. Late-summer monsoon rains turn roads into sloppy, red clay and can fill many of the dry creek beds on the route in seconds. Roads are impassable until they dry out. This area is both historically and anthropologically dominated by the rich Native American and southwestern Spanish culture. Coming down the east side of the Gila Wilderness is a welcome relief, with water once again available as you head into Silver City, New Mexico, a place noted for learning about Anasazi culture with the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument north of town and a good museum at the local university. From there it is a sprint south (mostly on pavement) to the border crossing, which consists of one building on the border and nothing else for miles and miles.
Terrain
With the exception of the Great Basin in Wyoming, you will be either gaining elevation, or descending, for the entire route. The elevations are lower in Montana -- building up to the highest passes in Colorado and then tapering back off in New Mexico. However, some of the toughest climbs are in Montana and New Mexico because of the steepness and the poor road quality. And in New Mexico you'll be carrying extra food and water for the serviceless stretches.
Remoteness Equals Limited Services
The remoteness of this route translates to long stretches of country without basic services, particularly emergency services. All services are minimal at best, except near larger towns, and communication coverage is only about 5 percent of the route. About one third of the overnights are characterized as undeveloped wilderness sites, and most others are Forest Service sites with pit toilets and a water source. Food sources are usually small-town establishments, convenience stores, and campground groceries with limited supplies. Towns are spaced every two to three days along most of the route. They tend to be extremely small and often have limited services. It is necessary to be flexible in what you eat. Showers, flush toilets, drinking water, and laundromats are sometimes widely spaced. It is good to have some back-country camping experience before riding the Great Divide to know how to minimally impact the land. The Great Basin in Wyoming and New Mexico both call for long-mileage days and carrying food and water for several days at a time.