Spot Tracking/Track Leaders Available!

Jay P and Matthew Lee have been working to get Trackleaders tracking for Spot users for the Fitz-Barn!  You can sign up at the below link:

http://trackleaders.com/fitzbarn-checkout

There are two options:

1. You can rent a spot for $50 or
2. If you have your own spot, tracking is $20

Once you pay via paypal, you will get an email asking you to fill out some biographical information.  This final step will allow us to add you to the live sidebar map so all your family and friends can follow your progress.

The One Nighter

All you need is a few hours to have an adventure!

Last Thursday night I had a great night out with some Fitz-Barnriders and was reminded of how you don’t need to go for a multi-day epic to have a local Bike Packing experience.

We left the shop at 7pm and rode gorgeous gravel roads towards Tetonia while the sunset cast a golden light across at the Tetons.  In Tetonia we loaded up on last minute provisions (ie. Beer and Donuts) and turned East on a dirt road that connected us to South Leigh Creek.

Watching the Moon rise directly behind the Grand Teton was a highlight of the ride out to camp. Once at the South Leigh trailhead we laid out mats and bags, told a few stories over tall boys, and drifted off to sleep under a HUGE Moon.

The girls had to get to work early so they rolled out at 4:30am while a couple of us “slept in” until 6am to get back to Victor by 8am.  The morning Sunrise ride along Stateline Rd from Tetonia to Driggs was a great way to start the work day.  If you haven’t ridden that road, put it on your list!

I’m not sure that most local riders truly realize the gravel road riding potential around here, not to mention the one night adventures!

Here’s the ideal gear list for a one night Bike Pack:

• Any sort of Bike but the 29er hardtails handle the rough roads best while loaded down.
• A custom frame bag from Hamilton Threadworks
• A Viscacha seat bag from Revelate Designs
• Sleeping Bag (I’m using a light weight 40 degree bag right now)
• Lightweight Bivy sack (I skipped this knowing the skies were clear)
• Sleeping Pad
• Long under wear top and bottom for sleeping (nice to get the clammy chamois off)
• Hat and gloves
• Thin down jacket
• Headlamp and Bearspray
• PBR and Donuts

With some simple straps you can hang a stuff sack with all your sleeping gear from the handlebar.  Clothes and extra food can go in the seat bag.  Water, emergency fix it stuff, beer, and bear spray in the frame bag.  Of course you’ll find your own system that works way better once you give it a go.

If you don’t want to shell out the dollars for the soft bags, go with a back pack to start with.  It won’t be long before you’re hooked on the journey!

Scott Fitzgerald

GPX Files!

We've been busy compiling GPX files from JP's and Brandon scouting trips and MapMyRide files to get you the complete route.    I've broken the route down into sections of 40 to 70 miles each - mostly because I couldn't download a larger GPX file without complete technological failure.

I am going to share links to the GPX files on MapMyRide.  Once you click on the link for each section, you should be able to download the GPX file on the right side of the page under Map Info.  In order to download the file, you'll need to Log In and/or Register.  It is free to register (although they have paid memberships that allow you to print maps if you want).  I am working on cue sheets this week.

Section 1: Victor to France
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/117970959

Section 2: France to St. Anthony
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/117345427

Section 3: St. Anthony to Dubois
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113788707

Section 4: Dubois to Montana Border
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113791335

Section 5: Montana Border to Bloody Dick Road (yup, that's what's it's called!)
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113792495

Section 6: Bloody Dick to Foothills Road
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113801119

Section 6.2:  Jackson to Foothills Road Reroute
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/123597423

Section 7: Foothills to SH 472
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/113802381

Section 8: SH 472 to Skalkaho Rd
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/119509553
Please note this section was ridden by JayP and I tried to create this route from the large GPS file of his ride.  It therefore may not be exact, but Jay says the cue sheet for this section works just fine.  Unfortunately neither MapMyRide nor Google Maps have this fire road on their system.  I will get all the cue sheets up shortly.

Section 9: Skalkaho Rd to Hamilton
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/119511509
Sections 8 and 9 may not match up perfectly at their respective ending and starting points.

The Whole Thing:
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/117977141
This is the whole route except the section from SH 472 to Skalkaho Road has a straight line section (that's Section 8).

Enjoy!  We can't wait to see all you folks at the start!

More Scouting

Another scouting trip in the bag!  We are trying to get a full GPS track completed of the route with actual ride data so Brandon spent a day and a half on his moto riding the route.  He was able to get much of the route on the GPS and we will be able to download the tracks and make them available in a couple days.  

In addition, he rode some of the sections which we hadn't quite worked out the correct route, namely the section between St. Anthony and Dubois.  As a result of this second trip into the sand dunes north of St. Anthony we have figured out a simpler route (with fewer gates to open and close) to Dubois.   


Brandon said the route was incredibly beautiful and very isolated.  There are very long stretches between towns and resupply points.  While there are streams along the route, many have active cattle grazing, so be prepared either with lots of water or a water purification filter system you trust to handle streams with cows in them.   And smaller towns like Jackson, Montana have quite limited services and stores.   You'll need to plan appropriately.  

Check back in a couple of days for his GPS Tracks!  And we'll try and get an annotated map of the route with some beta on towns, their facilities and water along the route soon.

JayP & TJ's Scouting Trip Report

JayP and TJ did a scouting trip this past weekend.  Here's their trip report (we'll post some pictures later):  

With the creation of Fitz-Barn, I been pouring over maps, doing some recon, and gathering info. Here is what I have to say so far: 

• The route is an amazing diverse set of roads. Flat open terrain, rolling desert feel, mountain forests, dry and arid sections, as well as running water ways make up the landscape equally. 
• Little pavement and lots of gravel road. 
• There seems to be plenty of water on route but not pubic faucets; bring filter of sorts or plan to hump a lot from source to source. The main supply areas will be Dubois, ID and Jackson MT. 
• The first and second half of the route are 2 different animals in resupply as well as terrain challenges. First half being that open flatter type terrain and the second half being that mountain terrain.

This ride can appease the beginner bikepacking cyclist as a multiday tour as much as it can challenge the experienced racer type mentality. I encourage whatever style you enjoy. Do this ride as you want, how you want, it is purely a ride to enjoy. A great FIRST time bike packing route/challenge!

After riding the last ~200 miles this past weekend from Grants to Hamilton I can't wait to get back and do it again. The push from Grants (absolutely no supplies here) to Jackson is about 50 miles with running creek water (excellent fishing) but no water at campgrounds (it was shut off when i was there 6/23). This is where you just start to gain the forest feel. 

From Jackson to Hamilton is about 150 miles and a healthy push. Again, plenty of running water in creeks, streams, and springs but no public water sources. Thinking East Fork Guard Station off East Fork Road might have something but I did not go off route to find out, it is just a few miles out of the way. Hopefully we will find this out, we hit the rancher up on route.

When Chad, from Red Barn, said the last 24 miles are downhill it is not what I would tell people or what you should get in your head. Although there is a drastic drop in elevation at the end and a few paved miles going to the Red Barn door.

Thats what I have for now, more to come...

Jay P's pre-ride photos

Jay P did a little scouting this weekend....  check out his photos:

The Last Section!

Scott has been busy with Map My Ride again and he's got the last section mapped.   Check it out here:  http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/102798089

Scott told me there are a few straight line sections because the software didn't have the trails and roads on their system - this will make these sections a bit longer than the simple connect the dots Scott did.  He thinks the ride will be about 384 miles total.