By now, most NW riders are aware of the amount of trail sabotage that takes place at some of the rides. There has been much talk about trying to do rides “XP” style where the tracks are loaded into riders’ GPS units and they follow the tracks. While this sounds like a great idea in theory, it does limit how fast a rider can move since they have to keep a close eye on their track to stay on trail. As far as I know there still isn’t a GPS that will go all Tom Tom on us and let us know verbally that we have a “Right turn in 1/4 mile”!
Enter modern innovation! Last season Sue and Dennis Summers tried out a new system of marking trail and following trail at their Scottsdale 100 ride. They had a considerable amount of trail sabotage, but with this app, they were able to talk some of the riders back on course and secure their completions! What is this amazing app, you ask? I’m going to tell you. Then I’m going to suggest you go to your Google Play Store, or your iTunes and load up this free app prior to coming to the Grizzly Mtn Ride.
On Friday, April 20, Sue Summers will be conducting a clinic where she will help riders load the maps up onto their smart phone or their GPS unit. She did this “class” at the recent EDRA Conference and there were lots of us attendees oooo’ing and ahhhhh’ing over this amazing new “toy”! Even those of us less handy with all things electronic were able to figure out the interface and find their way around the little track that Sue loaded up for everyone. A few of us opted for the $20/year membership to have access to more options on the app.
I have added a tab to the Grizzly Mtn Ride page with instructions on how to load up the GAIA GPS app to your smartphone. I’ll also be creating a link to the Warner Loop, which is a popular Central Oregon trail for trail riders all year long. Your assignment will be to load the app, download the Warner Loop and see what you see.
Grizzly Mtn – Gaia GPS app info
SO…on to the trails we’ll be using!
Sat down and gave our loops a hard look online. Kind of liking to switch things up a little bit to keep it interesting!
Max has been out riding our loops to make sure our mileage is correct. I’m still recovering from lower back surgery, which seems to have been successful! I have a hard time “staying down”, but I’m following the rules best I can.
This year we are having a 26 mile ride as our shorter distance. This will be a single loop with an out vet check somewhere around 14 miles. The outcheck will be a 45 minute hold for the short distance riders. You’ll be on what we call the Rimrock Loop.
The 50 milers will be doing the same Rimrock Loop, then the newly named Scales Loop, and finishing off on the Tribby Loop.
We’ve added in the Warner Loop for the 75 milers, and the Test Your Mettle Relay riders will be riding the Warner Loop, then the Scales Loop, and they’ll finish off on the Tribby Loop.
Where are all these loops you ask? No worries there, I will be posting the loops in a format you can download into your new (!) Gaia GPS app!
I’ll be making a separate post with maps, mileages, holds and ribbon colors.
See ya there! As always, if you have questions, get in touch with me. If I don’t answer right away, give me a nudge. I’m not so good at multi tasking!
Darlene
Grizzly Mtn Ride 