CTR: A journey of subtle and not so subtle mistakes

Day 1: August 1, 2011

Mistake 1: Going on 5 hours of sleep Dan drives me to the starting line. Why so little sleep? We were up late trying to figure out how to work my tarp, headlamp, and how to pack it all.

Mistake 2: Two Donuts for breakfast.

Mistake 3: No electrolyte replacement drink.

  Starting line jitters disappear into singletrack.   It's a solid line of riders and bit of polite stop and go- everyone knows it's going to be a long trip. I find the unmarked road detour with a bit of help from Sonya Looney (who I'm terrified to be riding with at this point). I race the rain into Bailey and manage to wait most of it out in the "knotty pine" over a hot dog and coke (don't ask- it sounded good at the time). The climb up 285 is scary due to traffic and a group of us relax at the trailhead. Food is still not sitting well. Kenosha pass and Georgia pass mostly rideable and fun. I summit Georgia pass just as it gets dark, layer up and turn on my light. Time for the first night ride of my life (that would be Mistake 4).  I descend just far enough to find a flat spot. A piece of trail cut off by a fallen tree will do.  I quickly set up camp in the dark and hang my bags on tree branches 100 ft. down the trail.  Not exactly what they mean by "hanging your food" but I'm nauseous and just want to sleep.  This way I figure at least if a bear decides to get into my food, it won't be right in my face.  I lay down only to wake up 30 minutes later to scramble out of my bag and vomit. Auspicious start.