Steve's Waypoint

Steve is going to be riding through different types of terrain; steep mountains, flat meadows and through the desert. He will face many obstacles.

He will try to avoid
cactus needles.

He is trying to help
DDD patients avoid
dialysis needles.

June 19, 2009: Last night Steve got lost! A new logging road, and tracks from other riders threw him off and he ended up off trail. Fatigued from a day of intense climbs he decided to pitch his tent and wait until daylight. At 8000 feet, and in the snow, he shivered all night until he fell asleep for three hours. When he made it Basin in the morning he met up with Jeff Kerby and the two found comfort in the fact that they both were lost in the same area. Check out Jeff's call on the Tour Divide blogs! (Lore)
June 18, 2009: Steve featured in Outside Magazine blog. http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2009/06/tour-divide-race-day-5-griz-and-methane.html#comments
June 17, 2009: Steve said Richmond Peak was a tough climb and it was snow covered because the trail does not get direct sunlight. He was able to climb it and get off before thunderstorms last night. Wednesday will be a tough day because he crosses the divide three times and there will be a lot of climbs. This is funny - he told me that the night he slept in the outhouse he dreamt that bears were knocking on the door. Goldilocks says he'd like to get out of bear country so he can get rid of his big can of bear spray. (Lore)
June 16, 2009: Steve called and said he crawled inside an outhous... Steve called and said he crawled inside an outhouse to get out of a thunderstorm Sunday night. He slept in there and said it was heaven! He could feel the warmth from the waste percolating below. His other option was a bear cage that dangles from a tree provided by the National Parks due to this area having the highest density of bears. Monday night he got a hotel and was happy to take a hot bath. He says he is feeling good! (Lore)
June 15, 2009:Steve said Saturday was brutal. He said it was a "bike pull" up steep inclines through eroded trail and water, "I'd climb and then reach to pull my bike up...over and over!" He found himself without food and hungry for several hours. "It was a miracle. I came upon a family opening their cabin and they grilled me a hamburger." They told him about a place to stop and rest where he wouldn't be bothered by bears. Today he is stocking up on sandwiches to take with him. "I gotta keep moving," he said. (Lore)
June 14,2009: Picture from where Steve spent the night. Sent in by Liz Voss. (right)
June 13, 2009: Steve called Saturday morning. Thunderstorms all day Friday. He slept a few hours under the eaves of a building. He came upon a grizzly. He was riding too fast to stop and just rode past the bear. He said if he were ever going to see a sasquatch this would be the time. A side note: It looked like Brunello Godio was trying to head off the lead riders by going off trail down a riverbed. It appears he got lost in the wilderness, backtracked and ended up where he started, and camped for the night. (Lore)

June 12, 2009: And he's off! I talked with Steve an hour before the start this morning. He said he slept well and he is getting acclimated to the altitude. "I'm ready to do this!"He bought a new can of bear spray yesterday. He shared that the people in Banff are talking about the latest bear attack on a man. The man's 70 year old father charged the bear with his cane and scared it off.He told me they will cross over an area covered by snow from a recent avalanche today. The riders talked about the surprise snow storm they encountered in Montana two years ago when they were without gloves or any winter gear. "We thought we were going to die on that mountain!" They agreed it was best to take as much winter gear as possible and get rid of it after Montana. (posted by Lore)

June 11, 2009: Steve called in to say its beautiful in Banff, but he is bored and ready to ride! The pre-event BBQ was fun. Race starts in the morning about 9:40am so watch his dot from the leaderboard.

June 10, 2009: Steve tries out the mountain biking and spot tracker. All is well. You should be able to follow where he has ridden on the link from the welcome page

June 9, 2009 Steve left for Banff. Read today's Iowa City Press Citizen article on Steve.
http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20090609/NEWS01/906090312/1079