Great Divide Canada Map B road closure June 2014

[CMajernik]

At mi. 5.9, in June 2013, the Fording River Mining Road was washed out in a key cliffside section. It was taken out by the flooded Fording River. From reports, it has not yet been fixed. The road is maintained in a partnership by Teck Mining Co. and Tembec Timber (recently sold to Canfor). We do not know when the road will be repaired. Late last summer a few riders were able to ford the river to bypass the slide, but early season 2014 riders will not be able to do this safely. Use Prov. Hwy 43 into Sparwood as an alternate. It has a decent shoulder.

[randyfay]

Do *not* try to go this way. We talked to one Tour Divide racer (July 2014) who didn't read the addenda or "didn't get the email" and spent 4.5 hours hanging above the river before getting across. It was not a pleasant or reasonable experience. Apparently Tour Divide has a workaround for that section, but nobody needs to endanger themselves above a running river, and if you're not racing, just use the easy highway route.

[Nicolai Michel]

On July 25, we were able to get around the washout by walking the bikes along the edge of the river. This requires getting feet wet, and it's a major hassle to get back up to the road (southbound.) Risk of rockfall, so keep helmets on.

[RadioFlyer]

Do you think the great divide will be do-able if I attempt it starting early September? Thanks and good luck!

[randyfay]

Kind of off topic, but you could start from the south then and go north until you froze, probably in Colorado or Wyoming. The introductory  chapters of Mike McCoy's book have suggestions about seasons to ride, and the maps show average temperatures and rainfall in related areas. Both will help you.

[BillBekay]

In online reports from gdmbr cyclists, I see that people are still taking this route. Even this year (2024). The road is still completely obliterated. People are trying to cross the washout over the rocks (boulders) right along the Fording River. Via Google Satellite one can see that a bypass has been made, it starts 400 FT before the washout, on the right side of the road up, there is an 18% climb in it (southbound).