Bikepacking on the AZT Two trips accross the state of Arizona. One AZT 300

[AZTtripper]

This thread http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,607.0.html got me thinking about the AZT trips that I have done.

The 2004 trip starts with the official AZT a 3.5 mile out and back hike to the border fence I was accompanied by my wife and her parents.

In 06 I rode out to the border using 4x4 roads and then back up to the main road to continue on to join back in with the AZT after it comes out of the Miller Peak Wilderness.

[AZTtripper]

The first legal single track is a bit out of the way the racers will skip this part and head directly to the Parker Lake TH and join in with the AZT300 course.

[AZTtripper]

The first full passage legally open to bikes is Canello Hills east combined with the Canello's west there is about 30 miles mostly single track with some 4x4 roads on the way to Patagonia.

In 2007 six riders lined up for the AZT300 race from left to right Zach MacDonald, Scott Morris, Lee Blackwell, Tim McCabe, Chad Brown, Gavin Krusor.

The Canello's were brutal on the 70 pound bike I did a lot better in 06 when the bike only weighed in around 40. In 04 I saw a group of trail workers building new single track. Zach, Scott, Lee and I all road this part together in 07.

[ScottM]

Nice, Tim.  Cool to see some pics from your '04 trip.  Cycling on the AZT has a rich and diverse history, much like the trail itself.

[jonesy792]

Sweet pics, I like seeing the progression of your setup over 2 years

[AZTtripper]

Ya it's been fun going through all of the pics I decided to throw in the 07 stuff too that was the only way I had pics from Elephant Head.

At Patagonia the 300 course diverges from the main AZT to bypass the Mnt Wrightson Wilderness. As Lee Blackwell once said to me "there is more then one way to skin a cat" and there are many ways to put the AZT together as a bike route.

In 04 I chose to head north on the main highway through Sonoita and out to Garner Canyon this is the quickest way back on to the trail. For the 06 trip I wanted to stick with the official AZT and chose to portage the Wilderness. I did not consider this poaching as the bike was in pieces the whole time, this was a good way to test my carry system for the canyon. The 4 miles on over grown trail was more of a pain then doing 7 miles a day in the canyon.

The only downside to the 300 course Elephant Head detour is that you miss Kentucky Camp. From a pure riding perspective Elephant is more challenging, interesting, keeps us on the bikes the whole time. From a historic, scenic, sticking to the "true trail" point of view the whole Flume Trail and K Camp are not to be missed. http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/heritage/kcamp/kcamp_rentals.shtml

[AZTtripper]

I guess I maxed this thing out for pics.

[ScottM]

I guess I maxed this thing out for pics.

You should be able to do 5 per post for as long as you want.  Are you getting an error message?

[AZTtripper]

Yes I get an error message. The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator.

[ScottM]

I upped the space available for uploads.  You should be able to post more photos now.  Sorry about that.  Didn't realize there was an overall size limit.

[AZTtripper]

Cool thanks Scott

On we go. The 300 course and the AZT come back together at Box canyon road heading north to Oak Tree canyon. Up until 08 that was the end of the ST for a ways riders this year will get to ride dirt all the way to Tucson no more riding on hwy 83 (you still have to cross it). In 06 I found my way via immigrant trails and a wash, to Rosemont junction west of where the trail crosses now. Then jeep roads and fence jumping to get into Corona De Tucson. The first new trail in 06 was on the east side of 83 at Sahuarita road heading on into Colossal Cave. I didn't know about any of this trail in 04 not that there was much, but I got to ride a lot of it in 06. Scott was at a trail work event the day I rolled through and he rode back into town with me.

[AZTtripper]

Tucson to Oracle Reddington and the Catalina's. For the 04 trip all I knew was the Bellota ranch route from the pond and on to Molino I ended up doing this as a day ride though I had all of the gear still loaded up. I ended up riding Prison camp as a loop up the highway and down the trail then down the highway and home.

In 06 Scott and I stopped in about the same spot as I had in 04 (see first two pics) we dropped to Italian Trap same as the 300 that year. We met a shuttle rider on Prison camp that day he was surprised we were riding up it. Scott told him that was the way I had to go that way since I had come from Mexico .

In 04 my wife Janine dropped me off at the top or Mount Lemon the road was under construction and closed to bikes. I got to do all of the Oracle Ridge trail "traverse of death" and all after the fire some of it was still pretty good other parts were covered in scree no trail at all.

We missed all of the upper stuff in 06 too much snow I did pick up the Cody trail in the morning thou as I had missed it in 04.

[AZTtripper]

Oracle to the Boulders. The boulders were at a dead end in the trail back in 04 I had a commitment back in Tucson and after camping near the end of the trail I head out for Superior (I had a pick up planned) back tracking the trail and then dirt roads and highways passing through Kearney to get there.

Back on my own in 06 I went passed the boulders and up and over Ripsey Hill and into Kearney for a resupply as I was out of tubes. While I am hanging out eating a cone at the local ice cream place I hear the classic line "well what did you expect you got a 16 year old girl living with an 18 year old boy, of course shes pregnant".

[AZTtripper]

Tucson to the Gila, the Box a Fox and the Picket Post Trail Head.

After taking care of some things in Tucson the 04 trip started over again with my first full century on the bike a 50/50. Leaving home it was right at 50 miles when I left pavement north of Oracle junction and headed north east to pick up dirt roads to the Gila river. I stopped and made camp right at 100.3 miles for the day.

In 06 I was coming from Kearney I got a late start but was pushing to try to get to Picket Post to meet up with an REI work event. At about 10 pm I was dropping into Alamo canyon and had had enough time to bed down. I made camp at the first flat ground I came to. Several hours latter I was awoken by some noise. The next thing I know there is a fox attached to the foot of my bag and I am screaming my head off and giving him the ride of his life. I catch glimpses of him as I fling my feet over my head, once twice three times, finally he rips through the bag. And takes off with my long underwear (it was bundled up at my feet in the bag) and runs around a bush. I did get them back but lost a sandal and ankle guard (made by Fox so it was fitting) he had scattered my shoes and socks. The crazy little thing came back and danced at my feet for awhile until I threw my helmet at it. That broke my light off (I was carrying my helmet around as a light source) once I collected the light the little guy was belly up. I thought better of scratching his belly picked up my shit and went and slept in the parking lot with the REI people.

[AZTtripper]

I woke up to in the parking lot with down swirling around me, the REI folks fed me breakfast and wished me luck. I had to ride into Phoenix and get to the REI of all places, picked up a new bag, sandals, and a headlamp to replace the one I broke. Luckily I have a friend who lives at the base of South Mountain not far from the REI I went to his place to unload the extra gear.

From Picket Post to Roosevelt Lake the AZT is Wilderness first the Sups, then Four Peaks. The Paved and dirt road The Apache Trail is really the only reasonable way to go, though I would like to do Scott and Lee's bushwhack around the eastern Superstitions someday.

[AZTtripper]

Climbing the El Oso road, traversing the Mazatzal ridge and dropping into Sunflower was great in 04. My rear rack broke but that had nothing to do with the trail. There was a fire in the summer of 05 and by the spring of 06 the trail was destroyed. Unfortunately it's still not worth doing hopefully some time in the future it get fixed up again.

[AZTtripper]

I ended up riding from Sunflower to Payson on the Beeline highway on both trips. In 04 I need to fix the rear rack (wire and epoxy from the Napa store) before continuing on to rejoin the trail in Pine. On the 06 trip I bailed out to Payson after being thrashed by brush all day, realizing I was low on food and needing to meet Janine for the weekend in Payson I hit the highway. Not wanting to miss this section a second time I decided to let Janine drive me back to Sunflower as it was on the way. It is too bad there is no way to get over to the great trail north of Sunflower.

[AZTtripper]

With the AZT up in the Mazatzals there is a big detour the next chance at official trail is just south of Pine. After riding the highway in 04 it was nice to have a back road route, Scott got it from a friend in Payson I ended up riding that way twice. There is still some pavement but not bad with the big shoulder. After Payson more local beta for a good route on mostly dirt roads to rejoin the AZT about as close to the Wilderness as reasonable.   

[AZTtripper]

At the Pine Trail Head the AZT uses the historic Highline Trail. Gps calls it 14 plus I remember it being more according to signs. Up and down, up and down repeat. In 04 with the heavy bike on heavily overgrown trail along with numerous down trees. It took two days to get from the trail head at Pine to Washington Park, oh and the rear rack broke again along the way. All there was left to do was hike a bike straight up to the Mogollon Rim. The final .3 miles is super steep pushing the 70 lbs pig felt like 5.9 rock climbing. Once you gain the rim its like a whole new world.

[AZTtripper]

The AZT only uses part of the Highline Trail originally built for mules used to connect settlements below the rim. In the spring of 05 Scott and Lee got to enjoy it like I did in 04 by the time I got there in 06 there had been two fires in the area and the FS had done a lot of work on it. That and the lighter set up made things a lot easier.