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

[AZTtripper]

Gaining the Rim is a hump at the end it's the steepest part of the whole AZT. This is the Colonel Devin Trail. Sometime in the 1800 Colonel Devin and his whole command were the first white men to drop off of the Mogollon Rim. At Least that's the way I heard it from a segment hiker I met the day before. They were a group of four retiree's hiking from Washington Park to Pine TH going light. It was their last segment to do the whole thing, they had seen my tire tracks on the Mazatzal ridge dropping into Sunflower just a couple of days earlier.

[AZTtripper]

Above the rim is a whole new world out of the desert and into the woods. Things get a lot more ride able as well. In 04 I had a broken rear rack swinging around behind me and missed a few sections of trail on the way to Flagstaff, stopping off in Mormon lake to order a Bob trailer delivered into Flag.

In 06 I rode all of the track Scott gave me pre trip but I think I missed a little bit of the official AZT, out in the middle lands, around Happy Jack. Lots of great riding in this area great ST and miles go by a lot quicker all the way to Flag.

[AZTtripper]

Leaving Flagstaff Rounding the Peaks. Loaded up with grub in the bob trailer I was able to clean most of the Lower Oldham Trail out of Buffalo Park. Back then the AZT took a beeline up the Brookbank trail to Shultz Pass and then up some more climbing on the Weatherford Trail. Detours around Wilderness take me around the peaks.

Things go a lot faster in 06, but the AZT has for some odd reason been rerouted onto the more tech Rocky Ridge trail and goes out of the way before climbing back up to Shultz and Weatherford crazy! Actually further reroutes will eliminate the Weaherford completely in favor of a lower all bike legal route. I do the climb just for fun and nostalgia and pick up a better detour around the wilderness.  

[AZTtripper]

After rounding the peaks it's out to the vastness of the Babbit ranch. Lots of roads mostly two track out into a Kansas like landscape. Eventually the AZT becomes ST again on the way to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

[AZTtripper]

For the 04 trip there was really no choice but to ride the roads around the canyon. I didn't even look into carrying through. The 215 miles of pavement was a pain much better to take the bike apart and carry through. 3 days in the canyon 7 miles a day wasn't that bad it was easy to get into Phantom Ranch getting fed was nice too. As long as the North Rim is closed there isn't much traffic to Cottonwood Camp so that was easy to get as well. There is free camping on the North Rim if you get there before opening day (May 15 most years) the spot they give you is a group site right on the rim can't be beat.

[wookieone]

Holy smoke Tim, this is the best thread, awesome info greart pictures, thnaks for sharing...Jefe

[jonesy792]

I like the use of a sling to carry the bike, it seems a lot simpler than strapping it to your pack.  How did it carry?

[AZTtripper]

Jefe Thanks and your welcome it has been fun going over it all again, I thought it would be a great primer to Scott's Race.

Jonesy, yes the bike carried well that way, lower center of gravity I was also able to pad the straps out with extra cloths and keep some weight off of the pack straps. They still ended up digging in though.

[AZTtripper]

After the canyon heading north to Jacob Lake we do get to ride trail on the north rim they let us on even before the south. But the good ST doesn't last long and then it's mostly utility line better then pavement though.

I got to ride all of the trail outside of the park in 04 just one snow patch I did have to do some pavement to get it though as the part in the park didn't quite connect yet.

By 06 the connection was made but there was so much snow I didn't get to ride it. The riding was fun at first until the snow got soft I tried to hike the road/trail to the park gate but it was just too wet. I hit the highway and was glad I did based on all of the snow I saw. Also this section still has a closure due to a fire.

[AZTtripper]

It's not all down hill but it sure goes by quick sweeping switchbacks stunning views for the middle of nowhere the state line is a great place.

From Jacob Lake down the trail is pretty sweet the big flat section is real bumpy from cattle or elk walking when it's wet and leaving pot holes. I got to ride this whole section both years. It went fast even with the Bob, I actually went down on the 06 trip the trail is so easy and the views so good I wasn't paying attention and had the front end wash out on me.

[OurManInTheNorth]

great write up, fab pics, really gives a flavour of a whole states worth of riding!

[AZTtripper]

Thanks, Arizona is a great place and an AZT thru trip is a great way to experience it.

[YuriB]

Wow, Tim - great post! It's like a trip down memory lane. It's amazing, or maybe not, how I have many photos of the exact same spots.

[LyndaW]

Tim,

Super fine pics and story. Makes me wanna do the 750 next year 

You sure have covered a lot of terrain on your bike!

Lynda

[AZTtripper]

Thanks Lynda compared to you guys I am like a tortoise out there.

This thread is pretty old and outdated tho. For that year it covered the course, now so much has changed.

It would be great to see you do the 750.
 

[tanman1337]

So biggest question Tim, if you had to hike the canyon again, would you still sling the bike like you did or put it on a frame?

[AZTtripper]

So biggest question Tim, if you had to hike the canyon again, would you still sling the bike like you did or put it on a frame?

Sure I was pretty happy with the whole carry system. The first time I used it was for the Santa Rita Wilderness, not fully legit and I left that out of this post, and it worked great. That was only 4 miles for the Rita's but very overgrown and a more of a pain then 7 miles in the Canyon. At least the trails in the Canyon are wide and well maintained.

Oh the frame part I assume you mean a frame type backpack. Never used one not sure how they would work, sounds reasonable tho, I have heard of that as a mail in option.

I should think that any large internal or external frame pack that's made for 50 pound loads would be fine. Certainly better then the Camel Bak that I used with just the wheels added. Pretty sure Scott and Lee had the Osprey packs with the light frame when they did their 05 carry.

Its funny to me, how non bikepackers make such a big deal out of it. Back in the day I had to carry a 100 pound wall pig off of El Cap. Any one going into the Canyon to do a major rock climb is carrying way more then a bikepacker.

Not that I think either is easy! Just that both are equally difficult one is just newer. And the bike makes it very obvious. Ropes and gear hideaway.

The thing for me on the tour there was no rush and I took the 3 days. So far only Max Morris has taken 2 days during the race, and he lost a day to waiting on a permit. If your willing to ignore the stigma of being considered slow planning for 3 days makes it very doable. Especially when taken in the context of the 750.

Again going by my 06 trip for me the 21 miles of the Canyon wasn't the hardest part. It's the 18 miles of Highline and the climb out at the end.

[tanman1337]

While we are on the subject, when you hike the canyon do you need any permit if it does take you more than 1 day?

[AZTtripper]

While we are on the subject, when you hike the canyon do you need any permit if it does take you more than 1 day?

Yes!!!

Stopping long enough to sleep is considered camping and you are supposed to have a permit for that.

Or did you mean doesn't take more then a day, if you hike it thru in a day you're fine with out one.

If you need a permit you have to go to the Back Country ranger office. It's quite a ways west of Yaki Point over by the train depot. I was able to get a Cottonwood permit not for that night but the next, Max had the same issue. I had already been to the Phantom Ranch desk at the main lodge and had a bunk and meals reserved. Max spent the extra night resting and camped for free at Mather Camp Ground in a walk in bike in site.

Max did the Canyon in two days by going 14 miles to Cottonwood the first day and then 7 up and out the second. Phantom is basically 7 as well so three reasonable days is possible.

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