Where are you getting the Mac and Cheese from? Sounds like a good meal.

For me it's not just how much, but what  can I stand to eat on the 4th day. Even my friend who is 145 at best struggled on his first 4 day ride. Somethings might work great for a 1 day race or long ride but when you have to eat that same thing on day four when nothing taste good. The Mac and Cheese sounds like something that might still taste good especially with a hot sauce packet and salami.

Most of the course laid out in the AL book is on roads that are on the Gazetteer style maps. These are large format books. I usually just take photo copies of the pages I need. http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=Gazetteer+Maps&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=TI9&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&biw=1024&bih=578&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=15792894947525595296&sa=X&ei=tJVvTcq3L4f0tgPRvv3XCw&ved=0CGoQ8wIwBA# These are available for every state but I see they are $16 a pop not sure that is the most economical way to go but they are good maps for the most part.

Have you decided on a starting point AZ or NM.

I got to thinking about your post and came up with what I think would be the best route from Mexico to Tucson. Thinking of the most direct least traveled roads and getting you to the most fun least hike a bike, scenic trails, and staying off of the narrow winding section of road north of Sonoita.



A lot but not all of this is covered on the Green route of the AZT page some of it is a newer route not posted yet. Also I skipped Patagonia just because it's out of the way and then busy highway with no single track reword for the extra effort. If you want the GPX track and beta just shoot me a pm with an email address.

No single track but some amazing scenery, The Dusy Ershim Jeep Trail. East of Fresno I was up there rock climbing and just did a little bit of riding. Great place to take a fishing pole.

Regarding the Dusy Ershim Jeep trail
I rode this trail about 15 years ago as a three day loop.  When we went in to get camping permits the lady ranger said you can't ride a bike on that jeep trail.  Well we did and walked only a few very steep sections, we may have been the first Mtn bikers to bikepack the complete Dusy Ershim Jeep trail.      mtntraveler

Sounds like a great trip. When I was there in 2000 there was a group of guys 3 moto bikes, one quad, and an older 3 wheeler with tiny flat track tires on the back. They were doing a two day trip from Courtright Reservoir north, I wasn't bike backing so no gear but I was traveling faster then they were. It was pretty hilarious me on a peddle bike waiting for the motor riders. I went back to camp and then took off after them in the morning I though sure I could catch them but once you get up in the high country and the road gets easier they were gone. I met some jeepers who said the moto group had broken one of their chains and were having to share one chain between two bikes. One guy rides ahead takes the chain off and takes it back to the second guy and so on and so on. Apparently they spent the night on that steep hill right before the first lake. The jeep folks had camped at the lake and said you could hear them bitching at each other all night long. I'll take my trusty steel hard tail over a moto any day.

OR or Outdoor Research makes a variety of small dry bags that's what I use for my pad on the bars.

http://www.altrec.com/outdoor-research/durable-dry-sack

That's not the OR site but a store they do have a sizing chart though. I made my own sling it's just a flat piece of cordura with some straps and buckles to make things easier to put together. It also has a strap that goes down to the fork crown to prevent sway. Then I add a buckle strap around the whole thing. 

If all else fails i have to the 25th to get it done..... how long do you think it would take to push a bike that far? I am starting to get excited! 

I believe that a lot of the thru hikers do 20 miles a day for a 40 trip of the whole 800 miles. I have heard of speed hikers doing 30 a day. So there ya go leave the bike at home and hike 30 a day for 10 days.

Sounds like a reasonable plan. Under 4 days would have won it in 07 lately not so much. But that is still a reasonable time for most IMO.

Looking at past results and seeing people in the 5, 6, and 7 day range I should think 4 days is all good.

Especially when I see that in 08 when we had one of the original ultra racers show up, Mike Curiak - 4:00:30 of course that was a touring pace for him but none the less.

Right there is a shuttle service with a Tucson based tour company. But his small bus is pretty slow. I am blanking on the name but it might be worth investigating.

Another thing is pace "Also... if you would like to wait around at the finnish (300) for a couple days"

Sounds like Jimfab has a couple of extra days planned.

Some will likely finish in less then 3 days others may be thinking 6 so it might help to have some idea of who's all on the same pace plan.

Great I have parking space here in Tucson but I don't have a good shuttle rig.

Tim

Pedal1Long

I remember meeting you at the ruins outside of Patagonia I believe. And then again after waiting on Reddington for the explosion you were on the way back to town then right. Good to hear you are coming back for a second go at it.

I might be able to get up to the Picket Post TH the day before to pick up riders at end point and get them back to Tucson. I think the key will be who has the biggest shuttle rig. Then possibly I can get it back up there at the end but someone will need to get me back to Tucson. 

Or we could ride Ripsey and then cross on the highway bridge and ride the road into Superior and finish on the LOST to Picket Post for the easiest 300 ever, one and only. 750 riders will continue on from Hewett Station. Isn't there new ST along the south side of the river.

I could see adding this as an option for the blue route of the AZT in general. 

Or and here's where my dead brain cells finally clicked in a very duh moment. The Dam is under construction the river is turned off period. You could make the ford by the ranch and somehow make your way to Picket Post.

So whats up at the river do we need to drive out there we can use the truck if need be.

Other then the new ST by Freeman sounds like the course should be the same as last year.

Max and I did the Swizzle ST over to Chiva and then over to the corrals that way. This felt easier then staying on the road. I know we talked about it but can't remember why we didn't go that way.

Love the bike snowman pic!  All that snow you rode in yesterday will be melted in about five seconds, I'd say, given how sunny it is this AM.

That's a bit of snow by Mormon Lake.  We'll see how the next month+ pans out.  Could be more snow, could be lots of sunny and windy days.  There probably won't be a call about the snow detours until 1-2 weeks before the race, I would guess.

Tim, we should plan to get out to ride Cmo Doretea -> Hope Camp -> Cmo Loma Alta.

Yeah the snow was both falling and melting while we were riding it was fun though. When I got to Jacob Lake in April 06 there was still a lot of snow but one of the resort workers said it would likely be summer in about 2 weeks. "We don't really have a spring" she said "one day there's snow on the ground the next day it's hot and the snow is gone" gotta love AZ.

Will the park people let us ride that old two track from Hope Camp I thought it was signed no bikes. I did see tracks though. I went out that way with the Crazies I mentioned the tracks to the ranger he didn't seem happy with the neighborhood peeps using that trail. They also walk dogs on it also a no no "they think because they live over here they can do as they please" was his take on it. That could be a nice addition though.

I`m in the middle of The Masked Rider. An account of Neil Pert`s (Rush) month long bike tour of West Africa. Interesting
http://www.amazon.com/Masked-Rider-Cycling-West-Africa/dp/1895900026

I'll have to check that one out, my wife and I are big Rush fans. She has read http://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Rider-Travels-Healing-Road/dp/1550225480/ref=pd_sim_b_3 but that one is a motor bike tour.

Nice pics Marshall that looks like a lot of snow hopefully its mostly just the piles from the plows. No way of knowing how fast it might all melt off. The other issue up there will be if things dry out as well. A lot of the stuff North of Blue Ridge Ranger Station is that sticky gumbo mud that is not good to ride when wet. It does dry quick but if it's just rained or the snow has only just melted off it's possible that some sections will still have to be detoured.

Technically no one has yet to ride a full AZT trip picking up all of the Single Track in one go. Scott and I have both ridden all of the course trails but not all on the same trip. And then of course there's the El Oso to Sunflower (Roosevelt Lake area) with the Mazatzals and dropping into Rye that we have both done but won't be included until next year, hopefully.

For now we even had snow in the Reddington area yesterday.



Max aka Adrenalin Junkie and I had a great day cutting fresh tracks in the snow. Great thing down here is the decomposed granite of our trails is very rideable if not even better when wet.



Start of some sweet snow covered ST.



We also found another water source out that way. Shortly before the start of the ST right where we go past a corral and thru a gate there is a big tank just off course. Could be a good reliable source that would allow leaving Tucson super light. It's only about 16 miles from the BLM office so most of the faster riders wouldn't likely bother, but I found last year that by going light whenever possible it really helped. The Water Tank is only about 100 feet off course.

See I knew that bonus badge would come in handy somehow.

I haven't been to the BTA in a while but yeah pretty sure they have candy and soda there. And it is pretty close to the course. At that point you aren't that far from AJ for a real resupply anyway so that might just be the best quick stop choice.

" Also you might like to look into this http://www.pr.state.az.us/parks/both/kids.html "                                                                                                                  Are you insinuating that Marshall needs to work on his Girl Scout badges

Well maybe or if nothing else maybe they can help with the shoe tying thing

I would say just go to Flag you won't save any time going to Sedona. Unless you really want to see the new highway and all of the traffic circles. The new highway with at least a dozen traffic circles is certainly an improvement but it's still slower then the Freeway.

You could save a few minutes by starting at Schnebly Hill and I 17 but that would throw you off of the standard 4 day camps (if that's your plan). There is no camping anywhere in the Sedona section so you would have to get past that the first day (should be easy enough if you start at Schnebly).

Otherwise it kind of depends on your game plan. How long to you plan on riding, standard 4 day stages, full on non stop, extended tour?

That time of year you'll want to stay up north that for sure. I would think the family would want to see the Canyon if they haven't already. I would not go to the S Rim though as it can be a ZOO. Even the N Rim park is pretty full in high season. The Rainbow Rim is great but even that sees more use then in the past. But I would still recommend it. The trail is 18 miles one way with 5 different access points. We have been there a couple of times and found Locust point to be the best for views and trail access (it's right in the middle). The riding is mellow but the views are stellar. Camping is on Forest Service with no services and a 30 some mile dirt access road. You can also pick up the AZT up there. Last time we found a camp site near East Rim View I had a good ride south to the Park border and back on the roads. Got dumped on when the afternoon monsoon kicked in and froze my butt off, living in S AZ you get used to the heat any thing below 80 is considered cold.

Not much of a fisherman myself but I know it's big business at Lee's Ferry. Not sure how good it is at the put in point. There are several outfitters that run motor boats up river for day trips.

Enjoy Tim

Here's a screen shot with the AZT LOST and the BTA.

Scott has the track and will be making it available on line if any body wants it sooner shoot me a PM with an email address and I can send it that way.

As I recall the BTA has a big iron gate on the front entrance I don't think you can get in there after hours.

Looks like they are open 8 to 5 not sure if it shows up on the screen shot but it looks like there might be a road off of the LOST that comes out right near BTA.

I can only tie your shoe if we are both out on the trail and the same time and only if we don't prearrange it. I guess that would be called shoe magic 

Also you might like to look into this http://www.pr.state.az.us/parks/both/kids.html

I figured I could get you to come out of your shell at some point ha ha.

Obviously there is no easy way to ride from border to border road, trail or any blend of the two is going to be a great ride.

I was just thinking that the VC might be an option. And the store being open at 5:30 is a plus for those wanting to get an early start. What ever day they get there. Staying on the ST to Hope would be great I wasn't sure if the Park people would give us the old 2 track out of there.

Certainly no two rides have been the same until last year and no one year had seen so many riders all in one year. Two racers, two S-N tours and then 3 riders on a N-S tour. That's a huge jump from the previous years as far as I am aware of. And it is irrelevant how much ST non racers choose to do along the way. And for the racers it's all about doing the same course as other riders that year. It will be nice to get more ST like the new White Canyon section but there will always be detours like the trail closure on the Kiabab.

Yep it's right around the corner should be an interesting spring on the AZT.