I am very curious as to the logic of closing the road to bikes. Maybe it is an insurance thing? Bikers are likely to fall off their bikes? While hikers are just fine. Not that these sorts of rules have any kind of logic, but I'd love to hear the reasoning.

I'd love to hear the logic, too.  The only thing I have heard is safety -- that there are vehicles on the road and maybe snow plows, not looking for traffic/bikes.  A pedestrian is only marginally safer, so you are right, it makes no sense.

Thanks for the clarification Scott. Is this the generally accepted, 'official' route of the bike race up to this point? Snow years, which seem to be most years the road detours have been allowed correct?

AZ67 has been an allowed snow detour every year the 750 has taken place thus far.  There was one year when Ron Thomson, Bill (and maybe someone else?) did take the trail for super bonus points.  In name, the AZT has always been intended route, and always acceptable (as Ron et al did).  That year the snow detour was in place mostly for consistency with other years, even though the trail was free enough of snow.  It's just rare.

The other detours (around Aspen Corner, and near Mormon Lake, even by Happy Jack the first year) are generally not used.  I think only 2010 used all three of them.

Keeping the race alive is more important than consistency, in my view, so this year the route will follow the trail if at all possible.

As of now the north rim appears to be pretty void of snow.  Only the peaks and Sunrise seem to have a tiny faded pixel or two on this snow depth map.

It isn't April yet, but it may be this is the year to ride the full trail.  Barring any dumping storms, 750ers should plan (the race route would be) to ride the AZT through the park, and probably to 89A, too.  That's the best decision for the future of the race, in my opinion.  It would help keep the race off the Park Service's radar as much as possible.  (Not that we are completely off it, certain people do know of the race and some are even supportive).

Does anyone have rough time comparisons for each option? NR to Jacob Lake or there abouts on trail vs. road.

The trail doesn't look too hard on paper, but it is significantly slower and harder.  There will surely be trees down with no one having been out on it, too.

I don't have a time estimate, but it's at least 6-8 hours longer, I'd say.  That means you have to slug more rations along with the bike when crossing the canyon, so it does add to the overall difficultly.

That said, it is the AZT.  And if not for snow, the race would surely use it every year.

BTW, Jacob Lake is still an easy resupply.  ~2.5 miles off route, IIRC, from the trail.

take to the road to Jacob Lake once you are out of the Park

That is a fair point.  I do not know what the USFS thinks about the supposed "closure" and have not asked so as not to raise the issue and get on anyone's radar.  We did have word from an engineer at ADOT that they consider it open to bikes.  It is only the Park Service that is signing it and making it an issue.

Just tuning back in here.

Thanks, I thought it was something along those lines... At this point is this an issue, or could it turn into something further down the... road?

This issue is still not resolved.  It is something everyone considering or doing the 750 needs to know about.

The park service is saying that SR67 is closed to cyclists until May 15th, due to safety reasons.  From what I can gather it is unlikely to be an issue on the ground because few people in the park service agree with it.  That said, it does have the potential to become a major issue, and if the wrong person is encountered at the wrong time, well...

One option is to have the race end on one of the rims (north or south) and if people want to continue on, they may at their own risk.

This year it is sure shaping up as one where the trail may be rideable (is there even any snow yet?) in which case I'd opt to rescind the 'snow detour' that SR67 is, anyway.  That may be the way we deal with it this year.

Schillingsworth -- will wait for the deets on extra singletrack.  Those first couple miles of Apache Trail wouldn't be sorely missed, presuming the HAB quotient isn't too high.

Is there a non-negligible danger of riding over, walking on or camping on unexploded ordinance?

We have some routes and trails here in the States where there is minimal danger of this, but the chance of actually having an accident is very low.

Of the 17 mile reroute, about 4 1/2 miles are single track. That being said, the rest rides alot like singletrack typical of PT trail conditions.

Right.

Oh, did I mention there are also two hike a bikes in there as well? Enjoy!

I would expect nothing less!

Egads, he did it!

Much respect, Long Ranger.  Still can't fathom what it takes to contemplate attempting this, let alone complete it. 

The new 17 mile reroute has been completed and signed although a map and gpx track will be handy for this and the entire PT. Data can be downloaded from our new site :  westendtrails.org. You can contact me for more specific info if you wish.  pdkoski@gmail.com

That's great news, congrats on completing it, Paul!  How much of the new reroute is singltrack?

I found the GPX for the full Paradox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/znvvmeg0tzbcp5q/Paradox%20Trail%20-%20All%20Segments%20gpx.gpx?dl=0

Thinking a little about a fall tour of the GL, and the reroute does make it more tempting...

This is some long ranging, indeed.  Hard for me to comprehend what Justin is doing out there, day after day. 

It's taking the Tour 14er to the next level and beyond.  I'm watching this with great interest.

Bravo Long Ranger, Bravo!

Are both riders scratches?  Good eclipse viewing, at least, I hope.

Yep, 75 in the two NoBo Grand Departs, so SoBo doesn't count, especially 750's!

For anyone that really wants to get in and be tracked, it really shouldn't be a problem.  Based on last year's sign up and CTR this year, there will be plenty of room for anyone that's paying attention at all.

3 days out?  Yeah, it'll probably be full.  1-2 weeks after tracking signup is open?  Probably plenty of room.

ITTs are, as always, highly encouraged.

Thanks for the post -- just downloaded and looking forward to the read.

The trash created by any coolers or caches pales in comparison to the bags full that seem to regularly fly out of the back of vehicles on the weekends here on the Coconino.

Agreed, but we aren't talking absolutes here.  The problem is the caches can be directly tied to the race / racers, and we need to minimize our impact as much as we possibly can.

Disappointed I couldn't make it too.  Also disappointed there's no AD dot... ?!

Go get 'em boys, and hope they brought lights for the eclipse...

Suspension is highly and strongly recommended, but not 100% necessary, either...

I just updated the race site with the suggested start date:

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

Looking at the replay last year, most people were over or to Redington by Saturday night, so a Thursday start should get the bulk of bikepackers through there before weekend craziness ensues.

Also new this year is a 75 rider limit.  That's combined in the 300+750.  75 is the limit from the US Forest Service for non-commercial events, but beyond that, we want to keep the overall impact on the trail, other users and towns within reason.

The way this will be enforced is on the tracker -- only 75 pink/blue dot registrations will be accepted.  After that, ITT will be the only option available, and it'll have be on a day other than Thursday April 5th.  Tracking registration will open, as in years past, 1 month before start.

This year we also need to eliminate all race-specific caches (coolers, trail magic).  There was negative feedback from other trail users and land managers last year about caches and leftover trash.  People know the race is going on, so we really need to be on our best behavior (Leave No Trace!) if we want the race to be able to continue.

Thanks all, back to the planning.

I was riding with Max Morris, Brad Ells, and Justin DuBois most of today.

We had serious concerns about out safety and well-being, so three of us decided to throw in the towel. It was a tough call to make, especially so close to the finish.

Wow.  I'd echo earlier comments and commend you on being safe and not pushing a dangerous situation too far.  These things are about being tough, certainly, but you need to know when to draw the line.  Well done, guys.

This rain has been pretty steady, even here in relatively dry Gunnison.

Maybe someone can lend Kurt a new spot in BV or somewhere along the route.  Looks like he was a little ways off Jesse's record pace before it went out.

Just got a text from him -- he's out.  His knee flared up (an injury from descending Mt. Shavano last year with me) after months of being pretty good.  Too bad as he said his legs felt good.

Jason Hanson from AZ also scratched, along with Todd S.  Both cited altitude.  CTR is a tough cookie to tackle coming from out-of-state, for certain.

Having said that, our current men's leader is a rookie from VA.  He seems to have turned it on after Silverton, passing Plesko while he was taking a catnap up high.

Forecast is calling for 90% chance rain in Silverton, which means, 100% on the CT near it (!).

Any commentary of the CTR going on? Facebook?? Here somewhere?

Just started one here:

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2017-ctr-race-discussion/