Sofiane has retraced his route and is now heading North back up the way he came....sleep cycling (?)

So if you're going to take a wrong turn and get some bonus miles, I highly recommend having a large rowdy hunting party camped *right at* the intersection watching you go then come back, then go, then come back, then go, jeering and laughing and offering to help... In my case it was just north of Kentucky Camp on the AZ Trail during my AZ1000 attempt in Oct'20.  Yee gods.

Fantastic video. 

To tell the truth I was pretty taken with the short clips you'd published in the past, but this thing is the bomb. 

Not sure I'd have had the drive to keep setting up in the ditch and then going back for the gopro, but I'm sure glad you did!

Are you talking about the new cell tower?  The windmill contractor's yard?

When I was at the Toaster House last year there was a ton of backpacker type food piled up.  Apparently many hiking the CDT have a resupply package sent to Pie Town and they leave what they don't need at the Toaster House.  A lot of that food is pretty old so checking the dates on it is a good idea.

This is what I was talking about :
https://www.fodors.com/news/arts-culture/this-art-installation-in-new-mexico-is-so-insane-youre-not-even-allowed-to-photograph-it

Hey there’s a funky outdoor art installation outside Pie Town, I think somewhere north of town. Does the TD course go by it?

My first ride failure on the TD route sent me home pretty ashamed... I was surprised that people at work were excited when I got back to hear how it was out there. I told them that I was embarrassed. There response was that I attempted something that no one else in the building had ever tried before.
“Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” Bruce Lee.

Or this:  "The nature of adventure is that we don't know how it will turn out."

Ahem...I believe it's the golden 'spoke' 😉

I'm thinking Josh, his Spot seems to be a bit behind. But who knows...

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Dunno - one of the last updates was 2 minutes for CS and 5 minutes for JK with Chris a mile ahead. 

Damn exciting, regardless!

Getting to be golden spike time!  Is Chris or Josh going to be the first to meet NOBO Graham?

Just getting caught up after the first real summer day here in west Michigan. 

Gotta say, between the Mines of Moria and Sofiane emptying down pillows to continue, I've been having a damn good chuckle. 

Go Chris!!

I was driving home from work tonight thinking about the race.  Yesterday I rode a bit on the AZT on a big ride.  A thought came to my mind that I'm not sure anyone has considered.  That is this.  Sometime in October (I'm pretty sure) hunting season is on with rifles.  I've ridden up on fully camouflaged, fully armed hunters, right on the AZT on both sides of Flagstaff.  I'm always super careful riding in the fall because of hunting season.  I'm not trying to stir the pot at all and think Fall is a good season for the race.  Just thinking that it may be possible to avoid hunting season.

Good thought, but it looks like late October is generally not a heavy hunting period. 

Per the 2019-2020 regulations, youth deer starts in various areas Oct 4 and Oct 11; the first general hunts start 25 Oct. (with one exception 25 Oct is when muzzle loader starts too).

Archery seasons are much earlier, Aug & September, and later, Dec '19 & Jan '20.

Shotgun turkey Oct 4-10
Youth javelina Oct & later
There are two areas open for bighorn sheep in October in the Flag-to-south rim areas
Bison, mountain lion, bear may have some hunters out.

Frankly, I think the folks banging away north of KY Camp and off of Redington are still a bigger deal than any of the hunting seasons for a late October race.

For sure, great job John!

I got to the finish on Tuesday as Dave was trying to re-seat his tire.  3 Miller lites later, no dice.  I had to get out of there, looks like I just missed Justin rolling in after I left. 

Great race!  I had a couple great days getting to base of Molino HAB on day 2 before Mt Lemmon had its way with me in the heat.  Had been thinking sub 4d 300 finish prior to that.  Kept up a steady pace after that and was able to ride with some of the faster racers on and off until around Pine when they pulled away for good.  Hit the worst part of both Highline and then Happy jack in the dark and just wasn't feeling it so took early nights to hit those in daytime.  Lost my phone just past Flagstaff which was a bummer, most photos gone.  Opted to slow down at the Canyon and do it in daylight, then got hit with multiple rain storms on the hike out plus a bonus "welcome to Jacob Lake" evening lightning show complete with snow, hail and driving rain.  Thankfully they had vacancy.  Finished off the ride the next morning expecting death mud for the full experience but was able to ride through.  Then a 24hr odyssey of hitch-hiking, shuttle bus and rental car to get home a day late for work.  Already scheming where I can cut time off next time!  Great meeting everyone out there.  It puts the strong finish times in a whole new light once you've done the route yourself.  Nice work everyone!

Great meeting you on the way down to SV, Evan - way to go on the 750!  It was fun with periods of real self-doubt, as usual, and I can't wait to do it again.  Now that the edge has come off and I've gotten a few days rest, I really wish I could be out there again, RIGHT NOW, attempting the whole trail!  I wondered how that would go over if I left a sticky note on the kitchen table, saying I was headed back out, for my wife to see when she got home from work today!

Anyway, nice job!

Oh man, the riders still out there may be in for some wet weather. A storm is bearing down from the west, possible snow near Flagstaff tonight. Evan's been pretty much on my time schedule for his ride and unfortunately for him, he may experience a bit of what I did on the North Rim in '16. Ugh. You fellas around Jacob Lake best make a dash for Stateline!!

Any word from Miroslav Franken?? Hope all is ok, he posted some high speed track points coming into Jacob Lake.

The problem with Miroslav is the poor guy doesn't know a word of English, and I for one am pretty weak on Czech.  He was having tire troubles in the Gila Canyons, but his wheel was holding air and neither Ian or I could understand what the issue was so we rolled on.

Way to go Andrew!  I was a bit worried for you that last time i saw you by PP but now you’ve got it!

Go Go Jakob!  Good ride, my friend.

I don't think you can get a one way car rental out of page.  Have to hitch to st George or flag.

I was set to do the 750 in 2017 but sadly was a scratch near Pine.  I'd called the only rental place in Page and was told they didn't have one-way rentals because they have their own fleet of cars.  However, the owner said, in the spring they tended to get a few one-way rentals INTO Page, and those cars are available for a one-way rental back out of town.  He advised me to call a few days in advance (I was going to do so from a hotel stop in Flagstaff) and if he had one of these one-way cars, I'd be able to reserve it. 

May work.  May not.  But it's definitely worth a try.

Woohoo!  Let's do this!

Hey everybody!

I have a Spot Gen 3 tracker I'm selling.  Comes in the box with lanyard, CD, mini usb cord.

Asking $75 OBO.

Not out of the biz, surely Adam? 

Thanks for posting this here. 

I made a quick announcement on my blog (http://topofusion.com/diary/2019/01/08/arizona-trail-race-2019-and-beyond/), but:

I'm passing the AZTR torch over to John Schilling.

Everything is good hands with him.  Trackleaders will be on board, too.

Thanks for such an amazing event Scott.

John, you have some big shoes to fill. Lucky for all of us that you love AZT as much as you do.

Hey guys! Im flying in to Tuscon on Tuesday April 16th. Anyone driving to Sierra Vista that day or the next that can shuttle a body? Im shipping my bike out to Sun and Spokes before I leave, so it will just be me. Or split a shuttle?

Josh, my noble steed was built at Sun & Spokes last year and I'll be doing something similar though I don't have my flight or other plans firmed up yet.  Message me in a month or so if you're still trying to work something out.

Hoping to do the 750 this year and am in process of planning. How do people get out from Stateline Campground if you are from "out of town" and don't have a support crew to pick you up? Do you get a shuttle service to get you back to Flagstaff for a flight out?

Hey Hal - check the 2017 AZTR race prep thread.  At the time Rhino's grandma had a rickshaw service from Page, and you only ran a moderate chance of being throat-punched for being 'too sissy' (her words) to just ride there yourself.  Unsure if she's still in business or not.   

1.  Wear long socks - everything in AZ has spikes that will scratch the hell out of your legs.  Effing Everything! 

Justin I might be able to do you one better than that.  Consider long sleeve* compression socks while you're at it.  Any number of people get a little pulmonary edema from all that effort, and when the swelling collects in your legs it can be more than a little alarming.  No idea if it's truly an issue for the 300, but I started my 2015 AZTR 300 training with them and found they certainly didn't cause any problems so I've gone with them for every long-ish to long bikepacking ride I've done since. 

*Long sleeve socks - copyright Claire, my 17yo daughter