I'm in for the 300....looking to do a TT starting March 21st. That late April heat will start me out at a 0% chance of success.

What are folks commonly using for lighting these days?
I'm torn between buying disposable batteries en route vs trying to find places to charge a battery pack.
Still need batteries for GPS, SPOT etc., so need to buy anyway.
Anyone know what availability is like for CR123 batteries?
Cheers,
Steve

I use the Fenix-PD35 lights. They use the CR123 batteries and I get plenty of life out of those batteries. I run them on 2 with one on my hemet and 1 on the bar. I have the Fenix bar mount and I really recommend it.

Awesome! Thank you for the update and continued hard work with this event over the years Scott! Very stoked on the changes. Hope to be able to toe the line again next spring!

Yes, Scott, thank you!! And just my .02 worth.....if you don't plan on following the exact route and/or the "rules", please don't take a spot(haha, no pun intended) from someone that is planning on following the route and or the "rules". This could matter as the race fills up closer to 75.

This x1000000000

I see the route logistics by looking at the map, but I "know" and understand routes by reading blogs and hearing rider experience.

If i just looked at a map and said ok this is the Highline section and called it a day, I'd be in for a rude awakening on the trail!

One nice thing on the ATA site is the finisher list, some of them are clickable (hyperlink) and take you to websites / blogs (most are hikers, but when you see finishing times between 6-14 days, it's usually a biker):
http://www.aztrail.org/finishers.html


John Schilling is one of my favorite people that blogs the trail / races, for example:
http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2016/04/aztr750-mexico-to-utah.html

This page of his has an absolute wealth of knowledge, broken down by each passage and segment:
http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-arizona-trail-via-mtb.html

^^^^^^This. John is the man when it's comes to the AZT! His helpfulness and Arizona Trail knowledge is 2nd to none!

Thank you for posting that. I did not read anywhere that they were going to track us via Trackleaders just that a Spot Tracker was recommended.

Where is the map to the BFL?

I'm in for the Beach Loop. Was wanting to preride it this summer. Just has not worked out.  Looks exciting!!

I'm interested to hear the plan for the start date next year. Based on the discussion around the fire the night before the start of the race this year both Wednesday and Thursday are under consideration for 2018. This would ensure that most everyone would get past Reddington Rd. before the weekend mayhem starts up there. I hadn't thought about it at the time but another advantage would be extended business hours at Summerhaven and possibly Oracle for a large number of the racers who would be rolling through during the weekend - guess the leaders would be the ones that have to plan around weekday business hours in that case.

With the full moon and Easter falling on April the 1st, I am assuming that April 4th and 5th would be the days under consideration if Scott ends up changing the day. Be many 300 riders finishing up before the weekend is over. Would probably help with getting picked up at Picketpost......

Any idea when we could fire these back up???

Well, is it too early to start planning and looking ahead to next year!!!!?

MVMorten - definitely check in before crossing Redington going north on the AZT.

Plan B:  Redington, Haul Road to Control Road, back UP to Oracle Ridge #1, then down.

Plan C:  Redington, River Road to San Manuel, Webb Rd to where the AZT crosses it.

Right now I'd lean towards Plan B, because to take Oracle Ridge out of it would be sad indeed.  I don't think I could withstand the volume of hate mail if people didn't get to sample its particular brand of hike-a-bike goodness.

Let's hope this fire goes out quickly... and the AZT is open in the aftermath.  It is cool, and it's not summer/dry, so perhaps it'll just be a small one.

Will a gpx file get added to the TF page with the fire reroute/detour in it?

 

Palisades spigot is still broken...few more miles to summer haven to get water.

That should be ok since CHarlie will be passing out AZT beer by the Fire dept.....lol!!!

What is the(suggested) start times for this year's race(s)?

I am missing something here ....how do we "sign up"?