A buddy and I are looking to do a 3-4 day 150-200 mile bikepacking trip the first weekend in may.  We were considering the Coconino loop down in Flagstaff/Sedona.  Its a bit longer than we would like at 250 miles.  Wondering if there are any alternate routes on Dirt that could take you back north towards flagstaff without heading as far west as Mingus.  If it exists, is it quality riding?

If not does anybody have any other route suggestions?  We were considering the dixie 200 course but don't think it will be clear of snow that early?  Does anyone know if the Dixie Lite course encounters the same issues with snow?

So  I am touring the CT from durango, starting a week after the CTR.  I have Toby Gadds gpx file loaded into my device and wondering if need to do anything to follow the track from Durango.  I have Garmin Etrex 30.  My assumption is ill turn the track on, show it on the map and keep my arrow on the line headed towards Denver.  Can anybody verify?

thanks in advance

A friend recently said the same thing to me.  I dont have a dynamo hub or a usb port on my bike.  Without those how do you keep the phone charged in a multiday event? 

What are the best resources to learn how to use a newly purchased Garmin Etrex 30.  Seems like quite the maze to figure out uploading the maps and from where?  Should i just pay for the garmin maps?  Is there someplace to upload free maps?  are they as detailed as the garmin maps?  Then how do you overlay a route over those maps?  doing a tour of the colorado trail this fall and trying to get it figured out before the trip?  Any suggestions on resources to learn from would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

What are people's preferences for water treatment on trips geared towards light and fast, filters, sterilens or iodine? Thanks

Joey, one of these days I'll own a Carbon Full Suspension bike and a nice steel hardtail that I'll come down to durango to buy from a little shop down there.  In the mean time thanks everyone for all the advice on protecting my carbon frame as I venture into the world of bikepacking/racing.

What do people do to prevent severe abrasion to their carbon frames when racing with bike bags? Thanks for any thoughts.

Matt, I rode fruita to Moab on the 18th of Oct.  The trail is in great shape.  Some snow off to the side of the road up high, but the dirt road through the La Sals is in great shape.  Currently very little sand anywhere on route other than from the top of the yellow jacket climb down to the river.