Doing AZT 300 in Dec.

[AzTa]

So I was thinking of doing the AZT300 route during Christmas breakish. What are your thoughts about weather conditions and water sources during that time of year. My main concern is Mt. Lemmon being iced up. Other than that the desert should be beautiful!

[AZTtripper]

Yep desert temps should be great that time of year. As for the Catalina's I wouldn't worry too much about it as you can always take the Control road instead of the Oracle Ridge Trail plus it's supposed to be a dry year. That could be a down side though in terms of water though there are several fixed sources out there. Getting to Tucson shouldn't be an issue north of Oracle is really the big haul but there should be water at the Freeman road cache.

I have actually been working on a full water source list for the bike route similar to the on at the ATA web site http://www.fredgaudetphotography.com/aztrail/watercurrent.pdf but based on the bike route. I have also been meaning to get up to Molino Basin and check out my secret water hole. As it hasn't rained in several weeks now is a good time to check it I'll let you know what I find.

[ScottM]

Yep, december could work.  Often times Oracle Ridge can still be clear of snow --  just depends if we get a big storm or not.

Biggest downside to the 300 during Dec is the extremely short days.  Not a whole lot of time to make trail, but otherwise... at least it's not hot!

[AZTtripper]

I would think lights and at least some night riding would be mandatory that time of year.

Planning to head up Catalina Highway this weekend I'll stop and check the Molino water hole.

[AzTa]

Cool thanks for the reply. Yeah shorter days will cause some problems but lights and night riding always add to the adventure.

[AZTtripper]

Well I was a bit disappointed not to find any water at Molino Basin oh well.

We did stop in at the Summerhaven Visitors Center currently the restrooms are open 24 7 and you can get water out of the drinking fountain. The volunteer did not think that would change and he was able to say for certain they would stay open during the day time.

We stopped in at the store to see our buddy Max it was his last day working there. The store will be closed for the first two weeks in December and reopen on the 17th. They are open 6 days a week closed on Wednesdays. Max seems to think it will snow the 3rd week of December that may help with finding water but I wouldn't worry about it. 

[ScottM]

Tim -- bummer on the secret water.  Not too surprising I guess.

AzTa - Let us know how it goes!

[Schwizzle]

What about the coco 250, is it rideable in early december?

[AZTtripper]

What about the coco 250, is it rideable in early december?

Just depends on when they get the first snow storm of the year and how big it is.

Oh and sleeping on top of Mingus would be cold!

Just did an overnighter on the AZT south of Tucson and it was pretty cold at night also as has been pointed out the days are pretty short.

[racing4thesun]

While we are talking about doing the Azt 300 at different times of the year, what about doing it in Febuary?
I live in Bellevue, Wa ,go down for two weeks to Cave Creek and want to do this ride so bad! What do you guys think? Also I figure I better start posting instead of trolling all the time. 

[AZTtripper]

While we are talking about doing the Azt 300 at different times of the year, what about doing it in Febuary?
I live in Bellevue, Wa ,go down for two weeks to Cave Creek and want to do this ride so bad! What do you guys think? Also I figure I better start posting instead of trolling all the time.  

Depends on the snow pack on Mount Lemon of course there is a way around that. Just depends on how much snow. Most years I should think you could use the Control road so you would only miss Oracle Ridge, and that's not a bad thing in some ways. Worst case if we have a big snow year like last year you could do the Jonesy bypass but it's farther.

My guess is it can be done most years.

Same stuff as above short cool days cold nights not that it can't be done just a little harder to move fast.

[ScottM]

Yep, the Jonesy snow bypass is still available as a separate GPX file in the AZTR's GPX directory (linked on the site).  Worst case you'd need to take that.  The rest is pretty much rideable year round.  It is possible for it to snow and accumulate down to 5000 or 4000 feet here, but it is rare for it to stick around more than a day or so.

By Feb there's a decent amount of daylight, at least.

[AZTtripper]

The Lemon got it's first snow just a little and it will likely melt off or maybe not.

It's come off dam cold this week we actually had to break down and turn the heat on.

[ActionJackson]

Did AzTa do the 300 last month?

[ScottM]

Would have been great if so.  No need to detour for snow and very warm temps, right up to the very last bit of Dec.

[AzTa]

No The weather turned real bad on the days we were planning on going. So we did some local rides. The alamo canyon section of the AZT was really awsome. Veiws are amazing. With the snow we headed up to Flag and did some snow touring on the peaks instead. I am  going to try later in the year to do the AZT. My riding partner won't be able to make it though he lives in MI.

[AZTtripper]

Sounds like Max had it right on the weather the third week. Glad to hear you made the best of it that is some good riding up at Picket Post.

I am going to risk it with the weather gods and say mid March should be doable. I started both of my tours in March and had warm sunny 90 degree days in Tucson makes for 80's in the Canelo's Hills both times.

If we don't get much more snow and we do stay clear Mt Lemon may clear up by then. Thanks for the update.