AZT in August

[xckeefe12]

Is August 15th too early for the AZT? Thinking about going from the Grand Canyon down to Phoenix. Thanks

[ScottM]

Probably.  Above the rim will be warm but tolerable, but once you drop off it'll be pretty hot.  That said you could stay on the dirt roads after Payson which might be more tolerable.  I'd not want to be riding the Apache Trail (dirt road that the AZT bike route uses) in August, or even early Sept.

[AZTtripper]

As far as temps go Flag to Payson would be fine but if there are afternoon rains a lot of the trail in that section turns to gumbo, but you could always bail out to improved roads or the highway.

After Payson it would be hot at mid day but if you timed it right you might be able to ride in the mornings and then hold up at one of the lakeside camp grounds during the heat of the day. It has been attempted in Sept by night riding but as I recall the prevalence of snakes made things interesting.

[tjzand]

August 15th seems like a better time to be on the Kaibab Plateau, at least in regards to temps, but I wouldn't trust the monsoons to provide very good riding conditions anywhere.  No way to predict that sort of thing, but if at all possible I would try and delay your trip at least a month until conditions will likely be drier and temps slightly cooler.  I rode from UT to Payson late last September and I decided to pull the plug there because it was too hot to drop down into the desert.

[elitheknife]

I rode the entire AZT last September, and I can assure you that August would be brutal!  Granted, as far as I understand it, last summer was a particularly hot one.  We rode through 100+ temps nearly everyday in late September/early October.

I think if one could choose anytime to ride, it would be mid-October starting in the north.

Scott

[xckeefe12]

Good thing I double checked...

So if I started from the Grand Canyon around September 15, I should have more luck? I should also say that once I hit Phoenix, I'm riding east into California.

[AZTtripper]

Good thing I double checked...

So if I started from the Grand Canyon around September 15, I should have more luck? I should also say that once I hit Phoenix, I'm riding east into California.

Wow all the way around the world why not just head west and you will be there in no time. Just kidding.

Temps can stay high into early October but it cools off more at night and even if the high is 100 it likely only gets that hot for a few hours rather then all day.

[AZTtripper]

August 15th seems like a better time to be on the Kaibab Plateau, at least in regards to temps, but I wouldn't trust the monsoons to provide very good riding conditions anywhere.  No way to predict that sort of thing, but if at all possible I would try and delay your trip at least a month until conditions will likely be drier and temps slightly cooler.  I rode from UT to Payson late last September and I decided to pull the plug there because it was too hot to drop down into the desert.

The good part about the Kaibab during monsoons is that the soils don't get sticky. The problem south of Flagstaff and a lot of the rim country is gumbo mud.

[xckeefe12]

Alright, so I've narrowed it down to two options:

1. (Coming in from Utah) Bike the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, then backtrack to St. George and take a bus across the desert
2. Bike the AZT from the South Rim to Flagstaff, then take a bus across the desert

Back tracking to St. George would be less exciting, but also save me about 180 miles of desert and the trip on 89...

Thanks for all the help