AZT ?

[ImAFred]

Question for all you AZT veterans.
If you you were looking to ride around a 100 mileish ride on the AZT leaving from Flag would you choose to go north from town or would you choose south? Why? Which one is easier on a BP setup?  More scenic? More fun?
Also is there a version of the coco 250 that is shorter? Maybe skips sedona/cottonwood/mingus?
TIA

[AZTtripper]

Currently I would go North, part of that has to do with newer trail that I haven't ridden but I have heard good things about, you could do an out and back. Or if you can set a shuttle to the South Rim from Buffalo Park that would be a good two day at about 100 miles.

If I were to ride south bound I think I might bail off the AZT a Marshal Lake, to skip Anderson Mesa, and take the high way past Mormon Lake. Then you can pick up dirt out to the Rim in a reasonable day. Then ride the AZT most of the way back, or all the way if you have the time.

Or you could do a sweet figure 8 out of Flag by riding the AZT, including Anderson Mesa, out to a junction straight south, above Mormon Lake. Drop down to the store and resupply, finish the day on roads out to the Rim. There's water along the AZT north of the Rim and spigots if the campgrounds are open. Ride the AZT back on the second day dropping again down to Mormon Lake for resupply on the way back. You could always pick up more trail on the way back. I can't see riding Anderson Mesa twice in one ride but you can just take the road to Marshall Lake.

[ImAFred]

Thanks for the reply.

[DesertDog]

So, any thoughts on something like this?

Takes the CoCo from the approach to Willams all the way to Marshall Lake or even a bit further South.  Add a couple segments, snip a couple segments, and you have a 130 or 150 mile loop in the high country.

GPX route file
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/FlagZWlms.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1

KML route file
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/FlagZWlms.kml?attredirects=0&d=1

[ImAFred]

Yep something like that exactly
Let me look into the weekend you had in mind... I'll let you know soon

[DesertDog]

I updated the image and route files from my previous post.  Much better routing and same distance for the 150 route.  Although it's not fully shown on them, there is a nice ~50 mile epic/enduro/bp loop that can be done around Williams Mtn and the Sycamore Rim Trail (for those who might enjoy that).

Unless things change, I should be able to and plan to do a Thursday-Monday, 5-day holiday weekend.  Originally, I was thinking of just going down to Prescott and doing a bunch of trail rides.  But, after noticing the thread and visualizing this route, Flagstaff now seems a much better option.

I've been saying for some time that I'm going to ride Williams and Sycamore, but never have done them.  Plus, I haven't ridden any of the Elden trails since 2009 (before the 2010 East-side fire)!  So, a day on the Elden trails, a day around Campbell Mesa and Walnut Canyon, 2 or 3 on one of these routes and, if the BP is done in 2 days, another day around Elden.  Damn good plan to me!

So, CocoNorth, CocoHigh?  What shall we call these loops?

Whatever the names, these should be loops able to be completed by mere mortals.  Plus, they should be able to be done even in the middle of Summer (elevations are between 6000 - 9000').  Google Earth recon looks good, though I do have a couple short alternatives mapped out, just in case.

Anyone interested in doing this, first ride will be over the Memorial Day weekend.  Likely Sat-Sun or Sat-Mon.
From what I've mapped out, there should be 90, 130 and 150 mile options using a Flagstaff start/end point.

Just post up something if you're interested.

[ImAFred]

Jeff, I was thinking of just starting in Williams so your on the bike sooner, then finish to the car with the Williams decent. I too have always wanted to do bill williams and sycamore rim. Also walnut cyn in the AZT sounds cool.

[DesertDog]

A start and end in Williams would work.  You can park right at the ranger station and access the TH. 

The track files does show the start/end in downtown Flag.  But, I just connected the segments to make the loop, I didn't change the end points from the original Coco route.

There could be an alternate route to go around the Elden trails, then down to Campbell Mesa and Walnut Canyon, connecting up with these routes at Fisher Point.  Not sure how many extra miles it would add; I may put that in the track file as an optional route.

[Chad B]

Jeff, I was thinking of just starting in Williams so your on the bike sooner, then finish to the car with the Williams decent. I too have always wanted to do bill williams and sycamore rim. Also walnut cyn in the AZT sounds cool.

That descent is quite the finish, worthy of putting the old nail in the coffin, one of my favorite sections on the route. I bet you could work out something with the Forest Service Ranger Station right there at the end.