Coconinio local knowledge

[BD]

Launching somewhere around April 18th from Flag. Pretty sure I have the route and logistics well-sorted. Have a few lingering questions if anyone has current knowledge:

Water-
- Is Coyote Tank between Mingus and Verde reliable?- how reliable??;
- Any knowledge on status of Pine Grove CG tap, ADOT tap, or the water tanks near Wing Mtn. moto trail or Alfa Frio Tank up by AZT?

Calories-
- I-40 Texaco is closed it seems... but is the Truck Stop just off route where I leave I-40 corridor and head for moto trail open? Has basics I assume.

Weather-
- I assume the moisture this week "helps" for next week- less sand, maybe fills some potholes.
- How much time does Anderson Mesa usually need to become more rideable and less death-mud? We could consider starting in Sedona in order to give it a few more days to percolate if that was deemed wise; would prefer a Flag start for logistics reasons.
- Maybe with this wet week a Sedona start is wiser?- give the higher Williams- Anderson section more time to dry out and ride the lower sections (Mingus!) first? Anyone have a take on that logic?

Route-
- Not sure if Bill Williams is still buried or not- can't find a Snotel up there online. Anyone been up there recently?
- Anyone know of any other new route issues/access- I assume the private property/"magic gate" along power line is still OK for bikers???

Logistics-
- Flag plan is to leave vehicle at Walmart, ride Sinclair Wash FUTS path to AZT at South Lone Tree and go.
- If decided to start in Sedona not sure where would beach truck- maybe the Bashas (sp?) parking lot??? I assume Bashas is a supermarket and has nice calorie options from what I have read on the AZTR forums- yes?
- Any better advice on parking- I know others have just beached it in a Flag neighborhood.

Our first foray into AZ. We are looking forward to it very much. Thanks to the route pioneers, TF, and this forum for making it real. bd

[SEC]

BD,
Coyote tank is reliable. It is a cattle trough, so you may want to treat it. The DOT tap is in a small community of houses in a park, just take a right and go slightly beyond the main DOT facility.  Other issues I can't necessarily comment on accurately. You'll love the route.

Not sure what texaco you're referring to, but there's a store in Parks (where the route crosses I-40 to the north).  You can get water there. They are OPEN.  http://www.parksfeedandmercantile.com

[BD]

Thanks SEC! Looking forward to seeing the country.

[SEC]

sweet!!

[xcracer]

Drop a report when you finish! Im looking at doing coco in may.

[aaron w]

just got off the coconino loop.  Here's a few answers.

Coyote tank has water.  There is better water up from the tanks in the actual spring box.  Walk up hill from the tanks. 
I don't think the pine grove tap is on.  ADOT is always on.  Didn't check the wing mtn tanks.

Williams still has snow but it's not too bad.  The bigger issue is many downed trees. 

Magic gate worked but the motor was having trouble lifting the gate.  A little help by hand and it opened fine. 

I40 Texaco is now open.  I stopped at the truck stop too then didn't need to get any water for the rest of the route. 

[BD]

Thanks! In Cottonwood buying food. Mingus next. All good. Like Kiln wS sort of sandy. Love the beta!!! Peace, bd

[BD]

I am not so deft at the trip reports, but here is a bit of an overview. Route was very good we felt. Started and finished in Sedona due to wet weather just prior to launch- drive through winter conditions in San Juan's to get to AZ. But AZ was all blue and all sun for us- like heaven. Took us old farts 5 riding days. Sedona was stellar. Lime Kiln was harder than I expected it to be due to a lot of deep sand on the back 1/2- great trail though. The last rip to Lagoons was fun. Mingus was stimulating. We did the Black Canyon alternate. A lot of rideable but low "rideability" terrain there- Koski Traverse on steroids for a while. The Black Canyon bypass was sweet- water in many of the little draws. The back 1/2 was a forecast of things to come as we floated through the Ponderosa's getting to the Yeager Trail. A LOT of logging up by Yeager start- watch your GPS. Yeager was a blast- too short. The Powerline was really the low point- Powerline roads respect no contours often, and the hot, dusty, rocky one was no exception. We skipped Coyote Tanks as had water and powered for the Verde River. The Great Western Trail section was graded and really fun- got good looks at far off BWM and the SF Peaks. 9 miles in 30 minutes down the P-Ville Road and we were at the Verde. Loaded up and ground our way up to Pine Flat- all on 2-tracks, all reasonably rideable... all up. From Pine Flat all the way back to Sedona was just amazing. All Ponderosa-perfection all the time. Rideability became way better. The Sycamore Canyon ST was a bit of a bitch in the beginning, and just got better and better as we approached the top of the canyon. Good water trickle where we crossed canyon at the upper end. Texaco at I-40 was right on route and a good stop. They don't have acres of calorie selection, but the frozen burritos were just the ticket. The Moto Trail was sort of a let down- very churned up, a lot of up too when we just wanted/hoped for down. I think I would bypass it next time. In distinction, the "bobsled runs" were out of sight- really fun. The climb to AZT was easy and just gorgeous, and we launched down the AZT ST for Flag on perfect trail and could not stop smiling and hooting. Blowdown a were aplenty. Saw several racers as we dropped (Sam, ebullient gent from Italy). Flag was so big our over-exerted brains had a hard time dealing. Whole Foods fully perplexed us- I finally begged an employee to be my guide and we somehow escaped town with enough food to make it to Sedona the next day. The WF is right next to REI directly on route at Butler and Lone Tree, so convenient. Got batts and alcohol fuel at REI- they graciously took the extra fuel back, said they would give it to another rider. Our bivy just out of Flag was fridges. The next day of AZT was excellent. Gaining Marshall Mesa was a bit of a grunt, but the unreal pine covered ST that ensued was totally worth the price of admission. More AZTr riders that am- Jason I think, and the poor dude with all the neck problems. The RR grade up to Mormon Lake was just excellent- culturally very interesting, great little ride in lovely ST. Mormon Lake ST was great- another racer (single speed hard tail, Britich accent). And Holly- solo SB on AZT caught us there. Ride a whopping 1.7 miles with her til she stayed with AZT and we swung SW on Coco route for Sedona. The Casner Park/Jones Tank area baffled me briefly- I somehow seriously screwed up my cues in there. But just followed the line on Etrex for a few and all was good. ADOT spigot and dropping into Sedona before we knew it.

My take home: awesome route all in all. The Sedona to Pine Flat section was much harder and less rideable than the back 1/2. Take of two trails almost. Pine Flat to Sedona through the amazing, sprawling, never-ending, cool goodness of the AZ Ponderosa plateau is not to be missed. Resupply- easy and plentiful. Water- very predictable and carry 200oz or so out of Cottonwood and away from the Verde River. Can't say enough thanks to the pioneers and this forum for letting old duffers like my two brothers and I stand on the shoulders of such giants. Peace. Out. bd