Coco+AZT section in December?

[dgjessee]

Hey guys,

Thinking of places I can do a 2-week bikepacking trip on sick singletrack with the least amount of "assured" snow possible.  I was kind of thinking of doing a lasso of hitting the AZT outside Phoenix, riding up to the Coco loop, then back to Phoenix.  In early December or possibly right after Christmas, how would that route be?  I'm the kind that I would plan a ton of mileage but if I had to hitch the ride back to Phoenix, no biggy... thoughts on this route or other areas that meet my requirements? :-)

[ScottM]

Snow will be an issue on ~half of the Coco route.  Might get lucky in early December, but you might not.  Otherwise I like the idea quite a bit.  You might be able to exit the Coco loop in Sedona and head south by a different route back into Phx, picking up the Black Canyon Trail and then into the Cave Creek area singletrack back in.  Would be a sweet loop, but December is still winter at 7,000+' in AZ...

If you're constrained on time, you might want to look more towards southern AZ.

[AZTtripper]

Couple of thoughts one heading north out of PHX on the AZT is mostly road followed by some of the hardest single track (tons of hike a bike) on the course. Better to take the Black Canyon trail out of NW PHX trails not great on the south end but it does get way better as you go north. Then you should be able to work your way to Sedona for some riding up there. Depending on weather and if there's any snow maybe work on up to Flag. Or get yourself back to PHX and head out SE to Picketpost and pick up the AZT course heading southbound possibly a loop of the Gila Ramble course.

[dgjessee]

Thanks guys!  I figured that maybe I would just plan to fly into Phoenix and base my final route choice on the weather.  Have a southern option as well as a northern option - I've just spent more time in Southern AZ so trying to diversify.  I thought about the Trans Utah route as well but figured that wouldn't be any better for snow