2009 Arizona Trail 300 "official" thread

[wookieone]

Hello Everyone, this is Jefe and I am coming down for some AZT fun!!! Bought the plane tickets and all, so lets hope the pilot gets plenty of sleep!

So I do have one question for anyone who has done the AZT 300, how much capacity for water did you find appropriate? I would greatly appreiciate any info in this realm, thanks y'all, hope to see everyone soon!!!

[Chad B]

Water stops the first 150 miles are pretty prevalent, Patagonia, Observatory, Gardner Canyon (filtered), Colossal Cave, Tucson, Summerhaven. After Oracle though, you are going to need at least 200 ounces to make it to Superior.

Hope that helps and glad you are coming down.

We did an overnighter last week that should get you excited: http://chadfbrown.blogspot.com/2009/03/max-and-i-headed-out-for-tour-of-azt.html

[Marshal]

I was pretty worried about water last yr.  And this trail is not like the Colorado Trail, where there are lots & lots of ‘clear stream’ sources that filter/UV out nice, cold and tasty.  So I left my filter at home and just carried some ‘back-up’ purification tablets. I did try to use them once right at the end but the water was so skanky I didn’t drink it, just waited till I reached my Van..

Anyway Scott’s cue sheets mention several possible ‘secondary’ waters sources, tanks, wells & such.  You can google them and learn more from other resources.  I did so & put them in my GPS as waypoints, “just-in-case”, but didn’t use/need them. 

So, there is ‘stagnate’ stock tank, well & stock pond water & a bit of flowing silty desert water along the trail, and it ‘can’ be filtered and used.  But imo it’s just easier to plan/carry enough for my particular needs/speed as I slowly hop along from quality water ‘source to source’.  And then also have the ‘secondary’ water possibilities GPS/waypointing and some tablets as my back up

[Marshal]

Say, is it still to soon to start asking about drop-off and pick-up ride sharing and logistics & such??

[ScottM]

Just got this from Brett Tucker:

By the way, I did manage to check out the new trail several miles south of
Picketpost and can confirm that the trail has been brushed and smoothed to
an appearance comparable to that nearer the trailhead. In other words,
good trail all the way to FR 4. It's quite a work of art, really. In fact
they're also finalizing the stretch south of FR 4 for another mile or so.
Doesn't quite yet avoid all of the roadwalking toward the Wilderness
boundary as of yet, but they're getting there.

Hmmmm... decisions, decisions. 

Current course follows the old AZT route, Alamo Canyon, and it's a bit of a beast.  Shorter distance wise, but plenty of hiking and rough stuff.  A lot of it is simply in a rocky, gnarly wash that is hard to ride, especially in the dark.

Lee and I rode the parallel singletrack (new AZT) back in December, but found it overgrown and unfinished for the first few miles (it eventually turns to very sweet trail).  With this report I'm tempted to switch to the trail.  The change is inevitable, just a question of whether to do it this year or not.

Any opinions?

[ScottM]

Water stops the first 150 miles are pretty prevalent, Patagonia, Observatory, Gardner Canyon (filtered), Colossal Cave, Tucson, Summerhaven. After Oracle though, you are going to need at least 200 ounces to make it to Superior.

Uh, Gardner Canyon is not on the route.  Maybe you are thinking of Madera?  It can be dry by 300 time.  It's kind of a moot point this year since the spigot at the Madera Canyon trail head / bathrooms has been reported functional (last year it was not).

Madera -> Colossal Cave can be a bit of a haul, and there's very little water even if you wanted to filter.  Be sure to fill up big there, especially if not riding that portion in the dark.  Previous racers have run out.

Definitely 200+ oz for Oracle->Superior.  Cow tanks out there can actually be OK in some cases, but you'll need mucho water, whether doing it in one push or camping a night out there.

We did an overnighter last week that should get you excited: http://chadfbrown.blogspot.com/2009/03/max-and-i-headed-out-for-tour-of-azt.html

Nice Chad.

[ScottM]

Say, is it still to soon to start asking about drop-off and pick-up ride sharing and logistics & such??

Nope.  I'm up for picking some people up at the finish (so they can leave cars) as long as one of them can give me a ride back (only to Tucson).  We've got a few possible volunteers to get people to the start, leaving Tucson ~6:30am.  I'll try to confirm that soon.

[ScottM]

Current course follows the old AZT route, Alamo Canyon, and it's a bit of a beast.  Shorter distance wise, but plenty of hiking and rough stuff.  A lot of it is simply in a rocky, gnarly wash that is hard to ride, especially in the dark.

Lee and I rode the parallel singletrack (new AZT) back in December, but found it overgrown and unfinished for the first few miles (it eventually turns to very sweet trail).  With this report I'm tempted to switch to the trail.  The change is inevitable, just a question of whether to do it this year or not.

Any opinions?

Here's a map of the difference between the two routes, for those not familiar with the area.



I'm leaning towards including it.  If you get there during daylight I think it's a no brainer -- the singletrack is going to be a lot more fun.  At night it's a little different, but I think still probably more palatable than the wash.  It'd debatable as to which is faster overall, but certainly the difference is less than an hour either way.

[Chad B]

Uh, Gardner Canyon is not on the route. 

ops... epic failure on my part, I meant Madera.

[Marshal]

Ride to start area from Tucson airport hotel needed.

Well, for some odd reason it looks like I just happen to have some official ‘AZ area’ work scheduled the week after the AZT.  So I have arranged for a business associate to retrieve my work van from the Tucson airport and pick me up at the finish.

But I need a ride on Friday morning to the start area from the Quality Inn Airport at 2803 E Valencia???  I will of course pay for my share of gas etc.

[Marshal]

I'm leaning towards including it.  If you get there during daylight I think it's a no brainer -- the singletrack is going to be a lot more fun.  At night it's a little different, but I think still probably more palatable than the wash.  It'd debatable as to which is faster overall, but certainly the difference is less than an hour either way.

Include it

[Stefan_G]

I'm leaning towards including it.  If you get there during daylight I think it's a no brainer -- the singletrack is going to be a lot more fun.  At night it's a little different, but I think still probably more palatable than the wash.  It'd debatable as to which is faster overall, but certainly the difference is less than an hour either way.

I wish I were more qualified to chime in, but as I've seen 0.0% of the trail, it'll all be new to me!  If you eventually plan to include it anyway, I'd say go ahead and do it now.  Particularly if you are incorporating it into the AZT-300 '09 GPX file.

I'm flying into Tucson on Thursday and staying with my brother.  We are borrowing his car, and we might be able to take another person to the start.  I need to find out what kind of car it is, if it has a rack, etc...  I'll have it nailed down early next week - I'm too distracted this week with Moab riding plans.

[krefs]

I'd also say that this "new" singletrack should be included...the topo map makes it look like it'd be pretty fun terrain, but what do I know, anyway?

[ScottM]

Thanks for the opinions guys.  It's "in" unless someone objects.  It is a little close to the start date to be changing the route.  It'll go into the next version of the GPX.

[Kevin Montgomery]

Singletrack +1

[AZTtripper]

You know I am always into new AZT

[ScottM]

I'll have a new GPX file with the singletrack soon.

The Tour Divide crew (Matt and Kevin) have offered to loan out SPOT units to anyone riding the AZT this year.  First come, first serve.  There will be a web based tracking system for the viewers at home. 

Carrying one is 100% optional, of course.  But please let me know (by email, so we don't clutter this thread) if you'd like to borrow one (email = smorris@topofusion.com).  Kevin will bring them to the start and give a brief description of how to use them.  You'll need to bring two AA lithium batteries and also be responsible for returning the unit when you're done.

Don't know what a spot is?  Go here.



We should get a preview of the tracker when Chad Brown sets out early on his AZT300+ mission.

[Pivvay]

Looks like Kurt, Pete and I will be driving down from Moab on Thursday AM. We'd to leave a vehicle at the finish if possible. Otherwise we just need a place to crash out Thurs night and help with the Friday AM shuttle.

I will be carrying my SPOT as well. Scott or Kevin, do you need anything from me to set it up?

[ScottM]

I will be carrying my SPOT as well. Scott or Kevin, do you need anything from me to set it up?

We just need the address of your share page.

[sherpaxc]

Make sure to give the link so we can all follow!