 Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #240 on: May 07, 2010, 08:13:11 AM
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Chad B
Moderator
Posts: 484
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« Reply #240 on: May 07, 2010, 08:13:11 AM » |
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Kurt is closing in on the Grand Canyon, good timing if he wants to make a run at it today. Weather seems to be in the high 60s today.
Keep on chugging Kurt!
Did Ian bail? His spot seems to be nearing LV. Did I miss a post about this?
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« Last Edit: May 07, 2010, 08:38:42 AM by Chad B »
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #241 on: May 07, 2010, 08:21:54 AM
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mtbcast
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 2455
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« Reply #241 on: May 07, 2010, 08:21:54 AM » |
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Kurt calls in from Tusayan after a cold night!
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JP - MTBCast.com
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #242 on: May 07, 2010, 10:14:13 AM
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mforness3000
Posts: 16
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« Reply #242 on: May 07, 2010, 10:14:13 AM » |
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I need a good backpack. Anyone know what backpack Kurt is using in those pictures? thanks, matt
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #243 on: May 07, 2010, 10:18:59 AM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #243 on: May 07, 2010, 10:18:59 AM » |
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Looks like Kurt is coming up on the South Rim in the near future. I can't imagine the gut-check he'll feel when he gets a visual of what's in front of him for the day!
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #244 on: May 07, 2010, 10:20:26 AM
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Chad B
Moderator
Posts: 484
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« Reply #244 on: May 07, 2010, 10:20:26 AM » |
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Looks like Kurt is coming up on the South Rim in the near future. I can't imagine the gut-check he'll feel when he gets a visual of what's in front of him for the day!
Gut check indeed, but excited nonetheless. He is almost done.  Imagine if you were heading south bound and had to start off the ride with a hump like that. Which would you prefer? |
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #245 on: May 07, 2010, 10:26:52 AM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #245 on: May 07, 2010, 10:26:52 AM » |
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Imagine if you were heading south bound and had to start off the ride with a hump like that. Which would you prefer?
North to South.....I'd *maybe* make it to Flagstaff! |
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #246 on: May 07, 2010, 10:31:40 AM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #246 on: May 07, 2010, 10:31:40 AM » |
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Ian ran out of time, so, yep, he bailed after Flagstaff. I thought he was continuing on, as he did ride Oldham, Rocky Ridge, etc, out of Flag, but he turned back to town and then started going 40+ mph westward. Strong run Ian, congrats on making it to Flag.
Kurt's pack is an Osprey Talon 33.
Gut check -- yup. At least the end is in sight, especially with the snow detour -- pavement all the way to Jacob Lake. With a ~10am start I'd say he's likely to hit the North Rim after sunset. Camping spots will be limited (and cold!) with all the snow, so we might see him push all the way to Jacob Lake tonight. That's a big push.
I'd much rather have the hike at the end -- riding 600 miles with sore legs would be tough. Doing the last day to the border with trashed legs is not so bad... but people who actually run/hike (e.g. Kurt, Brian, etc) might feel differently.
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #247 on: May 07, 2010, 10:32:38 AM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #247 on: May 07, 2010, 10:32:38 AM » |
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Looks like he's at the trailhead...likely getting his hiking setup put together. It's 10:30am right now. Think he'll be sleeping on the Kaibab Plateau tonight?
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #248 on: May 07, 2010, 10:47:49 AM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #248 on: May 07, 2010, 10:47:49 AM » |
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He's motivated not only by the ITT/race aspect, but also the fact that he has a ride home available, but only until tomorrow night (I think). If he finishes in 7.5 days he's done at the border. If not... he has to keep pedaling and figure something else out. So, if there's any way he can make it across and (probably to Jacob Lake), I think he'll do it.
For the first time he admitted getting tired on his last call in, so I'm sure the crossing will be suffering of quality, but I think he'll slay it, as he has everything else thus far.
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« Last Edit: May 07, 2010, 10:52:08 AM by ScottM »
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #249 on: May 07, 2010, 11:03:26 AM
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dkirk
Location: Yakima Washington
Posts: 55
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« Reply #249 on: May 07, 2010, 11:03:26 AM » |
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Good job all riders! It's amazing Kurt's at the rim. I'm wondering how the Spot coverage will be on the descent?
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #250 on: May 07, 2010, 11:07:13 AM
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Chad B
Moderator
Posts: 484
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« Reply #250 on: May 07, 2010, 11:07:13 AM » |
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Good job all riders! It's amazing Kurt's at the rim. I'm wondering how the Spot coverage will be on the descent?
Looks like he is going down into the abyss now.... |
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #251 on: May 07, 2010, 01:32:04 PM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #251 on: May 07, 2010, 01:32:04 PM » |
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I'm glued to the Spot today. Having been on those trails just a few days ago.....I am very interested in how quickly he gets through there/how it goes for him.
I think reception might be getting spotty. His last point was over an hour ago. I would imagine he's crossed the black bridge by now.
Awesome!
B
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #252 on: May 07, 2010, 01:40:15 PM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #252 on: May 07, 2010, 01:40:15 PM » |
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Yeah, I wouldn't expect too many points to come through until after Cottonwood camp. My GPS track from both of my hikes is pretty crappy -- very poor exposure to satellites / the sky.
Could be pretty toasty down there for Kurt (and Mark). 2500' means 80's I would say. From Phantom Ranch to Cottonwood Camp (8 miles or so) the trail is very flat, very wide and agonizingly rideable. The descent and climb don't feel too silly with a bike on the back, because they wouldn't be supremely rideable anyway, but the stretch Kurt is on right now would take *hours* less time if one were allowed to ride rather than carry.
This is very cool, I'm excited for both of them.
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #253 on: May 07, 2010, 02:25:31 PM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #253 on: May 07, 2010, 02:25:31 PM » |
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Looks like he's past Phantom Ranch.....hopefully he got a few cold drinks while he was there!
B
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #254 on: May 07, 2010, 02:27:32 PM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #254 on: May 07, 2010, 02:27:32 PM » |
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Yep, he appears to be leaving Phantom right now. Cool that we are getting SPOT points down there.
Wonder where Mark is and if the two bikepackers will bump into each other in the canyon somewhere. They've got to be making a stir amongst the other tourists and park staff, especially two of them spread out like that.
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #255 on: May 07, 2010, 05:57:51 PM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #255 on: May 07, 2010, 05:57:51 PM » |
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The suspense is killing me.....is he at Phantom Ranch? Cottonwood(or further) with no Spot reception??
I'm dying to see what kind of r2r split he pulled off if he did the whole hike today.
B
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #256 on: May 07, 2010, 06:14:35 PM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #256 on: May 07, 2010, 06:14:35 PM » |
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I hear ya... the next point that comes in will be very telling. It sort of looks like he walked past the cantina at Phantom, then backtracked to grab a lemonade. But that was 4 hours ago...
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #257 on: May 07, 2010, 09:10:50 PM
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ScottM
bikepacking.net admin
Location: Wherever my rig is parked.
Posts: 2864
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« Reply #257 on: May 07, 2010, 09:10:50 PM » |
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All is still quiet on the north rim. No SPOT points have been transmitted. It's been about 10.5 hours since Kurt started hiking. 9pm now, sunset was about 2 hours ago.
It's getting epic out there...
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #258 on: May 08, 2010, 08:09:05 AM
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donkey
Posts: 85
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« Reply #258 on: May 08, 2010, 08:09:05 AM » |
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Looks like he's on the highway on the North Rim.....moving along towards a finish!
If memory serves correct he'll be coming up on a Country Store type of place in the next few miles. Wonder if they're open for the season?(kinda doubt it).
B
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« Last Edit: May 08, 2010, 08:23:50 AM by donkey »
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Topic Name: 2010 AZTR discussion thread
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Reply #259 on: May 08, 2010, 11:29:15 AM
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DaveC
Location: Kalispell, MT
Posts: 249
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« Reply #259 on: May 08, 2010, 11:29:15 AM » |
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Looks like the ditch dealt some pain.
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