2010 AZTR discussion thread

[donkey]

Steph and I did the Grand Canyon R2R2R on Monday.......after that experience I have two observations:

1. There is still quite a bit of snow on the North Rim. The AZT sign is practically buried where the trail picks up at the North Rim parking lot. I would say 3-4 feet deep in the shade. Yikes!

2. Hiking into and out of the ditch with a bike would be a serious task. I had absolutely no perspective before Monday....but now it's pretty clear how hard that would be!

B

[layla]

B. Thanks for the update on N and S Rim.  Mark C. is attempting that today....he has been moving forward at a steady pace after he got all his mechical issues squared away. After spending the nite a few days back in 22 degree weather then going to some nice warmth and again to snow...hmmm, he may not be too happy. lol  He is an inspiration to me he just keeps on going solitary rider no fame no fortune, he was meant to do this!  Destiny i suppose? Layla

BTW: Ian I love reading your posts when you get them in you are also so determined, Best thoughts sent to you today

[DaveC]

Steph and I did the Grand Canyon R2R2R on Monday.......after that experience I have to observations:

1. There is still quite a bit of snow on the North Rim. The AZT sign is practically buried where the trail picks up at the North Rim parking lot. I would say 3-4 feet deep in the shade. Yikes!

2. Hiking into and out of the ditch with a bike would be a serious task. I had absolutely no perspective before Monday....but now it's pretty clear how hard that would be!

B

Nice job B!  No matter how fit I am that's always an ass kicker.  Add 6 days of riding and a ~40 lb load...ouch.

[AZTtripper]

Looks like Kurt just past Ian, Ian seems to be at the bottom of east Clear creek doing the hike a bike out and getting up on the main plateau of the Blue Ridge/Happy Jack section. Kurts already up there in the bumpy stuff Mark mentioned. Depending on the snow and what they get to ride there is some great ST and some real bumpy stuff like the section with no trail just bump across the field of rocks looking for AZT sign in the trees and the occasional post or two.

Mark makes the Canyon that's great where are we at here anyway from the original start date, for the two left who started in the snow, day 12+?  And Kurt is only 4+ is that right?

[DaveH]

Mark makes the Canyon that's great where are we at here anyway from the original start date, for the two left who started in the snow, day 12+?  And Kurt is only 4+ is that right?

That sounds right.  If you click the most recent point in an individuals track page (for example here is Ian's:  http://trackleaders.com/aztri.php?name=Ian_Corfe ) the popup will show you the elapsed time since the start.  Ian's is 12:08:xx and Kurts is 4:09:xx when I just looked.

About that Highline trail...I saw that passing through some years ago.  Rode for about 45 min and thought to myself "damn this is silly" and flipped it.  It's odd how those sort of difficult sections are the most memorable, often in a good way, in these epics.

[ScottM]

Kurt is making good time, but is probably disappointed at how far away Flagstaff still is.  I think he was hoping to make Payson to Flag in roughly a day, but with the Highline in there it's really not possible.

I'm guessing that we'll see him make the first snow detour into Happy Jack soon.  Mark C. left a message on my phone indicating that the two snow detours before Flag were "right on."  It started getting muddy right before the detours and getting back on the route it would be muddy for a couple miles, then dry up.  He didn't say anything about snow or mud elsewhere, though this message was before he left Flagstaff -- so he may have encountered some on Hart Prairie.

Hoping to hear from Mark soon about the Canyon.  I think he'd be hiking across tomorrow, not today, as he was in Flag last night, but I could be wrong.

[AZTtripper]

Thanks Dave I see it now, I have fond memories of the Highline as well even though it is slow going or maybe because it is slow going challenging trail. And then you still have to do the straight up hike a bike to gain the rim itself, after that it is still a long way to Morman Lake. After that it's quick and easy  (by comparison) to Flag. Flag to the Canyon should go pretty quickly for them, once they are past the snow and mud around the peaks. The worst part of the Coconino Rim might be blow downs, seems like there is one section through a burn area before Grand View lookout, that can be real bad for down trees. I don't remember much about the Tusayan bike trail it's all pretty easy.

[mtbcast]

Got a blank call yesterday. Late last night I got a call from Mark but all I got was his name then it broke up. Hope he's okay!

[layla]

I heard from Mark last night, he sounded good, but i could detect by his voice hat he had an extremely tough ride.  He said it was a really hot day. and I think he said there was no snow but don't remember that part...because, For the first time he complained about a possible injury,  pulled calf after riding over a cattle guard, musta really jogged it.  He said after walking aways it was starting to loosen up a little.. He said he didn't want to camp where he was, and that he had approx. 10-20 miles to town on rim?  He was going to call back but have not heard yet. So yep hope he is doing ok. I am sure he will feel better after a good nights sleep. Layla

[ScottM]

Looks like both snow detours and a room at the Mormon Lake Lodge for Krefs last night.  Nice.  He should make it into Flagstaff by midday.

It can't be more that mid 70's for Mark out there, but I know well the effect a number of strenuous days can have on your perception of heat.  Once you've been out for a while, 70's and sun can be too hot.  Hope his injury was minor and that he's going to tackle the canyon today.

Looks like Ian was inspired by Kurt passing him, and may have actually passed him back, however briefly.  He also made it to Mormon Lake Lodge (area) last night, riding until 5am!  Wow!

[mtbcast]

Just got a call from Mark. He's up near the Coconino Rim. His calf is better and he's tired so he'll be plugging along slowly today.

[mtbcast]

Kurt calls in from Flagstaff but the call is cut off.

Mark just called in from Tusayan and prepares to cross the Grand Canyon!

[DaveH]

Sounds like he was still out of breath from the stuff between Payson and the Rim!  Oracle Ridge a walk in the park...anyone want to go ride Highline tomorrow?

[mtbcast]

Just added Mark's call above.

[ScottM]

I talked to Kurt after his call got cut off to MTBCast.  Besides raving about the Highline trail, he said that both he and Ian ate lunch together near the rim's edge and both noticed that they were severely low on food.  I think that explains Ian's all night push into Mormon Lake.

Unfortunately for Kurt, Mormon Lake was all buttoned up when he got there, so he slept a few hours, ate his last 'emergency' calories and then rode all morning on an empty stomach into Flag.  (!)  He was surprisingly upbeat about that section, claiming to have enjoyed it despite the lack of calories.

He was heading into Buffalo Park as he was talking to me, on his way to enjoy some classic Flag singletrack before heading out of town.  I had not yet talked to Mark, who reported that Hart Prairie was only "fun/cool" for him because he hit it early in the morning when all the snow was frozen.

We may see some slow down for Kurt here, hitting it in the peak of the afternoon.  I'm sure he'll push through as nothing has really stymied him yet -- not even running out of food!  He did say that he slashed a tire at some point, but that he got it to seal and was able to procure a new one at Absolute Bikes in Flag.

Mark called to ask about crossing the canyon -- sounds like he will try to find a permit for camping or staying at Phantom so he can tackle it over two days.  I hope that works out for him.  Kurt may pass him somewhere in the canyon tomorrow, or perhaps on the north rim the next day.

[sherpaxc]

I tried to do a search, but where can we find the pics of you hiking the GC with your bike?  Are there others who have done this (Mike C)?

[tRoy]

I got to play "Spot paparazzi" today - finding Kurt on the Fort Valley Single Track.  





Notice the tape on his right ankle - I think he said his achilles tendon was giving him a little trouble.  Also notice the hiking poles he just picked up in  Flagstaff.  Should be useful for the Grand Canyon stretch.  I told him that Bright Angle lodge on the Canyon rim would be a good breakfast before descending the canyon on Bright Angel Trail.... now I look at the Map and see that the course doubles back and descends the S. Kaibab Trail....
He was in great spirits and doing well.  I think he said that he's sleeping closer to 6 hours/night now; earlier in the ride it was more like 3-4 hours.  



I told him that there was a new thread here on the forums and the discussion was that if trail magic was refused then racers should be DQed... with that he happily took some of the best Chocolate in AZ, produced by Uncle Buzz.  

[Chad B]

Great pictures. I was just thinking how funny it is that we all use the exact same gear...bike, backpack, shoes, gloves, etc. I wonder if he is going to try to ditch the poles at the North Rim.

[ScottM]

I told him that there was a new thread here on the forums and the discussion was that if trail magic was refused then racers should be DQed... with that he happily took some of the best Chocolate in AZ, produced by Uncle Buzz. 

Haha.    Agree with the DQ.

Thanks for the pics.  Doesn't look a bit tired.  Hope his achilles and foot hold out for the big hike.

[ScottM]

I tried to do a search, but where can we find the pics of you hiking the GC with your bike?  Are there others who have done this (Mike C)?

Here's one, from Phantom Ranch:



Lee Blackwell and I crossed the canyon the spring before I did my 'time trial', though we took two days to do it:





Then Tim McCabe crossed the following spring, using a different method of carrying: