2011 AZTR Updates / Discussion Thread

[marycycle]

Thanks for posting my Examiner article Scott. I try to post links on every forum, yahoo and google group I can think of but forgot this one.

I'm always happy to write about the AZ Trail and other endurance mountain bike events!

[ScottM]

Max made pretty quick work of the Highline trail (~6 hours) and has now finished the big push up to the rim as well.  As others have pointed out, things get a lot easier from here on out... with the exception of the Grand Canyon hike.

I don't think he'll need to detour anywhere between here and Flagstaff, my thinking is that everything should be dry.  We'll see how it goes for him.

[vinnie b]

Dang, that is pretty good time going across the Highline Trail and up the Rim.

[AZTtripper]

And quick work of the Blue Ridge Passage as well. And there is still some HAB going on in that section also. Snow report for Flag on MTBR sounds good and dry. Anybody know of a snowtell sight for the North Rim there is some sweet ST up there hopefully he will get to ride it.

[Chad B]

Another Max Update: http://chadfbrown.blogspot.com/2011/04/max-update-highline-and-beyond.html

[LyndaW]

Go Max go! He is moving along nicely.

[DaveH]

5 hour hike a bike before Pine, yowza.  Way to keep at it Max!

I use http://www.nohrsc.nws.gov/ as a source for snowpack information.  Using the interactive maps, I locate a region of interest, get the permanent link to the most recent image, and load it into google earth as an image overlay with a refresh strategy.  After doing that it is but a click or two to get a best estimate for snowpack...

Here's what it looks like right now for the north rim singletrack.



Same time last year Kurt was faced with this.



For Kurt, it was a no-brainer.  When he hit the north rim and encountered 5+ feet of snow on the ground the only way out was the road.  For Max it may not be so clear.  The image above for current conditions tells me (based on experiences with these snow maps) that the trail is not yet rideable, but probably close enough that he'll try....interesting times ahead for Max no doubt!

[AZTtripper]

Dave thanks for the links and info, I guess we'll see sometime early next week when he gets there. In my experience up that way the trails dry out fast so maybe he'll just have some patches to deal with.

Hopefully he will find patches like this.


And not deep snow like this.


Looks like he is almost to Bargaman Park and the new section of single track, then he can curse me for reminding Scott to put it in the course. Hopefully he is having fun and will enjoy the extra trail rather then wishing he was on the road at that point.

[ScottM]

Thanks for the snow overlay, Dave. 

Here's another piece of data:

http://trackleaders.com/azti.php?name=Brandon_Kelone

Brandon is a thu-hiker, and his last point (1/day only) is on the trail, just before Jacob Lake.  But his previous is just off the highway, suggesting he may have taken the road at first.  Hard to say with only 1/day though.

I would guess that the AZT in the park (old powerline road, approaching 9k at times) is going to have some snow on it, but that after the Park boundary it might be worth joining.  Up to Max how much he wants to ride of course.  Fun to follow.  If he keeps hauling he could make Flag today.

[AZTtripper]

Max just called from the Lodge at Mormon Lake. So far he is still on course no snow detours and it's not muddy but the ground is soft and sapping his speed and energy. He sounds super upbeat and beat up from the Highline and all. He will be heading for Flag next and looking to get a room and recover some.

I think the old power line on the north rim at 9k is the highest point on the AZT for bikes anyway. Sounds like Max is still enjoying the suffering.

[Marshal]

Mormon Lake for lunch and the Spot says a early room tonight in Flagg--good timing Max!!

Luck on the rest of the route

[krefs]

Man, Max is cruising! His time for the Highline trail was dang fast, and reaching Flag tonight will put him in a great position to reach the South Rim tomorrow night unless he needs to get anything from a bike shop in town. And as he mentions in his last call to Chad, that section of trail before Pine also was a very, very unwelcome hike-a-bike surprise for me last year.

[dream4est]

Nice work on the highline trail Max- I took waaaay longer to clear that hell. Good to see you out there alone living large. I can see the trails in my head as I watch your spot crusing along.

[Chad B]

Another post from Max: http://chadfbrown.blogspot.com/2011/04/max-update-flagstaff.html

[AZTtripper]

Just heard from Max, Highline and all of the trail today has him beat up but still sounding very up beat. He is well on his way to riding the entire course with no snow detours. Possibly one of the most complete trips of the AZT by bike to date. Not sure yet if he will head out in the morning or give himself another day to recoup. Sounds like he was having some tire issues today so he will likely need to get that worked out as well.

[Lee Blackwell]

Max !   

[LyndaW]

Looks like Max is still in Flag. Day off?

I blogged about my AZT300 http://2-epic.com/?p=1541

I posted bike and gear on the personal setups page. I appreciated everyone sharing what worked for them in the past. It helped me figure out my set up.

[Chad B]

45 MPH winds forced him to take a rest day. Leaving tomorrow at 3am. Call in again just came in and is posted.

[aarong]

Lynda was kind enough to do a Q&A for Outside magazine. You can read it here:

http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2011/04/the-cycle-life-300-miles-of-arizona-suffering.html#more

[ScottM]

Thanks for the link Aaron, great to see more press for LW!

Max did not take the snow detour around the peaks, meaning he got some very sweet meadow riding early this morning.  He may have run into some snow in the north facing aspens, but it didn't seem to slow him down too much.  He's now on the long descent down into Babbit Ranch country (aka Kansas).  He should make some good time for a while, then start rolling over to the Coconino Rim.

It's a great ride from Flag to the Canyon and I think Max will have no problem busting it out in a day, esp. after taking yesterday off.