2012 AZT 300/750

[ScottM]

Hey all, I posted this over in the AZ forum on MTBR but figured people here would like to read about it... AZT from Kelvin north.
http://onegear-ray.blogspot.com/2011/12/kelvinator.html

Thanks for posting the report -- glad you guys were able to get out on the stuff by the river, and some of the very new stuff climbing away from it.

Yeah, the Kelvin section though declared officially "completed" isn't open yet.  It was a little premature of the ATA to announce that the AZT was done, and then not expect people to go ride the newest bit!  Read John Rendall's comment on my blog post here for a bit more info on the mine road and when they hope to get it open:

http://www.topofusion.com/diary/2011/12/04/white-canyon-singletrack/#comment-80577

[raybum]

Thanks Scott.  Yep, we were chomping at the bit to go ride that stuff and were a bit deflated when we got told by the drill rig foreman to stay out of the area.  Good news that the road section will be converted back to something resembling the rest of the trail.
btw, I had intended to find that spring near to where the trail hits the jeep road by the Gila (where Lee was filling up) but unfortunately didn't have a chance.  Is it on the east or west side of the trail?

[AZTtripper]

Ray

The Artesian Well is not really on the trail its on the Battle Axe road just east of where it crosses Walnut Canyon wash.

Once the full passage is complete we won't get anywhere near it unfortunately. Sounds like there might me another water source out that way.

For the racers watching this look for an updated water source list sometime next year. 

[raybum]

Hey Tim,
Yep, I knew of the artesian well and how it's off-course now.  A few weeks ago, Scott posted a writeup on his blog showing Lee in a picture filling up at a spring.  He said it was very near where the singletrack hit the jeep road just up from the river(where the trail makes the 90 turn to head north).  It'd be great if this was a reliable source.  Several of us are talking about another trip out there doing an out and back from PP, perhaps all the way to Kelvin(and back).
thx....Ray

[AZTtripper]

Ray

Just talked with Scott. The pic of Lee is at the Well. The water they saw but didn't get to he thinks is about a mile off course.

We definitely need to do some scouting around up there as well as touch base with Fred G the ATA''s water guru.

Tim

[ScottM]

Here's a waypoint for where we saw water flowing, just below the road.  Would be curious to hear reports on it, or I am also wondering about hiking/riding uphill the same wash from the trail towards the waypoint -- maybe it could be reached more easily that way.  Though it may sneak back underground fairly quickly right off the road.

[ScottM]

There's also a road that the AZT crosses -- it takes you directly uphill, on the east side of that wash.  That looks a lot shorter than going around on the main Martinez road.  Though there may be some hike-a-bike on it...

[raybum]

Excellent...thanks Tim and Scott.  I remember the road you're talking about...one of the guys with us went up that road when we temporarily lost the trail.  The aerial photos make it look maybe 1/3 - 1/2 mile up that road.  If I manage to get back out there in a few weeks, I'll post up what I find.
cheers,
Ray

[bikpdlr]

I'd appreciate any suggestions for getting to/fro the AZT 300 start/finish in April.  I spoke with the guys from Arizona Bicycle Experts and they said the message boards were the best way to go for coordinating a trip from out-of-town...

My basic plan (at this point) is...

1.  Ship/fly my bike into Tucson
2.  Shuttle from Tucson to Parker Canyon Lake
3.  Pedal some amazing singletrack !!!
4.  Shuttle from Superior to Phoenix
5.  Ship/fly my bike out of Phoenix


I'm traveling from Virginia and trying to figure out the best and most inexpensive way to pull this off.

Any suggestions for shipping points (i.e. bike shops, etc.) and carpooling shuttles would be appreciated.


Thanks,

Chris Tompkins
Danville, VA

[AZTtripper]

Chris

ABE is a great shop. You might be able to get them to receive your bike and have it reassembled and ready to roll when you get here.

Last year we had a separate thread just for shuttle planning. In the past there have been a couple of local guys who helped out.

Also the last two years I have had riders come to my place and then I shuttled their rigs back home from Parker Lake.

Tim

[bikpdlr]

Tim,

Thanks for the update.  I posted a message on the shuttle/logistics page.

I can fly into and out of Tucson (from home), so I've just got to find a ride to Parker Canyon Lake and from Superior.

I'll definitely chip in for shuttle expenses...


Chris

[tanman1337]

Just rode the first section about 10 days ago. I rode from Parker lake down to Canelo. It was definitely a fun section, lots of climbing in the Canelo Hills. The only crappy part was waking up under the stars to 19 degree temp and getting caught in a couple freak snow storms on the trail... lol Now that I have an idea of what the initial terrain is like could you guys kind of give me a comparison of as to what else to expect? If I can get over that way again before the 300 is there any other sections you recommend riding?

[AZTtripper]

If you thought that Canelo Hills East was fun your going to like the 300. Some passages are easier then others, CHE is one of the tough ones.

The Gardner Canyon, Kentucky Camp area is fun riding, the new trail north of Oak Tree,  the Las Colinas passage, is another toughie.

It would be good for someone to drive out to Freeman Road, the Boulders Passage is great, and check on/add to the water cache. The ATA water source page http://www.aztrail.org/thru-hikers.html#water shows 15 gallons but I bet there will be a lot of hiker traffic this spring.

I wouldn't bother to pre-ride Oracle Ridge, its an awesome passage but not worth doing more then once.

Tim

[tanman1337]

Cool well thanks for all the advice Tim. I'm really excited to ride some more of the AZT! Where is the Boulder's passage located?

-Tanner

[Buttermilk]

Just got an email from the ATA  announcing the guidebook. It has all the sections in PDF format and has good trail, water, etc info.
Sure glad I became an ATA member for many reasons...but this guidebook sure made it worth the 30 bucks.

Also...anybody have any experience with the Panaracer Smoke/Dart combo in the Arzona terrain?

[tanman1337]

One quick question... How many detours are there from the actual Arizona Trail during the 300 race? I noticed in a book I recently purchased that there are quite a few passages that are off limits to bicycles.

-Tanner

[AZTtripper]

Tanner

The Boulders Passage starts at Freeman road, in the middle of no where, North of Oracle South East of Phx.

You can get there by taking Freeman road either from the West off of the highway South of Florance or by heading west from Dudleyville.

The 300 starts on the first fully legal Passage at Parker Canyon Lake bypasses the Wilderness in the Santa Rita's by going to Sonoita, then we miss all of the Rincon's due to the Park and Wilderness, finally after Prison Camp we take the Catalina Highway to miss Wilderness in the Catalina's. After that your on all the way to Picket Post. So 3 I guess.

slhappy

I haven't had a chance to look at the new PDF yet sounds good. One thing to remember they usually do everything based on the hiking route. I'll get a look at it soon and see about creating a bike route water table like I did last year. Most of it won't change that much anyway.

The Smoke/Dart was the go to tire set up back in the day. Not so much anymore but I am sure you would be fine. I ran a Dart back in 07 and it did split a sidewall out on the old gas line. I wrote it off as being an old dried out tire as I got it at Performance for $5.

Tim

[tanman1337]

Cool thanks for the breakdown Tim! I have just been going through the ATA's guidebook and the AZT Book I got and was trying to piece together the differences between the hiker's way of doing the AZT and the way we will have to detour for the race. Once we get up to Sonoita on the 82, do we just link back up at Gardner Canyon from FR 92? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get the course laid out in my mind. I know it will pretty much be just fine with the GPX file and the Cue's, but just wanted to get a mental image in my head. Thx

-Tanner

[AZTtripper]

Now that we are in the new year it starting to be AZT planning time for sure.

Last years track will show you how we get into the Santa Rita's. It's not the same as the original AZT mountain biking book.

The turn off we take is shown here http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,2714.0.html

Gardner is another 2 miles up the pavement and you cross the trail a couple of miles beyond where the course joins in.

The way the course goes you get to ride every mile of single track legally open to bikes. It adds some extra climbing but gets you off pavement sooner. It is a bummer that we have to have the no camping zone but everyone who was moving still got at least past it before they stopped last year, for most its a non issue.

I would add the northern Santa Rita's to the pre-ride list. It would be good to know what that section holds in store and its a good work out ride. Starting at Rosemont Jct or even Oak Tree and heading north to Forest boundry, you can get out at the Lakes road or continue of course. Oak Tree to Sahuarita road is about 20 miles I think.

The only change in the Santa Rita's over last year is the trail is now finished, so it should be quicker and easier then the old bushwack to the jeep road. After that it should stay the same as last year all the way past Oracle then at the point where last years track became a straight line, the gas line, we now have at least 11 miles of new single track. Then the final big change is all of the new stuff north of the Gila. Some guys from Phx rode it last week http://forums.mtbr.com/arizona/picketpost-kelvin-shuttle-12-30-a-759112.html the course goes in the other direction of course so there's even more climbing. Its going to be a tough finish now with the slower single track but it should be a lot more fun then the old jeep road grind.

Tim

[Beardog]

YUP--I am riding the 750 in April and looking for others interested in racing all three with me this summer - AZT, TDR and CTR. I started a post today loosely called the triple crown of self supported ultra mtb racing for anyone who wants to chime in. Also looking for ride from Tucson (or further) to the border for the 4/13 start--will share expenses (and beer of course).

David Goldberg (beardog)
Ft Collins, CO

contact--beardog1960@msn.com