2012 AZT 300/750

[krefs]

The cache is ~12 miles back Freeman Rd (good dirt road) from the highway. If it's well stocked, I'll leave it be.

Is Oracle SP officially open again?

[ScottM]

Kurt....I read somewhere recently that there was 9 unmarked gallons at the cache.  I assume that means that others are leaving water out there with their name on it.  What kind of drive is it to the cache?  

Others are, yes, as in other thru-hikers.  NOT other AZT racers.  Dropping gallons there with your name on it would be a race no-no.  Dropping gallons for everyone to use (hikers, horse riders, etc), well... that's more of a gray area and has historically been allowed, but only at this one location, where there has been water cached ever since the trail existed.

There should be a bunch of water there, but do not stake your life on it.  Consider it a bonus -- trail magic -- if you do fill up there, not a guarantee.

[ScottM]

Is Oracle SP officially open again?

Technically only on Saurdays.  Better ride fast if you want a welcoming party... I think the hose/spigot should be accessible after hours, but I am not sure.

[Marshal]

I am worried with the size of this yr’s field and at my planned pace that Freeman Rd may be depleted. 

So that leaves
a) Bathtub Spring—I sort of want to stop here just to take a picture if nothing else as I have been seeing pics of this spring for yrs on Scott’s and other blogs
b) Gila River--yuc
b) Pinal Co Maintenance Yard and Wilson Trailer Court past the Kelvin bridge

Anyone have personal experience (details) to add about the Maint yard and/or Trailer court
(I read & understand Scott’s note not to use the Trailer Court after dark)

getting ansy Marshal

[ScottM]

I am worried with the size of this yr’s field and at my planned pace that Freeman Rd may be depleted. 

Remember that half will likely drop by or near Tucson...

Gila should be fine -- just don't drink it every day.  I know several people who have had some and did not die. 

I have not tried the maintenance yard.  There is a spigot that is inside the yard of the main house in front of the trailer court.  We knocked on the door and asked the older woman who lived there for permission to fill up.  This should be common sense, but don't go knocking on people's doors in the middle of the night, or wandering around in their yards with headlamps.  There is also an old cowboy who has his name, George Hunt (right Tim?), on his mailbox, just past the trailer court.  He is happy to give water to AZT users.

[ScottM]

AZTR 750 Snow Detours

I posted a snow detour file:

http://www.topofusion.com/azt/gpx/AZTR-2012-snowdetours-rev1.gpx

After looking at snotel sites, and talking to Troy -- Flagstaff rider and AZT 300 finisher, I think the only allowed detour should be the North Rim, and that's what is reflected in the file.  Anyone care to make a case otherwise?  Shoot.


Tracker is up to 35 people.  11 states and 3 countries are represented.  I am sure some others will come out of the woodwork, too.  Check out the new current weather layer being shown, with forecast available if you click on the icons.

NWS has backed down a little on the low pressure system prognosticated to dig this weekend, but it's still a threat.  Could be perfect weather, could be another Lemmon snowstorm ('09 style) on Saturday.

[dream4est]

Hey Scott how about a quick cue-style rundown of that North Rim detour? Are we just detouring until we find no snow-mud or the whole way to Jacob Lake?

Mark C.

[ScottM]

Hey Scott how about a quick cue-style rundown of that North Rim detour? Are we just detouring until we find no snow-mud or the whole way to Jacob Lake?

Mark C.

To Jacob Lake -- but feel free to jump on earlier if it looks good.  Cues are simple - take the pavement to JL. 

[dream4est]

To Jacob Lake -- but feel free to jump on earlier if it looks good.  Cues are simple - take the pavement to JL. 

Cool- I know that pavement well after 2010. Nearly 50 miles of hunger-based riding. The burger at Jacob Lake was not that good but to me it was amazing at the time.

[LyndaW]

Anyone have personal experience (details) to add about the Maint yard and/or Trailer court
(I read & understand Scott’s note not to use the Trailer Court after dark)

DH and I stopped by the maint yard on our bike tour. We asked if it was ok to use their hose. A big dude called Pancho was there and said anytime they are open stop by, cool off and fill up - super friendly. They have a row of plastic chairs in the shade next to the hose. He pretty much stopped working (if he was actually working in the first place?) and entertained us for about 30 mins. He heated up and fed DH a plate of left over fried chicken too! Then he regaled us with stories of scorpions and snakes and things that can eat you in the local desert. Then he moved on to all the things you can kill and eat in the desert and after each animal was described he told us they tasted like chicken. Ha, ha super entertaining.

So if you stop by the maint yard say Hi to Pancho for me :-) He is a tall (wide and round) character!!

Lynda

[Marshal]

DH and I stopped by the maint yard on our bike tour. We asked if it was ok to use their hose. A big dude called Pancho was there and said anytime they are open stop by, cool off and fill up - super friendly. They have a row of plastic chairs in the shade next to the hose. He pretty much stopped working (if he was actually working in the first place?) and entertained us for about 30 mins. He heated up and fed DH a plate of left over fried chicken too! Then he regaled us with stories of scorpions and snakes and things that can eat you in the local desert. Then he moved on to all the things you can kill and eat in the desert and after each animal was described he told us they tasted like chicken. Ha, ha super entertaining.

So if you stop by the maint yard say Hi to Pancho for me :-) He is a tall (wide and round) character!!

Lynda

Ha, If I go thru during biz hours I will tell Pancho hi

Thanks Lynda

[schillingsworth]

Re: Freeman Rd. my buddy, Chris, will be dropping another 10 gallons on Wed. afternoon for general use. I'll get the status posted when I find out.

A volunteer at Oracle State Park told us the spigot would be available during non-park hours, so we'll see if that holds up. The spigot is located on the other side of the white wall that surrounds the house. From the trail you'll be about 50 yards up from the house, head down to it & hopefully the exterior gate will be open (it's not too tall). The spigot is only a few feet from that gate. Not sure how to post pics here, but if you go to the bottom of my ride report here: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2012/03/azt-bouldersripsey-bikepack.html
You'll see a couple of pics.

BTW Scott, that is awesome about the AZT past Kelvin being open, the crew is really churning out the trail there. Only 3 weeks have past since we were out there and they've added 1.6 miles of singletrack!!

We'll be down there sometime Thurs. late afternoon / early evening. See you all there!!

-John

[AZTtripper]

There is also an old cowboy who has his name, George Hunt (right Tim?), on his mailbox, just past the trailer court.  He is happy to give water to AZT users.

Yep George Hunt names on the box same thing on timing early in the morning he is out walking the road.

[krefs]

He heated up and fed DH a plate of left over fried chicken too! . . . Then he moved on to all the things you can kill and eat in the desert and after each animal was described he told us they tasted like chicken.

So do you think Dave really was eating leftover fried chicken? ;-)

[forest_on_bike]

So, I know that the cues provide water sources, but is there a waypoint file for the water sources?

Call me lazy, but I'm trying to avoid manually translating the cues into a waypoint file.

Thanks for any help with this,

Forest

[Beardog]

Scott - so you are saying now that we are riding 67 all the way to Jacob Lake and rejoining trail there and this is the only OK snow detour. Right? So no snow detours on Lake Mary Rd (FS 3) south of Flag or by Clint's Well?

[Foster]

There should be zero snow at all south of flagstaff.  No snow detour I would expect.

[Walkurtalk]

Best of luck to all on Friday! Honored to share the trail and the adventure with you

My final setup:

http://allthingsepicwithjill.blogspot.com/2012/04/better-than-car-by-far.html

[ScottM]

Scott - so you are saying now that we are riding 67 all the way to Jacob Lake and rejoining trail there and this is the only OK snow detour. Right? So no snow detours on Lake Mary Rd (FS 3) south of Flag or by Clint's Well?

Correct, only the north rim detour is in play.  Per Troy, there may be some snow on the west side of the San Francisco peaks to deal with, but it shouldn't be anything too heinous.

[marycycle]

Saw Jen Judge and Aaron Gulley, Outside magazine photographer and writer, respectively, in Tucson last night. Enjoying sushi and wondering why they had been training in the heat to prepare for the AZT!
Good luck to everyone!