2012 AZTR/300 Discussion Thread

[ScottM]

New point from Aaron at Molino Basin -- he took a rest, probably not liking the idea of proceeding up Lemmon in a snow storm.  Can't blame him one bit.

Just like 2009, Kurt's pushing up the mountain against the odds.  Just as incredible now as it was then.

[ImAFred]

Hope their snapping some pics of this...

[ScottM]

Max is out.  Knee issues and soaked to the bone.

On Max's FB post, from the owner of the General Store in Summerhaven:

"I've got Kurt Refsnider here at the store. He is freezing to the bone and wet... Got a heater going for him...Gonna take care of him"

[ScottM]

Just got a call from Aaron Gulley -- the Catalina Highway is CLOSED.  Snow is still coming down and they do not expect it to open until much later today.

He got turned around at Windy Point, where he said it was 28 degrees and too cold to hang out and wait out the closure.  They said 3-4 inches at the top.  Still snowing at Molino Basin (!) as he descended.

"I do not have a love affair with this race."

"It was fun while it lasted, though."

He said conditions were perfect until 5am in the Molino area, then it just rushed in and got crazy.

[tanman1337]

Just had to get a ride to fix my drivetrain. Too much mud to even push my bike through. Going to fix bike and get back to the point where I stopped and continue on. The clay after Kentucky Camp is ridiculous.i want to finishtho

[Stevo]

I just talked to Jill she is at a store near Tucson with several others trying dry themselves off and their gear.  Her plan is to stay down low tonight and head up Lemmon in the AM when the weather clears.  Her spot won't move until tomorrow but she is definitely still in!  

[ScottM]

Great to hear.  I hope that idea (of hunkering down and proceeding when the conditions are better) permeates through the field.  It was a brutal morning out there.  I don't think there was a 'good' place to be on the course... everyone seems to have been hammered by it.

You can see a lot of people bailing, at least for warm spaces and bike parts, if not altogether.

Kurt is well into Oracle Ridge now, in the snow.  Just a small slowdown for him.  Nuts.  We'll see how much it takes out of him and if he can push through night 2.

[tanman1337]

Just getting dried off now and fixed the bike. Heading back down to where I got off course in a few

[mikepro]

Looks like Kurt S is heading up the road right now.

[ScottM]

Hope we see his dot keep going past Windy Point!

I just read a report of 2" snow in Oracle (!).  Kurt R may have his hands full, all the way down the ridge.  He's making good time so far though.

[Erick L]

Hey all,  blew apart my rear shifter at mile 74 last night, and have spent the last 40ish miles with only 2 gears.  I holed up in Sevilla for about 4 hours, to avoid the rain, but decided to throw in the towel and bail onto roads, so I'm officially out of the 2012 race.  Godspeed to those racers who continue on in the snow.  Looks like a great race and I can't wait to watch it from home.

Onward to 2013!
Erick Lord

[aarong]

as scott said, the AZT300 beat me up. a bit more detail:

kurt and i rode steadily through the night together and were optimistic that the lack of clouds would mean no inclement weather. but on the sunrise hike up molino the rain and sleet broke.

at the molino outhouse, we both weighed options, though without mobile service we couldn't check weather. after ~hour, kurt decided to push on. i had no rain pants and took a nap to see how it developed. 2 hours later it was snowing and i decided to go for it anyway since snow=less wet than rain. after 1.3 hours of climbing, highway patrol turned me back at mile 14/windy point. road closed. it was 28, snowing, and the officer said there was 3-4 inches at summerhaven and they didn't expect snow to break till evening. i entertained the idea of the outhouse, but a dozen or more cold wet smelly hours...

kurt wisely got through before me. Last i checked he was making good progress. i am optimistic he'll soon be down to warm food, safety, and possibly a new course record.

everyone be safe out there. it has to be treacherous on oracle ridge, and ridge lines are a disaster with the high winds. pleasure as always, scott. this course is absolutely fantastic.

[jryter]

What ia the elevation of mt lemon?

[ScottM]

What ia the elevation of mt lemon?

The course tops out at 8100' or so, but 8k is like 12k in Colorado here-- in the effect of lifting and collection of moisture, also in temperature difference.

Kurt S is beyond Windy Point.  Highway might be open.

Sunny but still windy and not all that warm in Tucson.

Thanks for the report Aaron.  This was a bad year to be fast, and not be Kurt with his lack of fear of cold/snow.  I am almost certain I would have dropped if I had started Friday -- even with rain pants.  Not sure I own enough cycling clothing to do what you guys did.

[Dag Nabbit]

Chris DeTurk who's riding with John Schilling just texted in saying that they've got some really good mud stories. They're just about to cross the 83, so it sounds like Las Colinas and/or Cienegas passages are pretty ugly.

[goldscott]

This is way more riveting and entertaining than any reality show on television. Love it!

[ScottM]

Colinas can be bad... Cienega should be better for them.

I'm really pulling for John, Chris and also Jonathan Buchanan, who seems to be riding with/near them.  These guys have an infectious die hard attitude.  I know they wanted to be further along, but the weather/mud has definitely slowed them down.

I'm trying to figure out what Pete B did.  He descended nearly back to Tucson, possibly all the way, but now seems to be continuing on the route, retracing his steps.  Looks like he's still in it!

I'm getting stoked for my own attempt, tomorrow.  Feel a bit guilty about skipping the storm.  But between organizing, a bum knee and the storm, it made a lot of sense to wait a few days.  Tough decision to make.  We have an adventure racing couple that is starting the full 750 Monday.  I hope to get them on the tracker soon.

[Dag Nabbit]

Just got a text from Ray H. He says "guy ran over my bike up on Reddington......wheel is fvcked." Not sure what the details are. He was doing real good for his first 300 race, keeping in the top ten, and even breaking top 5 at one point. He's pretty bummed now, especially to be out like that, at the hands of someone else. He did some serious prep, and this is certainly not how anyone wants to drop. I'm pretty bummed for him too. He was a lock to finish, and certainly a contender, if you ask me.

[ScottM]

I have not seen my neighbor, Tim McCabe, aka 'the helpful guy' here on the forums (AZTtripper), so I can only assume he went through with his plan to join the segment steward for some trail work on Oracle Ridge.  If he can get back down the mountain we should have a firsthand report on conditions up there, and maybe some photos.

[ScottM]

Just got a text from Ray H. He says "guy ran over my bike up on Reddington......wheel is fvcked." Not sure what the details are. He was doing real good for his first 300 race, keeping in the top ten, and even breaking top 5 at one point. He's pretty bummed now, especially to be out like that, at the hands of someone else. He did some serious prep, and this is certainly not how anyone wants to drop. I'm pretty bummed for him too. He was a lock to finish, and certainly a contender, if you ask me.

Oh no.  Redington can be a crazy place, but getting your bike run over?!?  Terrible news.