2018 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[dsrt taco]

Few things, a ranger at the north rim must have been following my track, cos he showed up as soon as I arrived. Told me not to ride the road, take the trail. I did for awhile, then rejoined the road where it crossed. Walked a lot just to show good faith, skated a little, and rode some downhills. When I saw the entrance kiosk, I was sure sure to walk the bike all the way there, and there was a ranger vehicle waiting. As soon as he saw I was walking, he took off without a wave.

Based on earlier reports from riders having positive encounters with other rangers on the North Rim it sounds like this guy is just a wannabe cop with his own personal agenda to enforce. Hopefully he gets reassigned to patrol some tick infested swamp next year!

Say you reach the North Rim and don't have the strength or enough supplies to continue north on the AZT to Jacob Lake, or the trail is completely snowed in, what is the alternative for getting out of the park?

Re the cougar encounter: I ran into the two youngish hikers in the middle of the night somewhere between Oracle and Kelvin. They had been stalked by a cat large enough to mad padding sounds as it walked. If their account is accurate, there's no way it was a bobcat. I think they spotted the cat with their headlamps but they were not sufficient lumens to scare it off.

Many people have seen big cats down in the Gila Canyons, a few have even been stalked from the ridgeline above, but this is the first report of a cat following close enough to be heard, yikes!

[hanyo66]

Here’s a blog entry from the first couple days when we were out on our SOBO. Nothing crazy, and you know we scratched, but read if you’re interested. Just some kids from PA in way over our heads!

https://www.leehanyo.com/blog/az-trail-part-i-my-friend-jacob

[aarond]

Nice writeup, and good meeting you.  You guys should come back out next year and give the 300 a try!

[hanyo66]

Nice writeup, and good meeting you.  You guys should come back out next year and give the 300 a try!

thanks Aaron! Nice meeting you too, I followed your dot the entire way, rooted hard for you!

Kevin is for sure in for the 300. I get my knees looked at tomorrow and if I don’t need any surgery, I’m training my ass off and giving the 300 a try too. I’m bummed I missed out on some good desert riding.

[Sonikphyr]

If anyone is interested in reading about my race you can go to https://sites.google.com/view/dionsadventures/home
It was fun but I will need some time to figure if I will ever want to do that again.
Thanks for the company Dana Ernst. Thanks for the "race" Scott Morris.

[ScottM]

If anyone is interested in reading about my race you can go to https://sites.google.com/view/dionsadventures/home
It was fun but I will need some time to figure if I will ever want to do that again.
Thanks for the company Dana Ernst. Thanks for the "race" Scott Morris.

Thanks for that.  I've linked a few more blogs and writeups on the results page.  Please let me know if I'm missing any.

Had an ITT start yesterday on the 750.  No updates from Alexandera today, though.

[ScottM]

Had an ITT start yesterday on the 750.  No updates from Alexandera today, though.

She's still rolling, errr, pushing -- on Oracle ridge now.  Hope she can stay cool out there, it's late and hot to be be out in the Gilas.

[davew]

She's still rolling, errr, pushing -- on Oracle ridge now.  Hope she can stay cool out there, it's late and hot to be be out in the Gilas.

looks like she has bunkered down in the wash for the night.

[phatmike]

She's still rolling. I'm always so impressed and amazed by riders who do this so far away from the group start - you just know traffic is going to be so much lighter and I think the mental strength required to continue to move forward is admirable.

[phatmike]

What an effort by her today to get up to Picketpost in the heat of the day. I would guess that her pace is gonna be JUST enough to get her past the just announced forest closures that start next Wednesday. Based on the current map, she will need to get past FR 418  north of the snowbowl area to be clear.

[davew]

The Gila to PP must have been tough. Hats off to her.  Heat of the day through there is not pleasant.
Bashas does not open until 6am so she must be going to find a place to kip until then. Nothing else available in that area.

[phatmike]

This really sucks but it looks like her ride is going to get cut short due to the closures that start Wednesday. That is really terrible luck.

[Dana Ernst]

A bit delayed, but Part 1 of the write-up of my AZT300 experience is up on the Bedrock Bags blog:

http://www.bedrockbags.com/blog/2018/6/19/danas-azt-part-1

Part 2 posted soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[phatmike]

Dana, I met you just prior to the start when you gave me some pumpkin seed mix (or similar) that was most excellent. I really enjoyed your write up and look forward to part 2. After seeing parts of the story on instagram, I'm really looking forward to more of the details. Take care!

[Dana Ernst]

@phatmike, yep, pumpkin seeds with turmeric, curry, and honey.  Let me know if you want the recipe.  Part 2 should be posted in the next couple days.

[bmattingly]

Dana,

Nice write up.  You are a humble dude with a big engine.  Much respect in pulling this off with family, career, and surgery.  I'll be watching and cheering if you give another go on the CTR this year.

I'm having surgery this summer so I'll likely be forced off the bike at least a couple weeks.

Cheers

[flyboy]

I have finally finished my write up on how I saw the 2018 AZTR 750. I think it took me longer to write about it than to actually race it - you may need hydration and a burrito to get through.......
https://dave-livingthedream.blogspot.com/2018/05/2018-arizona-trail-race-750-good-bad.html

[schillingsworth]

I have finally finished my write up on how I saw the 2018 AZTR 750. I think it took me longer to write about it than to actually race it - you may need hydration and a burrito to get through.......
https://dave-livingthedream.blogspot.com/2018/05/2018-arizona-trail-race-750-good-bad.html

I'm just now getting to it, great stuff Dave!!

[flyboy]

I'm just now getting to it, great stuff Dave!!

Glad you like it mate. Lots of typing time when you peck away with only two fingers....

[Yogi the Barry]

Awesome read! But damn you, Dave [FlyBoy]! I thought my bikepacking virus was in full remission. Now, the madness is starting to resurface in my head...