2018 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread

[Adam Alphabet]

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...

Come join us next year Barry... Thursday April 18th, 2019. Save the date!

[phatmike]

Come join us next year Barry... Thursday April 18th, 2019. Save the date!

Is this the official start date of the AZTR for 2019?

[Adam Alphabet]

Is this the official start date of the AZTR for 2019?

From John on fb...
"ATTN: 2019 Date announcement!!
Thursday April 18th.
300: 8a @Parker Canyon Lake
750: 7a @Mexican border
** Future dates will be on the 3rd Thursday in April. This will take some guesswork out of the start for those needing advance notice. **"

[phatmike]

From John on fb...
"ATTN: 2019 Date announcement!!
Thursday April 18th.
300: 8a @Parker Canyon Lake
750: 7a @Mexican border
** Future dates will be on the 3rd Thursday in April. This will take some guesswork out of the start for those needing advance notice. **"

Awesome, somehow I missed it and I didn't see it on the official race page (topofusion). Thanks!

[hanyo66]

Interesting that it’s starting later in the month. Any insight as to why?

[hanyo66]

Also, I recently (and finally) finished all of my blog posts about the SOBO trip. Spoiler alert for those of you that don’t know my story - we failed hard hahaha. It was a great experience and the toughest thing I’ve ever physically done, and was wayyyyyyy underprepared but still so glad I went for it. About an hours worth of reading if anyone is interested. Part II is the most recommended one if you’ve crossed the canyon, people say the adjectives and description of tha bring back some memories lol

1. https://www.leehanyo.com/blog/az-trail-part-i-my-friend-jacob
2. https://www.leehanyo.com/blog/arizona-trail-part-ii-a-grand-ole-time
3. https://www.leehanyo.com/blog/arizona-trail-part-iii-packing-it-in

[Adam Alphabet]

Interesting that it’s starting later in the month. Any insight as to why?

Consistency in planning year to year would be my guess. Like the tour Divide happening the second Friday of June every year. Now you just know when it is, takes out the guess work.
Personally I'd be cool with the AZTR following Easter weekend each year, easier to book time off. But the 3rd week thing makes good sense.

[Gimmearaise]

Yeah, my vote is earlier the better. The first Thursday of the month would be nice. It was scortching during the 300 this year. I’m sure Scott has his reasoning for this.

[schillingsworth]

Re: the start date, Adam is correct. It takes a lot of the guess work out of it. This way you know when it'll be years ahead of time, if needed. We opted for the 3rd Thursday to have a better chance at avoiding snow detours up north for the 750. Also, with the current state of the North Rim, it may give a few extra days to thaw out!! This year was well above normal for temps, heck, we've have 3" of snow at the start one year and in 2012 there was a major winter storm that bore down on the riders on day 2. 2011 saw temps hit the triple digits along the Gila, similar to this year. April really is a crap shoot in AZ. Even this year as hot as it was, if the start would've been one week later, the weather would've been perfect!! Then again, doesn't the heat and AZT kind of go hand-in-hand? Like rain & lightning for the CTR. It's all part of the challenge and preparation.

[Adam Alphabet]

Thanks John, that's very clear.
Personally I'd rather be too hot in the south than too cold in the north... but as you mention each year is a crap shoot which is part of what makes the AZTR what it is. I'm pumped! hoping I can join next year.

[aarond]

I think we all dodged a bullet

https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/bear-attacks-man-south-of-patagonia

[Yogi the Barry]

Attack was at 2:15 PM... Guess the lesson there is to hurry up thru the Canelos...

I think we all dodged a bullet
https://www.kgun9.com/news/local-news/bear-attacks-man-south-of-patagonia

[AZTtripper]

There was a bear attack near Gardner canyon back in the late 90's. Also there was a bear attack near near Winkilman, on the Gila, about 10 years ago. So it happens just not that often.

I had an exciting fox encounter on the old Alamo Canyon trail, west of current Picketpost section. Katlyn also had a fox encounter North of Picketpost.

Best to keep your wits about you, Harry Potter reference, it took a bit to feel comfortable sleeping out after I'll admit that much.

Tim

[Yogi the Barry]

Never thought pepper spray would be on the AZT equipment list...
Still think a person is more likely to be injured driving to and from the trailheads.

[hanyo66]

Never thought pepper spray would be on the AZT equipment list...
Still think a person is more likely to be injured driving to and from the trailheads.

On average, 3 fatal bear attacks per year in North America and the average keeps dropping.

About 30,000 car related fatalities per year in North America.

Your scenario is much more likely to happen. You're more likely to fall off the toilet while shitting and die than get attacked by a shark.

Most bear attacks are defensive attacks by the bear, not usually provoked. As long as you know how to handle bear situations, you can easily get out of them unscathed. Unfortunately, most people don't know how to react with a run in with a bear and make the situations worse, but these instances are pretty few and far between.

[AZTtripper]

Pretty sure both the Gardner and the Gila incidents started with the persons being drug out of a tent. Also forgot about a girl scout was drug out of a tent in the scout camp on Lemmon.

But I have to agree cars are a bigger risk, we used to say the biggest risk was Border patrol driving fast between the border and Parker TH. Jeepers on Redington pass have definitely caused problems for people.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: Da Bears
Couple years ago a woman in NM was attacked running a marathon in the middle of the afternoon.
https://www.abqjournal.com/794712/woman-recovering-after-bear-attack.html
Seems like we've had a few boy scouts at Philmont get attacked in their tents at night too...
Another FYI link, taking us even further away from the 2018 AZTR Race Discussion. Make sure to add a bear saw to your kit.
https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/new-mexico-man-explains-how-he-survived-a-bear-attack/1366347597
Re: A more probable and palpable AZTR risk
What about a Death by a Thousand Cuts? And pokes, scrapes, punctures from the unforgiving AZ flora. Catclaw, I hate you!
FYI, death by a thousand cuts was a legal form of capital punishment in China, until about a hundred years ago.
-B

[dsrt taco]

Re: the start date, Adam is correct. It takes a lot of the guess work out of it. This way you know when it'll be years ahead of time, if needed. We opted for the 3rd Thursday to have a better chance at avoiding snow detours up north for the 750. Also, with the current state of the North Rim, it may give a few extra days to thaw out!! This year was well above normal for temps, heck, we've have 3" of snow at the start one year and in 2012 there was a major winter storm that bore down on the riders on day 2. 2011 saw temps hit the triple digits along the Gila, similar to this year. April really is a crap shoot in AZ. Even this year as hot as it was, if the start would've been one week later, the weather would've been perfect!! Then again, doesn't the heat and AZT kind of go hand-in-hand? Like rain & lightning for the CTR. It's all part of the challenge and preparation.

Has there been any consideration of implementing different start dates for the 300 and 750 categories?

I think that many would prefer an earlier date for the 300 since the only section of concern for cold and snow is the top of Mt. Lemmon, which is a minor fraction of the overall route. The 750 could keep to the current plan in order to avoid the snow detour concerns in northern AZ.

It would also alleviate the concern of keeping the entire race field under the 75 person cap, as now there could be up to 75 people for each distance / start date.

[schillingsworth]

So, you want the 300 riders to have it easy with prime desert riding conditions and let those 750 nutjobs fend for themselves?? I see how it is....

Those are valid points, but there hasn't been much discussion in creating separate events. I tend to think the overall size limit helps regulate the field a bit too. Those who truly want to be here, get signed up early. It may be a topic to revisit down the road though....