2019 AZTR 300/750 Race Preparation and Planning Thread

[Foster]

The highway may not be an option anymore.

Can you shed some light on why the highway may not be an option anymore?  Something to do with NPS?

Thanks!

[AZTtripper]

Can you shed some light on why the highway may not be an option anymore?  Something to do with NPS?

Thanks!

Foster, yes there were a couple of rider's who had issues on the North rim. http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2018-aztr300750-race-discussion-thread-13401/240/

Could be a non issue only time will tell.

[bmattingly]

Wow,

What a shot John.  I have never seen snow on Picketpost in 30 years.  Fantastic.  Nice to see it looking cold!

Snow has been melting fast this week in Flagstaff.

Cheers

[aarond]

Not as much snow, but late Feb. 2013:

[Dgorider]

 
In for the 300

Anyone have an extra non-racing passenger that could return my car to Picketpost trailhead after the start?  Does anyone want a ride from the Durango area Wednesday afternoon? I just need to be headed back to Durango by no later than Sunday morning.

Please shoot me PM if there's a way we could help each other out.  Thanks.

[krm]

I am looking at getting an Inreach OR Bivy Stick for satellite communications. Can I use one of these instead of the Spot Tracking?

[evdog]

You can use the Inreach with Trackleaders.  I posted something earlier in this thread that I got from Scott a few years ago.  Never heard of Bivy Stick.

[Dhiggs]

Has the route/map for 2019 AZT been released?

[schillingsworth]

The 2019 gpx files have been posted on the website.

[Brian McEntire]

North Rim snowpack at 46”. Finally below 4’! There is hope yet!


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[NCBio]

Hi All,

Strongly considering the 750 this year. Always exciting to see everyone's planning. A couple questions for yall.

Does all the rain/melting snowpack of a high precipitation year like this year mean nasty sticky mud? Or does that really only occur immediately following heavy rains?

Second, regarding gps tracking intervals. Is there a minimum interval required for 'official' results and to be on trackleaders? I've looked around and haven't seen a definitive answer, only that people often use 10 min intervals on spot. I use an InReach Explorer, and while the 10 min intervals are ok on battery, there is a substatial difference in running a 30 minute interval. Would that be kosher?

[krm]

I will be flying in with my bike, any tips on what to do with the Bike Box while on the trail?

[NCBio]

I will be flying in with my bike, any tips on what to do with the Bike Box while on the trail?

I've done it several ways depending on the trip.
-If its a cardboard box, don't worry about it too much in a place like AZ. Recycle it and contact shops/plan to grab a new one for your return trip home. AZ cities are full of good shops and shouldn't be too hard.
-If its a travel case, I typically ask the hotel I stay night a night or two in before starting a trip. Most of the time they'll be cool about holding a case for you (though some get weird about the big hard cases that don't pack down). Cheap cheap hotels are the only ones I've been turned down from holding. But if you're staying a night somewhere before you head out, just pick a decent big name chain and they'll likely hold it. I always call ahead for confirmation before booking a place.
-If that doesn't work, I'd contact shops. Offer some cash to hold it, especially if they're reluctant at first.
-Worst case is trying to leave it at the hold in the airport (assuming they have one). It works but can be crazy expensive sometimes.

[schillingsworth]

Hi All,

Strongly considering the 750 this year. Always exciting to see everyone's planning. A couple questions for yall.

Does all the rain/melting snowpack of a high precipitation year like this year mean nasty sticky mud? Or does that really only occur immediately following heavy rains?

Second, regarding gps tracking intervals. Is there a minimum interval required for 'official' results and to be on trackleaders? I've looked around and haven't seen a definitive answer, only that people often use 10 min intervals on spot. I use an InReach Explorer, and while the 10 min intervals are ok on battery, there is a substatial difference in running a 30 minute interval. Would that be kosher?

NCBio,
Re: Mud. The stuff north of Pine takes a while to dry out, like 48+ hours after a decent rain event. I've seen some recent pics from the Mogollon Rim and in ain't pretty. Lots of deep standing water currently...and it's raining AGAIN!! There's many areas of peanut butter death mud between Pine and Babbitt Ranch. Hopefully, things will somewhat dry out in 5 weeks. Could be a messy year.

Yes, most folks use the 10 or 5 minute update intervals, but I don't have an issue with 30. Just keep in on long enough at the end to generate a finish point. It's not required, but you could always send in your gpx track, assuming you record your ride. Maybe others could chime in, but I don't recall any specifics regarding tracking intervals in any ultra, but I may have missed it.

[schillingsworth]

UPDATE:
The route downloads are currently disabled for the 300 & 750. Why?? I need to update a few recent re-routes and one potential snag.

The details:

I rode the Boulders/Ripsey segments on Saturday. I knew about one re-route, which is nice although the cattle seem to be enjoying it too!! Unfortunately, it currently dead ends in a wash that I was unaware of. There's a 2-track about 50 feet away, but it's not in line-of-sight. Not really a wise decision to send riders there especially if sleep deprived and at 3a. So, unless I hear otherwise in the very near future, that section will be removed until completed. The good news, there was a second re-route on the section after the powerlines where there are often boatloads of game trails. The new alignment is much easier to follow and still maintains the character of the area. It dumps out on the jeep road with the large super gate. Also, the entire Ripsey section was free of catclaw, the wash area is 100% rideable. The Big Hill and switchback attack sections are loaded with wildflowers now, those will likely be gone, but others will pop up. Everything is SO green right now. It's a rare year indeed.

The other change(s) should be minor, but I've been told there have been re-routes in the Canelo Hills!! I'm trying to obtain the updated gpx track(s) for this as well. If I don't get them, the re-routes are obvious to follow I'm told.

The AZT is always changing and it can be a challenge to keep up to date. So, keep that in mind during your ride. If you come to what appears to be a new piece of AZT dirt, by all means take it. Especially if it is signed as such.

I'll make another post when the files have been updated and are available for download. In the meantime, these re-routes won't affect planning, so keep at it. We're almost to the one month trigger!!

As it stands now, it's looking more likely that I'll sit OUT the 300 this year. My wrist wasn't happy after Saturday's ride and I have bigger plans this summer. I'd only do the 300 if I was 100% and it's not shaping up that way. It is getting better each day, so I'm not concerned about June. I still plan to be at the start, probably arriving a bit late on Wednesday to PCL. Cheers!! 

[hanyo66]

In regards to Canelo Hills, I saw Justin Dubois rode them from Parker Canyon to Patagonia maybe last week and his GPS track looked to vary some from the AZT track on Strava. Looked like a lot more climbing. Not sure if that was him taking his own side routes or a re-route.

Edit: his ride description said "got really lost" so this probably wasn't anything to do with a re-route

https://www.strava.com/activities/2200006605

[mvmorten]

Re: Mud. The stuff north of Pine takes a while to dry out, like 48+ hours after a decent rain event. I've seen some recent pics from the Mogollon Rim and in ain't pretty. Lots of deep standing water currently...and it's raining AGAIN!! There's many areas of peanut butter death mud between Pine and Babbitt Ranch. Hopefully, things will somewhat dry out in 5 weeks. Could be a messy year.

I'm on the rim right now (Christopher Creek) and I'm not worried about mud at the moment!

[schillingsworth]

Well, there you have it!! No mud at all on the Mogollon Rim!! 

I now have the updated gpx tracks I needed. I'll get the routes updated and posted this weekend.

[schillingsworth]

UPDATE: gpx files for both the 300 & 750 have been updated and posted to the website. Make sure you have v3 of the file. (v2 if you're doing the Four Peaks option for the 750). I added in two fresh re-routes in the Canelo Hills and updated the Ripsey re-routes.

[kblakeyshell]

Thank you for all your work on the route! Myself and another guy are touring northbound on the 750 route starting next week Thursday with a scheduled finish of April 7. Keeping fingers crossed on lots of snow melting between now and when we hit northern AZ!