2019 AZTR Race Discussion

[Ron Thomson]

From the rules page: https://aztrail.home.blog/rule/

– If you are directed off the AZT (by signs or personnel) for logging, fire, or other official reasons, by all means, leave the trail and return as directed or as soon as it makes sense to return. Obeying the law trumps following the route, every time.

[treekiwi]

While all valid points, if the trail is signed CLOSED and possibly roped off with yellow police tape as it was by Schultz Pass Rd. it gets really hard to justify it. Everyone was reminded over and over again to read the rules:

'If you are directed off the AZT (by signs or personnel) for logging, fire, or other official reasons, by all means, leave the trail and return as directed or as soon as it makes sense to return. Obeying the law trumps following the route, every time.'

Does it suck? Yes. Is he having an amazing ride? Hell yeah.

If the signage was removed, then he's fine. Trying to get some confirmation on the ground. He's also not taking the snow detour, so there's that too. Kudos for that.

Yes, it definitely sucks for Hanoch. He is doing an amazing job, and even if he ends up with some sort of asterix by his result, he certainly has a moral victory.

[aarond]

Yes, it definitely sucks for Hanoch. He is doing an amazing job, and even if he ends up with some sort of asterix by his result, he certainly has a moral victory.

Hopefully the signage was removed, otherwise I can't argue with all these reasons.  Still sucks since he's taking a harder route and not breaking the rules to get an advantage.  Still, finishing is the main thing and hopefully he won't lose heart.  Some of the best parts of the trail are still ahead!

[Ron Thomson]

He could probably still back track to Flagstaff and take the detour route out and still be in the lead.

[CSMITH]

I know there's some people on here who live in Flag but I'm headed up there this weekend and can go look for closure signs if needed.

[phatmike]

I do know based on a thread on another forum that there has been some incorrect boundaries (tape/signage) put up a couple days ago that were in process of being fixed. Let's hope that they made a mistake and took down legit closure signage which would give Hanoch a valid excuse for going into a closure area.

[phatmike]

Something seems a little strange here. After I saw the comment about him going off route, I checked him on Trackleaders and the reroute did not show up. It looked like he was on the correct path. Then it changed as I refreshed.

Nothing strange at all. The "track" schillingsworth was referring to was the actual gpx for people to grab for navigation - so that was good to go weekend of the 6th. Trackleaders itself sounds like it was not updated with the newest track in regards to the visual representation of the route for our stalking purposes.

[treekiwi]

Nothing strange at all. The "track" schillingsworth was referring to was the actual gpx for people to grab for navigation - so that was good to go weekend of the 6th. Trackleaders itself sounds like it was not updated with the newest track in regards to the visual representation of the route for our stalking purposes.

Yeah, I see that now, and also saw John's comment that he was updating Trackleaders. He must have done that while I was viewing it online, hence it changed suddenly.

[phatmike]

Yeah, I see that now, and also saw John's comment that he was updating Trackleaders. He must have done that while I was viewing it online, hence it changed suddenly.

 

[schillingsworth]

Let's take a moment to tip our bike helmets to the Lantern Rouge, Max Milburn. Dude is showing some serious grit. Two nights ago he was camped out about 8 miles or so north of Tiger Mine TH. He started going off route towards Mammoth, but retreated, then continued all the way back to Oracle. Then rode to a bike shop in Catalina & back to Oracle where he spent last night. He's now back on route after just completing the Bloodsucker Wash descent heading towards Beehive Well. Keep chugging, Max!! I hope he plans to ride late into the night & beyond, round two of the heat is about to kick in. The Gila isn't a welcoming place when seeking a cool refuge.

[phatmike]

Yeah, that's amazing determination! Also, looks like Malcolm Wade is tracking again. Let's see how this shakes out.

[phatmike]

Maybe MW is on a time crunch? He appears to be taking 180 to get to the snow detour? Also he took Lake Mary Road from til Mormon Lake. Maybe after that previous route snafu near Rye (and later south of Pine) is influencing his choices?

[phatmike]

Eek Mike Haas has missed the turn and is actually on the 4 peaks option but backwards... hopefully he figures that out soon.

Edit: Glen Pendry made the turn with him.

[mtbcast]

#AZT19 - Two calls this afternoon from Eric M Morton and Justin DuBois!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt19/

[Jalene]

Let's take a moment to tip our bike helmets to the Lantern Rouge, Max Milburn. Dude is showing some serious grit. Two nights ago he was camped out about 8 miles or so north of Tiger Mine TH. He started going off route towards Mammoth, but retreated, then continued all the way back to Oracle. Then rode to a bike shop in Catalina & back to Oracle where he spent last night. He's now back on route after just completing the Bloodsucker Wash descent heading towards Beehive Well. Keep chugging, Max!! I hope he plans to ride late into the night & beyond, round two of the heat is about to kick in. The Gila isn't a welcoming place when seeking a cool refuge.

Yes!  I've been cheering for Max all along!  I first noticed him on Friday ~ the day it was so freakin' hot.  He'd made it to Gabe Z, and then he headed out to Vail via the frontage road.  I thought he was a scratch.  But, he camped overnight in Vail, got up Saturday morning and headed back to Gabe Z to pick up the trail once again.  He's been grittin' it out ever since! 

It's interesting...he's missed a couple of turns, and has caught himself, backtracks the portion he missed but in the wrong direction, and then proceeds on with the original way he went.  This happened to him at the infamous singletrack piece off the road to PCL, and again in the section just before you cross over Redington Road.

I'm thinking he must have the old GPX track, though, because he's missed new Boulders reroute, and the Mt. Lemmon Loco reroute.  I believe if he would have thought and realized he was off track in those areas, he would have corrected himself like he's done in the other areas.

I always have respect for the Red Lanterns!  They're out there all alone and they just keep banging it out.  Go, Max!

[aarond]

Exciting race!  After Justin Dubois, there are 10 riders within 45 miles of each other, and the next 10 are within 50 miles of each other.  Also rooting for Dylan Gonda, showing grit despite not meeting his expectations, have a feeling he'll be faster the 2nd time.

[PhilOnWheels]

I placed some neutral water at the road crossing south of Mormon Lake. Saw Justin, Josh, and Mike D. All seemed to be in great spirits and truly enjoying the ride. Loving the cooler temps, it was a perfect day out there - light breeze, sun, grass greening up.

Did see fire smoke well to the south-southwest of the route, I expect it was controlled pile burns, shouldn't be a direct issue to the course, but may be some smoke present.

[phatmike]

You are right there were some prescribed burns near stoneman lake which would match up to that

[KuzmanAZ]

Nice to see my Coco250 bud Mike Haas roll into Payson, still going. Another Coco250 friend Justin M just got up on the rim. Sweet.


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[KuzmanAZ]

There are a gazillion closure signs when you attempt to drop down out of Buffalo Park. Hanoch clearly didn’t know route changed, but he is going to get in big trouble and make Flagstaff biking community look bad if he gets seen, which is likely.


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I saw that too, this morning, Dana. Thought I might see Hanoch when I rode by 418/AZT this morning, but I just missed him. I still heard choppers later on when I rounded the mountain, so hopefully no one saw him and logging continued without interruption.



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