Arizona Trail Race 2014 in progress

[ScottM]

I heard from both of our Tuesday ITTers.  Both have been forced to scratch.

Darren lost his seat back including tools, repair, and is scratching in Oracle.

Aaron Boatman crashed somewhere before the Freeman cache and split his knee open.  He was hoping to control the bleeding enough after riding one legged to Freeman, but has decided to pull the plug and go get it stitched up.

Better luck in the future!

[Yogi the Barry]

Scott,
Perhaps you could post in this thread the address which those of us who rented SPOTs need to send them back to. BTW, thanks for offering and managing the SPOT rentals...
-Barry Ritchey

[ScottM]

Sounds like I may have outgoing mail issues.  Here's what I sent a day or two ago:

Here's the return address for rental SPOT units:

Trackleaders
109 N. Graham St., Suite 101
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Preferred method is to ship via USPS Flat Rate Priority service. It's $6
for a small box or letter, and comes with $50 insurance and free parcel
tracking.  Please make note of the tracking number, or email it to us.

Or if you're in or through Tucson, you can also drop it off with me.  Get in touch.

[ScottM]

Anyone following dots, I apologize -- there seems to be an issue on SPOTs servers -- we have not seen any new points (for anyone) for the last ~2 hours.  They're aware and working on it.  Hopefully we'll have data flowing again soon.  Anything coming in now should backfill once everything's going smoothly again.

[ScottM]

Edit: we're back.  They fixed it quick.  Everyone's got fresh points now.

[mtbcast]

Quiet day, no calls. I said we'd talk tonight but if we don't have calls we'll wait and see what we get overnight. I did get a political message for someone named "Mike Simp-son." That's how the generated voice said it, "Simp-son." And it was a British voice. I suppose Allen Goldsmith could be in the race and delirious. 

[groundedkiwi]

Oh Nooooooo........

Carolines turned around?!!??!  Anyone know if she's OK?

Hugs and thoughts Caroline.

[ScottM]

Yeah, it looks like she bailed off Highline and is taking the Control Road back to Pine.  Hopefully she's OK.

Congrats to Ron Thomson, Jeff "Swami" and Duck on finishing up the 300 route!  Duck is calling it good with the 300, the other two are continuing!  Way to go guys.

[ScottM]

Just heard she did not have enough food, so is returning to Pine.  Sounds like she is still in it!

[groundedkiwi]

Good! Hoped that might have been the case.  Smart cookie. 

[B_Bock]

It looks like Aaron D. Is he having a fast ITT! After his bad luck on the north rim last year I hope he has a fast and safe ride/hike to Utah.

[ScottM]

It's the morning of day 7, and it's dawning cloudy and feeling like rain.  The forecasters are skeptical that there's enough moisture for much precip, except maybe over the higher terrain... which includes much of the AZT, of course.

It's a *perfect* day for Brad and Jill to be riding the Gila.  They'll be protected from the sun, and temps may not even hit 80!

Even up north the low pressure system doesn't seem to be doing much.  JayP should have a beautiful day to hike the canyon -- it can get quite hot hiking down there at 2600', so clouds are a good thing.  I think we can now call it on his record quest.  He's still having a heck of a ride and should finish with the second fastest time on course.  I have little doubt he could come back and smash it with all he's learned on this run.  He's also not the first to underestimate the AZT.

Aaron Denberg called it a night early last night, likely looking for some recovery after a solid 300.  He's still on a fast pace, but definitely falling behind JP/record.

Hoping to see Caroline's dot return to Highline this morning.  She's through some of the nastiest bits, with a few easier miles ahead (the climb out from Geronimo Spgs is quite nice and very rideable).

Aaron Johnson found himself a cheap motel in Flagstaff.  Rest and recharge.  He's running only a day behind JayP, so I would look for one of the fastest 750 times from him to.

Mike P is about to jump off the AZT for the fire closure.  He should be into Flag shortly thereafter.  If he can push through town, he'll be caught up to Aaron.

Elliot at Mormon Lake.  I don't think they open until 8 or so.  He's probably waiting for the store.  Unfortunately it's quite limited -- one of the weakest on route, but even mini Ritz peanut butter sandwiches are better than nothing!  (The owner was selling packs of those for 10c each to us, trying to get rid of overstock).  A lot of people underestimate the amount of food needed from Pine to Flag, including me!

Arno on the rim!!  Attaining that is such a victory.

Mark C fighting through sleep dep and Highline.

Ron and Jeff scored a roof and bath from "warmshowers" in Superior.  They should be back on the trail, hopefully enjoying the cloud cover for the Apache Trail.

[schillingsworth]

Good news: Caroline's dot just showed up in Pine!!

Tailwind for the riders today?? US Windmap

[dream4est]

On the highline trail
750 is just so amazing weds can't describe the feeling
Pure bliss while in the pain cave

Caroline went back to get more food I think
Good luck to her

Go mike p
Aaron d with the itt speed!!! Nice

[ScottM]

JP staring into the canyon now.  He accidentally went backwards out of Tusayan for a few minutes this morning.

Mike P somehow figured out how to get back on the AZT just south of Flagstaff.  He gets bonus points!  I didn't know there was a connection there.

[Woodland]

So how does one carry bike and gear through the canyon? Can't imagine. How long is the hike?

[ywen]

image from Jill Hueckman's blog..  of a bike being hiked thru GC..

http://allthingsepicwithjill.blogspot.com/



craaazzzyyy

[mtbcast]

AZT14: Jay Petervary called in from the Grand Canyon! BTW, this call cuts short.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[mtbcast]

AZT: Jill Hueckman called in from Picketpost!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/azt14/

[ScottM]

The hike is about 21 miles.  Though the last 2 feels like 10.  Seriously.  All the false tops, and the slow progress.  

The downhill is the worst part though, and unfortunately it's first.  Unless you're a runner/hiker, the downhill kills us weak cyclists -- all that supporting of the weight, and stepping down huge water bars.  It's a recipe for (not so delayed) DOMS.  It can be difficult to walk after the ditch.  Fortunately riding is still doable.

JayP mentions he thinks he has some kind of stress fracture or bone pain in one of his shins.  That can't be good for a 5000' descent on foot.   Hope it's just muscular and not actually a bone issue.  More than anything he mentions being worked over, but still seems to have a positive attitude about it all.  That's cool to hear.