AZT 750/300 2017 Planning Thread

[SlowRide]

Dude? You said breezy 76* with a night time low of 48*. I built my entire survival and sleep system at those temps.

The coldest night I spent on the 750 was near snowbowl, it got down to 6 degrees at around 8000' and then snowed on me a couple inches in the rim country outside Tusayan. I would not bank on it being 48* low temps at night on the higher sections of the AZT.

[Adam Alphabet]

The coldest night I spent on the 750 was near snowbowl, it got down to 6 degrees at around 8000' and then snowed on me a couple inches in the rim country outside Tusayan. I would not bank on it being 48* low temps at night on the higher sections of the AZT.

I really hope you mean 6 Celsius!
I was hoping to just bring a wind breaker and a puffy jacket for this 'balmy desert ride'.

[Adam Alphabet]

What is the(suggested) start times for this year's race(s)?

750...7:00am
300...8:00am

[SlowRide]

I really hope you mean 6 Celsius!
I was hoping to just bring a wind breaker and a puffy jacket for this 'balmy desert ride'.

Ha! I wish it would have been 6 Celcius ...it was definitely 6F and I was shivering at points in the night in my 20* quilt bag and SOL breathable bivvy.

Hope all's well with you Addy.

[Adam Alphabet]

Ha! I wish it would have been 6 Celcius ...it was definitely 6F and I was shivering at points in the night in my 20* quilt bag and SOL breathable bivvy.

Hope all's well with you Addy.

All is well thanks! Hope all is well with you too John!

[ScottM]

*So north of the North Rim to Jacob Lake you can basically ride the highway (orange line on last years trackleaders page) all the way to State line?
*I'll have to look at the 2013 detour track but I'm assuming it's all stuff near Flag mainly?

Yes, and yes.  Could include Mormon Mtn, and perhaps even stuff east and south of there.

[schillingsworth]

Dude? You said breezy 76* with a night time low of 48*. I built my entire survival and sleep system at those temps.

Oh man, don't go starting silly rumors!! I said 71*!!

You might want to bring an extra trash bag to sleep in up north...

[the tortoise]

Oh man, don't go starting silly rumors!! I said 71*!!

You might want to bring an extra trash bag to sleep in up north...

I would bring at least a 20 degree trash bag!

[ScottM]

As promised, 1 month out, trackleaders signup is ready:

http://trackleaders.com/aztr-signup

[elfreako]

SPOT tracker info sent and paid for.....thanks Scott! Looking forward to the 750!

[punchcard]

I'm planning a recon this week for a possible 2018 run at the 300.. Can anyone confirm the water sources on mount lemon? I see in the Milage Cues it says:

Palisades Trailhead on right and Palisades Ranger station on left.
At trailhead (right side of road) there is a water spigot (by bathrooms)  May not be turned on (every year in April it has been on so far).


-Which trailhead is this talking about? I've heard mention of a spigot at Butterfly trailhead or is this directly across from Palisades Ranger Station?
-I called the ranger and they said water is for sale at the Palisades Visitor Center and said there were no spigots on the trailheads..
-Is this the only reliable water between Tucson and Summerhaven?

Thanks!

[schillingsworth]

It's the Bigelow traihead. Here's the Google map

Yes, that would be the reliable water source assuming the spigot is turned ON as it has been each year come event time. However, I would think there will be plenty of filter opportunities between Tucson & Bigelow if needed. So much water in the desert this year, it's been a little nuts.

This past weekend I rode about 70 miles of the 300/750 route from the north end of the Jacob Crosscut trail down to Kelvin. The Gila River is up at its banks, flowing at a modest 350 CFS, the wildflowers down there were stoopid good as well. Heck, even Queen Creek and another wash between Queen Valley and Gold Canyon were still flowing!! Not sure if they will be in a month, but still cool to see.

There's been some nice benchwork done on the AZT near Picketpost Mtn. There had been a few off camber sketchy sections that are really nice now.

The ADOT yard in Kelvin is a really convenient water source now, it's practically on route and well signed. Water was pretty cold too. Just stay on the pavement after crossing the river for a few hundred yards, spigot is on the left next to a chain link fence.

[LandSharkBrian]

Good question.  2013 was the last year detours (other than the North Rim, which is always in play) were in effect.

Scott, should detours become necessary, are tracks generally posted in the same location as the main AZTR track, or are simple descriptions of the permitted detours posted somewhere?  With the recent warm weather, hopefully additional detours won't be needed, but if they are I'm just wondering how they get communicated.  Thanks in advance!

[Ahaughey]

Just wondering if there will be a shuttle from Picketpost to start for group start?

[hjknox]

Longtime bikepacker, first time racer. Getting the setup all dialed in now. UA has spring break next week, which means no teaching, which means I'll hopefully get a couple days on the trail. Score!

Probably going Sonoita to Oracle (with control road instead of THE RIDGE). Day rode Tiger Mine to Freeman a couple weeks ago and looped it out on dirt roads, and it's in great shape. Some new work has been done out in the middle that's pretty nice, a little before the big descent into Bloodsucker.

Looking forward to the big day, everyone! Happy planning!

[Adam Alphabet]

Longtime bikepacker, first time racer.

Hell Yeah!

[hjknox]

Hell Yeah!

It's all your fault, Adam.

[Adam Alphabet]

It's all your fault, Adam.

You're welcome? haha you'll love it.

[ScottM]

Scott, should detours become necessary, are tracks generally posted in the same location as the main AZTR track, or are simple descriptions of the permitted detours posted somewhere?  With the recent warm weather, hopefully additional detours won't be needed, but if they are I'm just wondering how they get communicated.  Thanks in advance!

Stay tuned here, but I'll make a new GPX with any additional ones.  I won't do a GPX if it's only the North Rim. 

Very warm in AZ for the foreseeable future...

[rhino]

@scott
I'm confused slightly about the official route of the north rim, can you clarify.  67 vs AZT which one is it, assuming no snow detours. I've received mixed messages.

How does one know if we should pedal Road 67 or take AZT proper to Jacob Lake in regards to snow detour. I've ridden AZT proper all they way to Utah, but never with potential snow.  Any insights when we top out at the rim which route to take?  If the road is clear of snow, I don't want to take the AZT to find out I'm post holing in the a canyon in 3 feet of snow.  Seems warm, so not expecting snow to be an issue.