AZT full meal deal

[AZTtripper]

Spent last weekend working on the AZT up by Pine, picked the brains of regional segment steward John Rendall sounds like more of the AZT is looking clear. Also new construction has started in the White Canyon area (paid crew working full time). Being on the AZT always gets me amped up and leaves me itching to do the full ride again.

I am lobbying Scott to had more single track to next years race. There are a couple of section that were left out last year for various reasons.

First Ripsey Hill left out on account of limited single track on north side of river. Check out Chads write up and great pics http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=616895 adding Ripsey and crossing the Gila at the Kelvin Bridge. This eliminates the big road stretch west to the diversion dam and adds new single track on the North side of the river. Depending on how much the paid crew gets done some version of the http://www.bikepacking.net/routes/gila-river-ramble/ will get one back on course.

Second El Oso road and Boulder Creek to Gold Ridge Trail left out do to impassable over growth on Boulder Creek section. Check out down hiller's work on Gold Ridge http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=507909&highlight=Gold+Ridge+trail recent intel has it that the Boulder Creek trail is passable again. This eliminates the highway stretch after Roosevelt Lake and goes over Mazatzal Ridge eventually using the Gold Ridge Trail to rejoin the route near Rye.

So what say you potential AZT Schralpers how much is too much.  

[wookieone]

Shiiiiit, I don't have any idea since I haven't made it past piketpost yet!!! Seeing that the meal deal is still 6 months away I am apt to say, make it harder, more trail less road, but in six months and a few days I will be cursing myself, right? Be interesting to hear master scott's take on this....

[ScottM]

Hmm.

Maybe a day ride (or bikepack) to Sunflower is in order... I think I'd have to see Boulder Creek in person before deciding to suggest anyone (myself included) go down it with 350 miles of racing in their legs.

As for Ripsey, I really want to see that in the race, and can "trade" it for the eastern Santa Rita route, which does more AZT and is shorter.  If we do Ripsey in the full AZT I think the 300 needs to do it as well.  Definitely backloads the 300 route with remoteness/commitment.  I'd like to see a connection made in the AZT by the river that eliminates the need for the Orphan Boy climb, but perhaps we don't need to wait that long.

[dream4est]

Add the ST. But tell us more about it please. Sounds like the AZT FMD will be the baddest race around in '11. I am in for sure.

[Done]

I'd like to give this one a shot sometime, regardless of whether it's 750 or 800+ miles. Alas, I don't think that I have time do more than one of these long races per year--and I'm focused on riding the CTR a little faster in 2011. But maybe in 2012 I'll have time to join everyone for the AZT FMD. Thanks to Scott and everyone for giving me something to work toward!

[krefs]

For those of you saying add all this singletrack to the whole enchilada, you're going to be kicking yourself later if you make it that far.  Taking something that's already arguably harder than the Divide and making it harder?  That sounds like something I'd do ;-) 

The Boulder Creek section sounds interesting, though.  Putting in some tough singletrack there instead of the mellow pavement would significantly change the way in which anyone racing the route approaches it.  Knowing that pavement was coming was the only reason I pushed as hard as I did at the end of the 300.  Too bad I didn't realize how rugged the terrain was in the canyons prior to that pavement!  But all that pavement was a big contrast to most of the rest of the route.

That being said...Scott, if you change up the 300 to include the eastern Santa Rita route and Ripsey, I'll be back for more in 2011, but just the short version this time around. 

[OurManInTheNorth]

Ha ha, attempting the full meal deal ate me up and regurgitated me quite nicely this year! I did feel like up to and past Rppsevelt I was making some ground, had one of my (relatively!) better days, though it was all headwind and I was actually feeling singletrack up and downhill would have at least offered some nice shelter and relief from pushing on the pedals in low gears and getting nowhere, even on the flat!

No opinion other than the singletrack in places of my AZT 500ish was some of the best I've ridden, and I can't remember really thinking 'I wish there was less of this'!

Bummed I'm not going to make it to the start for the race in 2011, but might try an ITT of the 300 later in the year - how is the weather down there in mid October or even now? Snow on Mt Lemmon?

[AZTtripper]

Mid October should be fine it stayed warm this year upper 80's finally cooling off now mid 70's this week. No snow yet just depends on the year but I can't see one early storm shutting you down. Worst case maybe you would have to do the Control road instead of Oracle Ridge.

[jonesy792]

damn, just when I'm getting myself psyched for "only" 750 miles you go ahead and want to make it longer haha

[OurManInTheNorth]

Not have to do Oracle ridge in the middle of a gale, starting as the sun drops, having only found out about the possibility of bears from the sign at the entrance to the trail, and with 3 stops to mend 11 punctures during the night? Noooooooooo! How could I possibly miss it?!

Hi Jonesy - planning this for next year then?

[jonesy792]

Yup I'm taking next semester off so I figure its prime time to cross this one off the list 

[AZTtripper]

damn, just when I'm getting myself psyched for "only" 750 miles you go ahead and want to make it longer haha

I guess I am going to get what I deserve if I get to go this spring. First I ask for a little more ST and now Scott says he is looking at even more in between Picket Post and the Apache Trail. I've lost the stats from my 06 trip but I remember it being a very high percentage of ST, getting of of US 60 would bump it up even higher.

[OurManInTheNorth]

Cool, good luck to you both!

[ActionJackson]

Mr. Corfe - how goes it?

Heck, I just need to come back out and complete the 300 before "worrying" about another 500 miles in the FMD.

[AZTtripper]

Not have to do Oracle ridge in the middle of a gale, starting as the sun drops, having only found out about the possibility of bears from the sign at the entrance to the trail, and with 3 stops to mend 11 punctures during the night? Noooooooooo! How could I possibly miss it?!

Hi Jonesy - planning this for next year then?

Oracle Ridge is in prime shape right now, well at least the top 2 miles, FS went in and cleared all of the down trees. Of course any winter storms are likely to drop more, rumor has it that we might get a segment steward for that part. It would certainly help to get some work done out there.

[dream4est]

Wow- there are 5 interested already for the FMD, if you include Scott, in this thread. There could be a pretty good starting pack at the border on April 15th. Anyone else out there thinking FMD?

[krefs]

I'm always thinking about big things 

[wookieone]

Anyone heard any word from the Great Lord of the AZTR if there will be any changes to the 750 Route? And yes, I am planning already. Jefe

[Endurance Junkie]

I plan on doing the FMD 

[jonesy792]

wow the start line for the fmd is already looking crowded, I hope theres room for us all