AZTR 2013 Planning

[the tortoise]

If I run out of money before the Grand Canyon will that be considered the fiscal cliff Cliff???

[AZTtripper]

Anyone hear if the cues are remaining the same from last year?

Minor changes may come prior to the event I'm sure...including obvious detours...no wholesale changes I'd bet.....

I think I have answered my own question.  

Cliff in Carlsbad

Not sure if Scott will add Hope Camp trail or not. The NPS at Saguaro Park has recently opened this old ranch road to bikes.

This would allow riders to continue on the AZT single track into the Park. Exiting out farther north and west of where last years riders turned off.

Several riders missed this turn last year.

Adding this in will add some time, unless your one of the riders who had to backtrack.

Extra single track is of course bonus, extra miles and more pavement not so much.

If the change is made it will be easier to navigate, follow AZT to the end of the single track follow old road to its end. Hit the pavement and there's only one way to go.

Other then this I can't think of any large scale changes.

Of course there will always be short reroutes built by segment stewards thru out the year. These small changes shouldn't effect the course too much.

[tanman1337]

One quick question. When you mail yourself something ahead, how do you address the package?

[the tortoise]

This is for PCT hikers but it will apply here too.

 At some point most hikers will have the need to mail themselves something along the trail. It may be a food resupply, new equipment or the periodic mailing of your bounce box. Following are some tips that you may find helpful.

Abbreviations Used
USPS - United States Postal Service are the people who run the post offices and deliver mail to your mailbox.
UPS - United Parcel Service is a company that delivers anything to just about any address, except a post office (P.O.) box.
FedEx - Federal Express is like UPS
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival
P.O. - Post Office, usually P.O. Box

Mailing Method
The method you use depends on several factors. Some private party maildrops will only accept UPS and/or FedEx, some will accept any. Post offices or P.O. boxes will only take USPS. Some private party maildrops will only accept incoming mail and will not ship out. When mailing a package to yourself at a specific location, first determine your requirements. You don't want to send your bounce box to a place that won't mail it out. For a simple resupply package send it by the preferred method of the private party maildrop.

Another issue is cost. USPS 'Parcel Post' is cheaper than USPS 'Priority Mail' and cheaper than FedEx or UPS 3 day. It's also alot slower.

When to Mail
A USPS post office is only required to hold a package for 2 weeks, some will hold it longer. Ensure you follow that rule. A private party will only hold your package for a limited time as well. If that time is exceeded the package may be returned or the contents placed in a hiker box. It varies from party to party. So, when you send a package account for package transit time, your ETA and the length of time the package gets held.

Package Addressing
How you address your package depends on how you send it and possibly how the private party wants it addressed. The following example shows a UPS or USPS shipping label to a physical address to Kennedy Meadows:

Your Name
c/o Kennedy Meadows General Store
96740 Beach Meadow RD
Inyokern, CA 93527

This example is for general delivery to the post office in Stehekin Washington:

Your Name
c/o General Delivery
Stehekin, WA 98852

Return Address
For a return address don't use an address if no one is there. Use a return address of someone who would be willing to resend that package to you if for whatever reason that package was sent back by the post office. That might be tough for you international folks.

Additonal Labeling
Always include your ETA and the phrase 'PCT Hiker' on your package. Some places specifically ask that you put an ETA on your package as they will hold the package for 30 days (or whatever) past your ETA. Get in the habit of doing this for all packages. Write 'PCT Hiker' and your last name on every side of the package.

If possible put something on your package that makes it easy to identify, smiley face stickers, colored tape, etc. When hiker packages are stacked a mile high in the post office easy identification goes along way.

Maildrop Locations
There are many potential maildrop locations along the PCT with a variety of mailing instructions. We maintain a thorough list of maildrop locations with mailing instructions here at postholer. If you would like to see one added or have corrections, please let us know.

PCT Ambassador
Some of the smaller post offices get absolutely slammed by PCT hiker packages; it can be a real bummer. A healthy dose of "Thank You's" will go a long way. It's also good for the trail and everyone who comes behind you.

[ScottM]

Guys --

Tim's right on.  The rule about mailing is left intentionally somewhat vague -- it's ok to mail a box of stuff for the hike, but style points are given for doing it from start/finish with the same gear.  I don't really want to see folks mailing things to every post office on the route, but especially the south rim is perfectly fine.

On the cues: no major changes planned, maybe just a few minor things.  Hope camp is one as Tim mentioned.  So don't print out cues or upload your GPX yet, but the 2012 data is perfectly good for studying/planning.

[tanman1337]

With the new Hope Camp section will there still be an opportunity to resupply in Tucson on Broadway or some where else?

[AZTtripper]

Hope Camp Trail brings you out on Camino Loma Alta take that south to Old Spanish trail.

There's no change in the resupply options.

Just more trail and a slightly different exit out to Old Spanish Trail.

You'll still go past the Rincon Valley Market as well as have the Broadway options also.

Last years course in Red the potential new course is in blue.

Adds almost 6 miles of dirt the last 2.8 is on the old ranch road. Then about 2.5 miles of pavement on Loma Alta.

Also note that the Yellow line is the Park Boundary. Camping is by permit only inside the Park. Not that big of a deal as most will want to push thru to town. Or you could throw down right outside the Park and be set to get in to town first thing in the morning.

[RossC]

What is the consensus for the optimal sleeping bag rating? I tend to sleep cold when i'm exhausted but i'm thinking my 15 degree bag is going to be too warm? Is it best to pack lighter and suck it up if the weather snows like last year?

[AZTtripper]

I would guess anywhere from 32 to 40 degree bags are going to be enough.

15 would likely be overkill on all but the coldest years.

Other then right on the North Rim or the very top of Mt. Lemmon it's not likely to be that cold.

[tanman1337]

Thanks for the nice map Tim, I know exactly where that detour is. I went down and rode that section down to I-10 about a month ago

[AZTtripper]

Yeah its pretty sweet now to be able to just stay on single track all the way to Hope Camp.

[shey]

Planning for the 300, can anyone give input on 29" tire options for the terrain?   I tend to lean toward minimal size with heavier casings but it looks like the area will be a bit rougher than Georgia or Florida
Thanks shey

[Foster]

Last year I ran WTB wolverine rear and WTB weirwolf front and didn't get one flat the entire 300 miles.  I ran them tubeless with stans.  Maybe it was luck that I didn't get a flat but I was pretty good at avoiding cactus and getting off the bike in a couple stickery sections.  I never even used my bike pump once.  After the AZ 300 I did the Prescott monstercross and the rear tire started falling apart.  That goes to say the AZT will definitely tear up tires especially the poorly made ones.

A lot of others go with the Panaracer Rampages, probably one of the most common choices for the AZTR.

[shey]

Last year I ran WTB wolverine rear and WTB weirwolf front and didn't get one flat the entire 300 miles.  I ran them tubeless with stans.  Maybe it was luck that I didn't get a flat but I was pretty good at avoiding cactus and getting off the bike in a couple stickery sections.  I never even used my bike pump once.  After the AZ 300 I did the Prescott monstercross and the rear tire started falling apart.  That goes to say the AZT will definitely tear up tires especially the poorly made ones.

A lot of others go with the Panaracer Rampages, probably one of the most common choices for the AZTR.

Thanks for the info Foster.  Are you talking about the really wide Weirwolf front 29X2.5?
 
Looks like Pana Rampage 2.35, Maxxis Ikon EXO sidewall 2.20, Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29X2.25 Snakeskin sidewall, Geax Saguaro 29X2.20 TNT casing and WTB are top choices.  Anyone tried norrower tires for this route?

[AZTtripper]

I have ridden the whole thing pre race days on 2.0 commuter tires. Not that I am recommending that option.

Personally I really like the Rampages.

Last year one rider was on Conti Race Kings, I think they were, on a rigid. He commented that the rigid forced him to pick better lines, and attributed that to not having any issues. Note he only made it into Tucson but then plenty of sidewalls are torn in the first 30 miles.

[Foster]

Thanks for the info Foster.  Are you talking about the really wide Weirwolf front 29X2.5?
 
Looks like Pana Rampage 2.35, Maxxis Ikon EXO sidewall 2.20, Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29X2.25 Snakeskin sidewall, Geax Saguaro 29X2.20 TNT casing and WTB are top choices.  Anyone tried norrower tires for this route?

Yes the 2.5 one...but it really wasn't much wider than the wolverine 2.2.  So to say that they are a real 2.5 isn't actually true.  But they were great for the loose desert riding.  I think another part of me not getting a flat was also avoid the really sharp loose stuff and walking a couple sections rather than bombing through it.  Like the sharp metasedimentary rocks on Oracle ridge, those things will tear almost any sidewall.  So riding smart play a role in keeping your tires going as well, but you still want really sturdy tires.  WTB's tires have nice soft knobs which grab really well and I found that the casing was pretty good but I have also had issues with their sidewalls as well. So this year I will go with the rampages or the saugaro 2.2TNT...I think.  I have a saugaro TNT that has about 4k miles on it and no flat, so its safe those are reliable tires.

[tanman1337]

I have been thinking Rampage up front and TNT saguaro on the rear. The  only downside to the TNT's is how hard they are to put on and take off of Stan's wheelsets.... So might just stick with two Rampages again.

[RossC]

Water: Will 2 x 3L (100oz) bladders be enough? 1 on the back and one in the frame bag?

[AZTtripper]

Water: Will 2 x 3L (100oz) bladders be enough? 1 on the back and one in the frame bag?

Yeah that's a pretty standard carrying capacity. Not that you need to fill it every time, but there are a couple of times when you'll want to.

[tanman1337]

Kurt was talking about a single speed conversion piece on "Reveal the Path" that he carries that has a single pulley and will hold spring tension on the chain if you get in a bind an need to convert over in order to get you to the next town. Does anyone know what this is called or where I can get one? I already carry a spare hanger, but this would be a nice addition to my kit.