AZTR 2013 Planning

[RossC]

Thanks, that gives me somewhere to start. 

[tanman1337]

I can't believe it could detour through my home town! Lol. It's ok, I think I'd live

[ron]

Also one more quick question for anyone, how well does eVent fabric really dissapate vapor? I'm looking to try an eVent bivy from Mount Laurel Designs and just wanted to see how well it really works before I shell out the money for a $350 bivy.

I'd recommend a slightly different route: Superlight bivy + cuben Monk tarp (both from MLD) puts you at the same weight (after adding stakes and guylines) but provides infinite flexibility and more comfort for less $. That's my setup and it rules.

[raybum]

Tim/Scott,
Not sure how much route work you've done trying to hook in BCT, but I do have an almost all dirt route that goes from NE corner of phx (64th street and Bell) up to BCT just south of Emery Hendersen.  It goes through some recently constructed trails called the sonoran preserve. I think there is a mostly dirt route going SE from there along some canals.   Other option would be to try and take it up through Fountain Hills, through the McDowell's, and try and hook into the maricopa trail. (which then hits BCT just west of Anthem).
Anyway, there's some options...let me know if you need some gpx's.
Ray

[ScottM]

Ray -- both Tim and I have been talking a bit about this lately.  Would love to see what you have already sussed out as GPX.

Start date: thanks for the nudge.  I think cutting the middle between 'early' and 'late' at April 19th is probably the best compromise.  Full AZTers will get a full moon, unless someone is REALLY cooking with gas.  300 riders will get decent moon.

I'll get it on the website.

[dream4est]

Count me in (says the slightly deranged man soaking his feet in Durango 5.5 hrs after finishing CTR death ride). I promised myself if I finished I get to go to the next singletrack race. A third time would be off the charts.

[AZTtripper]

Sent a PM to Ray looking forward to seeing what he's got going. I do think this AZT BCT Flag to Phx to Tucson ride has potential.

Shuttle service should be easy to work out, lots of sweet ST, good opportunity for resupply and there should be options for rooms in the middle on either side of Phx.

I would really like to give this a run this fall but there's just no way maybe next fall.

Mark C you are a twisted individual, hope to see you in the spring.

[tanman1337]

Yah MARK!!!! I'm so excited for the full meal deal next year! I have been planning like crazy! I haven't got to start a great training program quite yet, just maintaining for now. It is 115 degrees in Yuma with a ton of humidity lately.... Ugh. Wish I could have done the CTR with ya man! Can't wait for April

[Slowerthensnot]

thinking hard on a full meal deal starting in UT and going south, so here's my tentative throwing the hat into the ring

[tanman1337]

So I take it you are going to do an ITT at some point while the AZTR is going on?

[markphx]

I've been shooting around the idea of going for the AZT 750 come April. I think it would be rad to thru ride the AZT and go for the 750, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. I recently completed a CTR ITT in just under 8.5 days (which is pretty darn slow, considering the finish times of the leaders). My goal for the CTR was to finish, but enjoy myself and soak up as much outdoor adventure as possible (since I work a desk job 40 hours a week). Thus, I usually slept for 7-8 hours a night and even treated myself to a couple of super late starts. If I went for the 750, I would likely shoot for a 16 day finish and try to approach it with the same mindset as I had for the CTR. For those of you select individuals that have completed both the CTR and AZT 750, I was wondering how the AZT 750 stacks against the CTR? Not really looking to debate which one is better (since that is a highly opinionated discussion), more so just trying to get a feel for the trials and tribulations one most overcome to earn an AZT 750 finish.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Mark

[RossC]

So has anyone done this on a rigid? I understand there is HAB galore, rocks, rocks and more rocks but I thought I saw someone last year manage it rigid? Is it complete suicide with no chance of success or just another one of those benefit/reward trade off's we all make with gear choice?

I've been riding rigid for a while now so it's not like i'll be taking off a 100mm fork just to get all racey.

[RossC]

Bah, never mind. I just found the pic of Arno's bike:
http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3089.0;attach=2501;image

[RossC]

So based on the water info in this post: http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,2537.msg28453.html#msg28453
I'm manually going through an adding waypoints to my GPX file. Does this info already exist somewhere and I'm doubling up on work or does self sufficiency start at home?

[AZTtripper]

doubling up on work or does self sufficiency start at home?

Yep both Scott and I feel that giving you a list should be enough to get you started. Sounds like your doing the right thing by starting your planning early. If you work your way thru the water table that will give you a good overview of the course.

Another thing that I just thought of. If you were to study the cues as well as the course and look for all of the places where the course leaves the AZT proper that could really pay off. Last year several people, including a local, blew right past the start of the Tucson detour. Seems like having a waypoint for these leave the AZT places could help avoid that.

Tim

PS I see you answered your own question on the rigid also note that in 09 Chris Plesko set the rigid SS record at 2:18:52. So it's possible to make really good time as well.

[LyndaW]

Does this info already exist somewhere and I'm doubling up on work or does self sufficiency start at home?

Yes it does all exist!

Join the Arizona Trail Association http://www.aztrail.org/ They have an amazing amount of member only information. It is spoon fed to you. When I discovered that cache of info I almost felt like I was cheating! Membership starts at $30. Its a bargain! You get good trail karma when you are on the trail if you are a member - that right there is worth $30 ;-)

Here are some of their member only goods:

Guidebook: The Arizona Trail Guidebook is a series of PDF files and is organized by passages. It contains a wealth of information including mileages, elevations, water sources, campsites, trail head parking, and more. There are detailed directions for each passage and basic outdoor travel information.

Data book: Updated June 2012 The Arizona Trail Databook is a PDF file and is organized by passages. It contains passage and total miles, elevations, reference to GPS waypoints, water sources, campsites, trail head parking, and miscellaneous notes.

Small, less-detailed "pocket maps" can be purchased at our online store, or are free to ATA members from their pocket maps page.

They have a brand new (released July 2012) Arizona Trail Mountain Bike Databook is a PDF file and is organized by passages. It contains passage and total miles, elevations, reference to GPS waypoints, water sources, campsites, trail head parking, and miscellaneous notes. It also contains the alternate routes needed by bicyclists to get around wilderness areas where bicycles are prohibited.

I almost feel guilty posting about this info but the more people who become members of ATA the better.

Lynda

[tanman1337]

Tim,

I know this is way too early to tell, but I am definitely putting in the time to also start making my waypoints for the 750. Do you think the Highline bypass is still an option for this year or is the course going to be identical to last year's?

-Tanner

[AZTtripper]

Good point Lynda, after all of the work that went into that I should really start recommending it huh. Actually I didn't know they had released the bike version yet. The trick then will be to figure out what parts of the Data Book apply to the 750 course its all there just not in one straight forward line. So no need to feel guilty there's still some real map work to do I should think.

Membership has it's rewards as they say and your $30 goes to a great cause.

Tanner are you referring to the Black Canyon route we were discussing on here a while back?

[tanman1337]

Yah, that detour that would head through Sedona and such

[AZTtripper]

Yah, that detour that would head through Sedona and such

Actually as of right now Scott's planning to ride from Flag to Tucson in late Oct. But we're looking at this as a stand alone route. The Flagstcson 500, just a working name, is looking like a sweet course. Not sure about changing the AZTR in such a drastic way. Tho it would be more rideable, seems like the whole HAB thing is kinda an AZTR theme.