AZTR 2013 Planning

[the tortoise]

Sean,

Sounds like a super light setup!
Are you taking any rain gear?

[ScottM]

Here are coordinates for the bathtub spring:

33.01323° N 110.99251° W

The trail is on the left side of the wash, on a hillside.  If you look to the right and down in the wash, you'll see the bathtub sitting right at the bottom of a small drainage coming into the main wash.  It's described as "new 100 gallon stock tank ~90ft S; " in Fred's water chart.  A very short walk down the open hillside to the wash.

Hopefully with this info we can relieve some of the pressure on the cache.

In my experience there is always at least a trickle coming out of the black pipe that fills the bathtub.  Fall and winter it could be really slow to fill bottles, but in the spring it should be better.

I didn't know about the tank with the float valve that adenberg talks about earlier in the thread.  There are a number of tanks/troughs in the area that are on some kind of pressurized water system, so I'm guessing it's part of the same system.  This one is great since it's so close to the route.  The others I know of are closer to 1 mile off.

His coordinates for that one:

33.01805° N 110.98990° W

Between those two, and Kelvin not really that much further on down the trail (unless you're shelled, then Ripsey is... Ripsey), there shouldn't be a need to fill up hugely at the cache.  I suppose it's somewhat debatable as to whether the cache should be allowed these days, as Tim points out.  On the old Box/Orphan route there was never any reliable water after Oracle, but now there are several good sources -- Kelvin being the biggest one.

[ne14cycling]

 

just sayin'



ONE WEEK [close enough] TO GO TIME!

[aarond]

Hey Scott, just wondering what the best option will be to pick up SPOT's for the race?

[ScottM]

Hey Scott, just wondering what the best option will be to pick up SPOT's for the race?

Good question.  I'll have all the rentals at the start line of the 300 (not the border), by 8am or so.

Also, I live less than a mile off I-10 in Tucson, so you can pick them up on your way south too.  Just drop me a note if you're in the 750 and want to pick yours up early.

Remember you need 3xAAA energizer ultimate lithium.

[boatmana]

Remember you need 3xAAA energizer ultimate lithium.

Bring extras batt's IMO. no Lithium batteries directly off route and SPOT eats up regular batteries FAST.

[boatmana]

May have room for 1 possible 2 more travelers to SV, ultimately meeting up with a carpool to Border early early Friday morning.  Hit me up.

[ScottM]

Yep, lithium only for SPOT's.  For the 300 one extra set should be enough.

There are two circle K's in Oracle.  Does anyone know if the closer of the two is closed?  No answer on the phone # google as for them.

Another service note -- there's a bike shop of sorts in Patagonia.  I talked to the owner a couple weeks ago when I noticed the shop.  He said he'll have some 29er ties on hand, for the inevitable Canelo slices...

[Foster]

Anyone know about snow conditions on the North Rim?  I was up at Lees Ferry the past 2 weeks and it looked like it still had quite a bit of snow on it from what I could see from 40 miles away.  Wonder if the Detour will come into play this year?

[jbuchanan]

In Tucson, the closest shop to the route is probably Ben's Bikes. I ride this leg quite a bit and it is a very quick spin:

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Rincon+Valley+Farmers+%26+Artisans+Market,+12500+East+Old+Spanish+Trail,+Tucson,+AZ&daddr=32.1215131,-110.7265485+to:Ben%27s+Bikes,+7431+S+Houghton+Rd.,+Suite+%23100,+Tucson,+AZ+85747&hl=en&ll=32.125144,-110.744977&spn=0.027949,0.059309&sll=32.124999,-110.744891&sspn=0.027949,0.059309&geocode=FVk76gEd9X1m-SF1EaEuDvCriim9VX4lrmDWhjF1EaEuDvCrig%3BFaki6gEdbHJm-SmVFo4Cu2DWhjEdHWQXRqygNQ%3BFQQP6gEdksBl-SHrXiDk-dW-HynBpQ_-L2HWhjHrXiDk-dW-Hw&oq=ben%27s&t=h&dirflg=b&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1&z=15&lci=bike

Try to call even during off hours, he'd be willing to meet racers at the shop.

[Gimmearaise]

Looks like Cjell is on his way, only 700+ miles to Sierra Vista. Will he make it on time? only time will tell.
http://trackleaders.com/aztr13i.php?name=Cjell_Money

[THE LONG RANGER]

Looks like Cjell is on his way, only 700+ miles to Sierra Vista. Will he make it on time? only time will tell.
http://trackleaders.com/aztr13i.php?name=Cjell_Money

I think some beers are in order for him, no matter how close or far he gets!

[cheeseunit]

Wow, this is so freaking awesome!^ way to go man !

[AZTtripper]

Molino water stop update.

For those who are planning on getting water from the creek just before the crossing of Catalina Hwy. MadMax was just up there 4 days ago and says that he say plenty of water running in the wash along the highway.

No water where the trail crosses but from the way he made it sound there was plenty running down stream from there. He is thinking of going out the road and just dropping down in to the wash a short ways down the hill.

My guess is there has to also be water somewhere near the trail crossing.

Getting close now. I'll be at the Border Thursday night and then at the Parker TH on Friday morning. Looking forward to meeting riders. Have a great one out there.

Tim

[schillingsworth]

Thanks for the update Tim.

Cjell IS Money, is guess the AZT750 is just part of his 'loop'.

Freeman Rd Cache update: Dropped off 25 gallons today & took home 23 empties. All water is general use and a couple of through hikers were mighty glad to see the fresh stock today!! Be careful if you look in the wooden cache, that's the one closest to Freeman Rd, there were some hornets inside on the upper right making a nest!! There's only a few gallons in there anyway. The new metal cache, about 75 yards farther down trail, had about 30 gallons in it as of today.

Also, the through hikers confirmed reports that Beehive Well doesn't taste too good!! They also mentioned that Oracle Ridge had limited snow, mainly constained to the shadows with spotty coverage.

See you all in a few days!! Sure was a nice ride out on the Boulders segment this afternoon.

[AZTtripper]

Freeman Rd Cache update: Dropped off 25 gallons today & took home 23 empties.

Great that should be plenty, there can't be that many thru hikers left to go by there. It will be interesting to see how many of the 38 make it that far.

Best of luck to everyone, it's a long haul even if you don't ride from CO just to get started!

[dream4est]

Yep, lithium only for SPOT's.  For the 300 one extra set should be enough.

There are two circle K's in Oracle.  Does anyone know if the closer of the two is closed?  No answer on the phone # google as for them.

Another service note -- there's a bike shop of sorts in Patagonia.  I talked to the owner a couple weeks ago when I noticed the shop.  He said he'll have some 29er ties on hand, for the inevitable Canelo slices...

I just called the Circle K on the west side of Oracle. Clerk said that one is open 24 hours and the Circle K on the east side with the bad phone number on google maps is open till 11 fri sat and 10 sun-thu.

[ScottM]

Thanks Mark.  Glad it at least still exists.

Extended forecast for Friday/Sat has been cooling down in the last few days.  Another system is due to hit us with wind and cool temps this week.  Hopefully it'll be enough to keep the 300 and low desert parts of the 750 out of the 90's.

[Sean Allan]

Deleted. Problem solved....

[Gimmearaise]

Thanks Mark.  Glad it at least still exists.

Extended forecast for Friday/Sat has been cooling down in the last few days.  Another system is due to hit us with wind and cool temps this week.  Hopefully it'll be enough to keep the 300 and low desert parts of the 750 out of the 90's.

That's what I like to hear! Crested butte just got its second 12 inch storm in the past week! It's making it mighty difficult to get ready for this thing!