AZTR 2014 Planning

[Gimmearaise]

It's OK Kurt, you can thank me later for (kinda, sorta, half-heartedly) talking you into that route.  I'll expect a card and flowers in the mail.

The AZT race is officially endorsed by 'the' Outside Magazine.     Check it out:

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/running/Race-Report-2014-Outside-Endorsed-Races@gpkg/unsanctioned-races/Unsanctioned-but-Legal-Races#gallery-photo-3

HEHE, well gosh, I wonder why? Cant wait to see Kurt and Aaron duke it out this year, or at least hear about it on the trail.

[jeffpoitras]

I spoke with Rob from Sonoran MTB out of Sedona and he is down with helping out the shuttle situation. His driver can pick up 7 riders/bikes/gear at picket post and transport to Parker canyon on Thursday. He‘ll bring a small kitchen with for dinner Thursday and coffee Friday morning and a cooler for carb loading. $60/person. Any interest?

[JayP]

Just donated my $50 entry fee to ATA. Glad to do it with the experience the trail will provide.

I love paper maps when looking at a route - any suggestions?

It seems to be plenty of info to have Scott's supplied GPS Track, the cue sheets and the water cues that are floating on here. Anything else to add or pluses / minuses to this info, things to note?

Looking forward to the new to me experience in many ways as well as the walk through the Park.

Its looking like I will be booking a ticket to Tuscon on the 9th and can use some logistic help to the border. Message me please. I can also use a nights stay in Tucson?

JayP

[sonoranmtb]

Hey AZT 300/750 goers. Just wanted to offer a shuttle service as suggested by Jeff above. We have a big 15-passenger van converted to haul 8 riders, their bikes and all the junk that goes along with a bike packing epic.

We will provide a shuttle on 4/10 from Picket Post to Parker Canyon Lake proper. Our driver will stay the night a PCL with a giant cooler and kitchen so you can blow it out the night before and the morning of...

We're asking 60-bucks (pays for gas and driver, kitchen and cooler space for your beer and food.) We need at least 6-riders to make it happen. Send PM or e-mail info@sonoranmtb.com for more info.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: Maps
With Topofusion www.topofusion.com you have a variety of different base maps to overlay the GPX file over. Nice feature of Topofusion allows you to show the elevation profile. You can combine the profile with the track/map by pasting a screen capture into another program for printing.

The individual 'passage' maps for the Arizona Trail can be pulled directly off the ATA site as PDFs [http://www.aztrail.org/passages/passages.php] and perused. This is available as maps only to non-members and with GPS data for $50 level members.

Lately I've been using Hillmap.com [free and web based] for backcountry skiing route planning, which also allows GPX import, profiling and printing. Hillmap has one very cool feature which allows slope steepness analysis and shading to be overlaid onto the map. I also like the uncluttered terrain map which Hillmap uses as the default [non-satellite pane on the left] map.

...I love paper maps when looking at a route - any suggestions?
JayP

[ScottM]

Thanks for joining up with ATA, Jay.

Yeah, there really aren't any paper maps worth suggesting.  An AZ gazetteer is a good way to get the big picture, if you draw in the trail... mine has approximations of the AZT, but is definitely out of date.

[boatmana]

This guy is still planning on a Tuesday April 15th start if anyone can't make the original start. Dam work... Logistics are dialed room for more, let me know. Everyone else kick ass.

[Gimmearaise]

Wow, now JayP too!!!! Going to be an action packed few days!

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Ummm...it will be less than a week for JayP.....unless he's not much of a hiker.

[ScottM]

Tracking Info

Alrighty folks, tracking signup is ready.  Go here to get started:

http://trackleaders.com/aztr-signup

It's a new system that is similar to the old one, but payment (paypal) and form submission are integrated.  So it should reduce the confusion and make sure everyone shows up on the tracking map that should.  Please let me know if you have any issues with it since it's new.

Be sure to read the notes at the top of the page.  And send me an email if you have questions.

I'm planning to head out on 'the trail' in a few short days.  Eszter and I are planning to tour the 750 route (more or less) with the goal of finishing before race start, so I can be around to organize SPOTs and get everyone going.  I am positive there will be a new GPX file that results from my trip.  There may even be some new dirt and/or singletrack since I plan to explore a couple different connections.  Nothing too major, but hopefully some small improvements.  I'll have lots of conditions reports, too.  Having said that, the 2013 GPX file is still valid for this year's edition of the race.  If I get a new file out, with or without changes, any changes will be optional, so both will be valid.

This means I won't be very available by email, but will be checking in periodically.

[Yogi the Barry]

Scott,
Signed up last night, but didn't get an e-mail confirmation...  -B

Tracking Info
Alrighty folks, tracking signup is ready.  Go here to get started:
http://trackleaders.com/aztr-signup
It's a new system that is similar to the old one, but payment (paypal) and form submission are integrated.  So it should reduce the confusion and make sure everyone shows up on the tracking map that should.  Please let me know if you have any issues with it since it's new...

[ScottM]

Thanks, Barry.  I'll look at that.  Your registration came in just fine, otherwise.

[dream4est]

I signed up for the 750. ALL IN!!!!!
No email but Leila's paypal says paid 50 to Scott. Thats a good deal- seems 15 to 20 less than last year. I am going to buy a low-level ATA membership now as well.

Edit- email received Scott. See you on the 11th!
Signed up for ATA Agave level.... I am stoked for a 4th run!!

[ScottM]

Yeah Mark!  Glad to hear you are in for another ride across the Grand Canyon state.  Right on.

I did lower the prices in hopes that people would join up with the ATA.  They really need more memberships.

I should clarify my statement about route changes to say that I don't anticipate any changes on the 300.  I have ridden most of the 300 route this winter.

[Gimmearaise]

Any updates on Oracle Ridge, I remember last year they bulldozed the crap out of that middle section. Was it like that the previous year(2012)?

[ScottM]

Haven't heard of anyone riding Oracle Ridge this year, yet.  With any luck, I'll have a report in a week or so.

Also, given that I may not be back 'in pocket' until just before the race, I'm going to say the 2013 course is the 2014 course.  There will probably be a new file just before start date, but anything changed/added will be optional.

aztrail.org indicates there is still thinning going on near Mormon Lake, closing the AZT.  We had a detour in place last year, and likely it will hold.  I'll go find out...

[Gimmearaise]

Thanks Scott!

[dream4est]

Also, given that I may not be back 'in pocket' until just before the race, I'm going to say the 2013 course is the 2014 course.  There will probably be a new file just before start date, but anything changed/added will be optional.

What changes are you considering in the 750? It has to be stuff between Picketpost and Payson right?  Dirt route off paved highway to Gold canyon to Jacobs crosscut? Stuff near Roosevelt? More dirt roads traded for pave? Better approach to Payson? How about some clues to let us do some map looking and such.

[ScottM]

Dirt instead of HWY 60 is the big one.  May go check out singletrack, but I don't think it'll make it into the route since it's so far out of the way.  But there appears to be a pretty reasonable dirt alternative to much of 60, and it gets you to water/food quicker by going through Queen Valley.

That's the big one, but riding the highway as always will be fine for this year, regardless of how it goes for me out there.

[dream4est]

Well I just wanted to tell u the Gold Canyon singletrack is good but out of the way. The Jacobs stuff is lame for this race, but a shortcut to Lost Dutchman essentially. It would suck South to North as much as the way I went in October (sandy climb a walk in the sun). It seems to me upon map looking though that one could almost bypass the early paved section of Apache Trail by doing easy neighborhood roads near the jacobs crosscut trail? You know East of the paved Apache Trail Highway to Lost Dutchman? It looks like all the neighborhoods connect. Look at S and N Geronimo Rd. They almost connect it seems- or maybe use Mr Schillingsworths neighborhood connector to the last part of Jacobs in that neighborhood?

edit- Off 32 and Apache Trail to the east- one can see that with a few dirt connectors one can ride from gold canyon to lost dutchman in the neighborhoods. One couldnt drive it- but a bike looks like it could connect the pavement with little dirt social connectors. That would save 4-5 miles on busy highway with small shoulder. mtn view to right n arroyo seco to e lost dutchman to n val vista gets you right to lost dutchman- saves 3ish miles or so.