Notes from the RD:
* Get the new GPX files. Both the 300 and 750 routes have changed to follow the AZT in Oracle State Park, whereas the old route followed different trails to the Ranch House in the park. Keep following AZT signs and the GPX.
* Forecast is looking quite warm. Plan accordingly for water. Unless you know the route and the water sources (time to next...) carry much more than you think you need. Also realize that water caches do run out and should not be relied upon absolutely. Do
not arrive at a water cache dry. We met a thru-hiker who showed up at the Freeman Cache dry. There was only a half gallon. He had to call 911.
* Print out this water chart:
http://www.fredgaudetphotography.com/aztrail/watercurrent.pdf There are other water sources out there and they may save your thirsty lips.
* Please email me at
smorris@topofusion.com if you scratch. Better to be marked a scratch than have friends/family/onlookers wondering why you haven't updated for several days. Even if you don't have a SPOT, please email me if you scratch. Also, email me your finish time when you finish. Otherwise I will pull a less precise time from the tracker.
* If you do end up hitting 911 or needing rescue, please do not indicate you are doing any sort of event or race. You aren't. Remember that you're out on the AZT, on your own, just as you would be any other day.
Some notes for 750 riders:
* Remember that there is no camping allowed in the Grand Canyon, unless you have a permit. If you go to the backcountry office in the South Rim village, you can tell them you are doing the AZT (
not the Arizona Trail Race!) and get a last minute permit to camp at Phantom Ranch in the "Private Stock Site." I had to be a little insistent, but the lady at the office did eventually give us a permit to camp there.
* They are very serious about the no camping part, just as they are about the "wheels must not touch the ground" for carrying bikes through the canyon. Absolutely no rolling of wheels. They have enforced this aggressively in the past, and any violation jeopardizes our privilege of being able to carry bikes across, so this must be strictly followed.
* There is a section of the North Kaibab trail that has washed out. There are cones and tape around it. It's quite exposed. Without the rope they have bolted in across it, I am not sure I would have crossed it. With a bike you have to turn perpendicular to the trail and walk sideways across, holding the rope. Not a big deal unless you are afraid of heights.
* Services in Rye seemed to all be closed. No more Rye Cafe. The general store right where the route joins the highway was open, though.
Changes to cues:
* Stay on the AZT in Oracle State Park. Basically, you follow AZT signs all the way from the top of Oracle Ridge to Hewitt Station Road. There are no non-AZT miles on that stretch.
* New route off Hewitt Station Road, between Picketpost TH and Apache Junction.
* Queen Valley is a small and quirky retirement community that adds a bar/grill and convenience store to the route. Hours are pretty much regular business hours. This gets you to cold drinks a half hour or so faster than the old route on US60. After rolling through the community, you go through a gate and follow a parallel powerline until jumping back on US60. It should be fairly straightforward to follow the GPX.
* I removed the brief powerline section later on US 60 (right before Silly Mtn Road). It wasn't worth the effort to try to find and get on it. Once on US60, you stay on it until Silly Mtn Road.
* I also removed the last bit of trail parallel to AZ 87 going into Pine. All of the parallel dirt before the last section is still great and in the route. But the last descent that is full of big rocks is chopped. Follow the GPX file, it'll have you back on the highway there.
* The only snow detour allowed for this year's 750 is on the North Rim. There is some snow on the north side of the Peaks, but it's melting fast. There is a GPX for the North Rim snow detour in the GPX directory if you need it. But the detour is VERY easy: instead of following the AZT after attaining the North Rim, just take the Highway to Jacob Lake. Then return to the AZT where it crosses HWY 89, east of Jacob Lake.
* There is potentially logging going on above Mormon Lake. The rumor at the lodge was that everything was open, but we did not check it out. If you're directed off the trail by signs/flagging, detour, and then return as directed, or as soon as you can. Mormon Lake has a newly opened pizza shop, open until 6pm. The steakhouse is closed, and the store closes at 2pm (!) for winter hours.
