AZTR 2014 Planning

[Gimmearaise]

Ohhhh boy, I'm getting the dessert fever, even though I just bough my first fat bike (currently snowing out). Any changes to the 300 this year?

[maettu99]

I would like to ask if you can send me your planned route? I'm from Switzerland and currently I'm searching a route to ride next October. We would like to start on the north side of the GC and pass it at the beginning. But then your detour over Sedona and Black Canyon sounds very interesting.

Can you help me with your knowledge?

Thanks and regards
Mat

Alright, I have been pondering over this 450b option and have put together route using; advice from experienced locals on this forum, Tim’s Flagstone 500 Route, Scott’s 2013 AZTR Route, and TopoFusion.

The result is a 454 mile Route that that has 49,200' of climbing, and 55,110' of descending.

The route takes in the AZTR route (in reverse), starting at the North Rim. It then splits off the AZTR route at Mormon Lake (SE of Flagstaff) and heads West towards Sedona before turning South to take in the Black Canyon Trail. A skirt around the Northeastern side of Phoenix will bring it back to the AZTR route and on to the finish at Picketpost Trailhead, which is of course the finishing point for the northbound AZT 300.

There is also an alternate option to start at the Grand Canyon South Rim.  This will make it a 435 mile route with 40,590' of climbing, and 45,440' of descending.  I’m personally going to leave the start point decision for later. It will depend on interest from others, how my training and preparations are progressing, and of course the weather and trail conditions.

I haven’t pegged a start date yet. I’d ideally like to do a simultaneous start with the AZTR or AZT 300 (7 or 9 AM on Friday, April 11th) although I still need to check into this.

Let me know what you think, and if anyone is interested in taking this one on. At this point I have one Colorado MTB buddy who has expressed serious interest.

Cheers

[dream4est]

Mat there are physical and logistical barriers you need to be aware of. AZTtripper (Tim) is your go to for the intel here.
My .02:

In October you must start before the Grand Canyon NP closes to do a thru hike- so you have to start before the 15th unless you got hook ups to let you in at the north rim gate or you ride from the gate. It doesnt make sense to hike with your bike unless you are planning a full AZTR ride IMO.

If you plan to detour off the AZTR to the Flagstone route in fall  goatheads will send you on a detour at the routes intersection with state hwy 169. You will have to ride around to the west to hwy 69 and back to the northern most entry point of the BCT (hwy 69 crossing west of Cordes Junction). In the fall goatheads rule the area north of the northern end of the BCT. You can also take 169 east to I-17 and south to Cordes Junction and then go west on 69. This move gives you a better resupply/hotel option that is better than going around 169 to 69 but you have to ride interstate.

If I was planning a fall AZTR ride north to south I would avoid canyon crossings and the Flagstone detour. My route would be South Rim to Oracle, including bypassing the Highline Trail and heading from Mogollon Rim straight to Payson. I would also possibly bypass Ripsey Hill like Tim did in his finish of the Flagstone ride we did in October.

I am sure others will add some nice info here. Lots of possibilities and options for adding or subtracting stuff.

[mb]

Hello Matt. Yes Tim and others who have given me advice on this thread are your go-to.  I may be able to help after April, if all goes something near to plan.  I got a .gpx file of the BCT detour from Tim, and merged it with the 2013 AZTR route .gpx file to come up with my route.  Also, Tim and Mark have ridden it since and had their route tracked with the Coconino Stage Race. Here is the link on Trackleaders [http://trackleaders.com/coconino13i.php?name=Tim_McCabe___Mark_Caminiti][/url]

[AZTtripper]

The route is certainly all there, unfortunately there are a few issues as far as planning any kind of event. But it's all there and does make for a great route for people to use. Hopefully this seasons BCT construction will get us past the gravel pit and the goat head roads. It's not that far to the highway crossing and I don't think the goat heads will be an issue on the trail. It's just a matter of traffic I should think. We didn't have any issues once we got on the trail proper.

As we get closer to Mike's start date we'll have to get tracks for what ever gets built this year and see where that puts us in terms of connecting. The road coming off of Mingus works great and there a dirt way to get over to the west near where the trail should be coming in from the south.

[maettu99]

I would give you guys a biiiig thank you for your help and tips.
 
For me it's now time to find all your hints and tips on the map and in my AZ book to understand what our best route would be. Regarding the walk through the Canyon we know that this is not really necessary for a trip like we will do but not doing this part is like visit Switzerland for you guys without see the Matterhorn!

I will post our route as soon as we finished the planning!

Thanks again and regards
Mat

[dream4est]

Hello Matt. Yes Tim and others who have given me advice on this thread are your go-to.  I may be able to help after April, if all goes something near to plan.  I got a .gpx file of the BCT detour from Tim, and merged it with the 2013 AZTR route .gpx file to come up with my route.  Also, Tim and Mark have ridden it since and had their route tracked with the Coconino Stage Race. Here is the link on Trackleaders [http://trackleaders.com/coconino13i.php?name=Tim_McCabe___Mark_Caminiti][/url]

Hey Mike enjoy your spring ride. I forgot to add there is one problem area after the Sonoran Preserve on the Phoenix traverse. I dont think its an issue, but be aware of it. When we exited the preserve/canal area into a neighborhood we passed no trespassing signs. If I remember correctly I think they were to keep out vehicles from a canal area. We saw tire tracks and footprints and dog tracks from the neighborhood but had to hop a closed gate or two. Since we didnt see signs earlier it seems locals use the area unimpeded sans vehicles.

I must add this part too. The trails on the route from Lost Dutchman to Apache Junction are pretty tough. First part is Jacobs Crosscut and it is terrible. The park stuff after that is flowy goodness though. Jacobs is a long flat hike a bike for the most part. The views of the wilderness almost make up for it.

Make sure you use Tims new track. There was a weird track issue on the Great Western Trail (area before Lost Dutchman) in the original track. Had I been alone it would have been a tough choice to not follow the track (which we did after some discussion).

[AZTtripper]

Oh yeah I forgot about the corkscrew wash I'll need to make a new track I'll get it posted soon.

Tim

[Gimmearaise]

We still looking at the same 300 route for this year?

[ScottM]

No changes that I know of at this time, yup yup.

[Slowerthensnot]

considering the whole deal from the ut border to the south... 

[schillingsworth]

Mike

Just an FYI the North Rim road doesn't open until May 15th.

I had thought that was a typo, thought you really meant South Rim. I considered starting the Flagstone up at the South Rim. It would make for a nice starting point. The down side for the long term course was that it added another leg to the shuttle.

For the North Rim I've been thinking about doing a 200 mile version of the Kaibab Monster Cross in May. In the past it was always in June. My thinking is that by going in May I can work it out to spend one night at the Rim. There's a sweet campsite, the group site, that they let people use as the off season site. It's literally right on the rim. I've always thought it would be cool to camp out there the night before the park opens. Lately they have been pretty much sticking to May 15.

Starting from the State Line, a place that's not too hard to get to and super scenic, there are roads that get you up to Jacob Lake. From there it's the standard KM loop out to the Rainbow Rim. Then somehow get from the end of RR to the Park, several road options including the main paved one. Then the AZT all the way back to the State Line.

I've used the campsite out at the North Rim twice, it would be even sweeter if the stores were all open in the morning.

Tim

Tim,
Here's my 2/ on the North Rim portion. Back in October a few of us did a 2-day touring pace ride from State Line to Jacob's Lake on an all dirt & singletrack route via the Navajo Trail. It was quite the find, sure there was some nice HAB in there, but nothing worse than other parts of the AZT (I'd do it again in a heartbeat). Then on day 2 we rode north via the AZT back to Stateline.

With that said, I'd stage my 1st & 2nd nights @Jacob Lake (services), do the route above on Day 1, return to Jacob Lake for the 2nd night, then the first part of the KMC route south to the Rainbow Rim trail on Day 2, camp at your spot on the rim for the 3rd night & return to Jacob Lake via AZT on Day 3.

[mountainjah]

Looks like I'm also in for a 300 ITT last week of March. Super stoked!

[mountainjah]

Question I'm pondering for the 300.....tarp tent or bivy?   Love the room in my squall but also worried about overall footprint...my bibler bivy seems to be easier to find room for on the desert floor...both weigh in at just under 2.5.   Thoughts?

[AZTtripper]

Question I'm pondering for the 300.....tarp tent or bivy?   Love the room in my squall but also worried about overall footprint...my bibler bivy seems to be easier to find room for on the desert floor...both weigh in at just under 2.5.   Thoughts?

I would go with a lighter bivy, or none if the weather looks good, the bibler maybe if it looks like a bad year. A lot of guys just use the emergency ones.

[schillingsworth]

Question I'm pondering for the 300.....tarp tent or bivy?   Love the room in my squall but also worried about overall footprint...my bibler bivy seems to be easier to find room for on the desert floor...both weigh in at just under 2.5.   Thoughts?

The weather this past year was pleasant, I left the Tarptent at home. I only carried a tyvek type ground cover & sleeping bag, worked great for my 3 nights under the stars.

[bmattingly]

Hey all,

October I gave a South to North 750 attempt after the Canyon/Federal shutdown.  I shreaded both shins riding through the high grass and catclaw.  We had a wet monsoon this year and the trail was in pretty bad shape in some sections compared to other times I've ridden it.  I also lost a lot of time losing the trail with the 3 feet tall grass in sections of Canello Hills even with my GPS.  I hope some trail crews are able to do some work before this April's race. I rode to Tucson and then dropped.  Temps were forecaste real hot on the Gila section. 

If I can get the time off work I may attempt the 750 again this April.  Northern Az weather has been real sunny the past couple of weeks.  If weather remains dry in Jan-March I may attempt N to South.  The logistics and rides are much better for  me starting from Utah.  I see another person or two may try the same.  I live in Flagstaff so I would be willing to carpool up to the start if anyone is interested. I live in Flagstaff. I will post again in late March. 

Cheers,

Brad

[ScottM]

Hey Brad,

Post-monsoon can be brutal some years and on some spots.  A lot of that grass goes away by winter and into spring.  Glad to hear you are thinking of giving it another go, with the original direction/intention.  Make it happen!

Rode ~50 miles of AZT from the Freeman Cache (added 9 or so gallons) to Cochran (just before the big climb up to the inner Gila Canyons) a few days ago.  Trail's in great shape for the most part.  Overgrown on the drop towards Ripsey -- that section has needed some trail love for a while now.  Otherwise good.  Boulders is riding well.

[bmattingly]

Hey Scott,

Thanks for the info and the water stash at the Freeman Cache.  Your ride sounds cool.  I was planning some rides from the Freeman area a couple weeks ago until I had some hot water issues with a heater and had to cancel.  May try to make it down for a couple days of riding in Feb or March.  Love the remoteness of that section.  Have to work the weekend of the Antellope Hills/Gila 100 so can't make it down then.

I will be contacting you in a couple months for spot rental.

Cheers,

Brad

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: 300 GPX / Spot

Scott,
So, we can download the track for the 300, tell you that we want to rent a Spot, and be good to go?

No changes that I know of at this time, yup yup.