First Ever Arizona Trail Race

[Slowerthensnot]

man right smack in the middle of the busy season in Hurricane....   

[Chad B]

SOOoo, what y'all think of all this snow, saw somewhere that Flagstaff got a bunch, like 40+", curious what those with experience with this route see there?

I agree with what Dave C said. The AZT through Flagstaff area should be melted come race day (minus upper levels), worse can scenario, you would end up taking some alternate routes (highway on the Kaibab).

I am not going to be able to make this happen this year. Realistically, I would find it hard to do an ITT in my the alloted Spring Break 10-day time I have.

[sherpaxc]

I am not going to be able to make this happen this year. Realistically, I would find it hard to do an ITT in my the alloted Spring Break 10-day time I have.

Yep.  I'm a teacher as well.  It makes these middle of the school year (or later part in this case) much more difficult to attempt.  I think I'm gonna save my days and attempt the 300 next spring though.  Can't complain about the 10 weeks off for summer!

[ScottM]

Worst case scenario would be a seemingly clear AZT on the north rim, and then tons of drifts and soggy tread in the woods.

Worst case is the pic I posted earlier in the thread -- feet of snow remaining!  Hard to say how much the north rim got.  Flag definitely got pounded.  I should be up there (North Rim) this weekend, so I may have some idea soon.

[Chad B]

Worst case is the pic I posted earlier in the thread -- feet of snow remaining!  Hard to say how much the north rim got.  Flag definitely got pounded.  I should be up there (North Rim) this weekend, so I may have some idea soon.

Warm thoughts going your way as I bike down here in the sun

[AZTtripper]

Yep.  I'm a teacher as well.  It makes these middle of the school year (or later part in this case) much more difficult to attempt.  I think I'm gonna save my days and attempt the 300 next spring though.  Can't complain about the 10 weeks off for summer!

Here's an Idea for you guys just something to think about. Split the course in half and ride the first part in April, from Picket Post at the end of the 300 the course it's all road to Payson. Even I could get there in two days riding, call it quits until schools out. There will be some warm parts but I bet you won't get snowed out on the north rim when you come back to start over in June. 

I have been thinking I would like to tour the whole course, well minus the Picket Post to Payson road section (what's the point). I can't start with the 300 this year as that is the same day as the Whiskey Off Road and I have to work. I do have lots of time after the 24 thou, first Montezuma Pass/Mexico to Tucson then a couple of more weekend type trips gets me to Picket Post. I'll start over again at Payson in May or at least that's the plan, then it would be good to get all the way to the South Rim in early June before it gets to hot and or the rains come. North Rim county is good latter in the summer not the sticky mud if I recall correctly, so I'll hope to get up that way before the end of the summer. In the end it would be cool to have done it all in one year (even if I skip some in the middle) even if you do have to split it in half. As I recall Scott met a thru hiker who did just that on purpose, by doing a spring south to north then a fall north to south (Payson as the middle point) to take advantage of the better season for each half, makes good sense.    

[wookieone]

Ahhh, but does bikepacking always make sense, actually what you say makes lots of sense. But I think we all know it is act of completion that makes such an endevour so rewarding, as you well know having done some monster trips. But for me some of the allure is that mass of mileage, more than I have ever ridden at once, and the place the mind/body gets to when pushed day after day through amazing landscapes. I am so excited about traversing an entire state, from lowland sonoran desert, to mountains to the Grand, oh my, ok enough of me. Thanks to all for the info sharing, good stuff, Jefe

[sherpaxc]

I actually really like that idea and might be able to make that work.  I used up all my saved days last year with the birth of my son.  I restarted the year with 10 days but he's been sick for some of them so my days have dwindled.  If I can save up enough next year I'm gonna come out and see how far I can get.

[AZTtripper]

I actually really like that idea and might be able to make that work.

Cool while I agree with Jefe it is better if you can to do the whole thing at once, but if that is just not possible well better some then none. Both Scott and I have been twice but we did not get it all in either trip it took two to pull it all together. I bet at least half of the hikers who have done it all did it piece meal segment by segment. Yuri is the only biker to pull it off to my knowledge RobB here in Tucson is also working at it segment style it takes longer that way but I understand that not every one can pull off the time needed for the full trip.

[DaveC]

Worst case is the pic I posted earlier in the thread -- feet of snow remaining!  Hard to say how much the north rim got.  Flag definitely got pounded.  I should be up there (North Rim) this weekend, so I may have some idea soon.

Baah!  Ambiguity is the bane of the addled brain.

[Stefan_G]

Baah!  Ambiguity is the bane of the addled brain.

Dang, what my addled brain would give for a little ambiguity right now.  Most unfortunately, there is no way I can make this happen in 2010.  Scott, it sounds like an awesome event, and it seems the time is ripe to add it to the very short list of multi-day races.  Nice work!  As much as I will be longing and yearning to join, I'll be forced to watch from the sidelines this year. 

[Shaggy]

This has been playing on my mind... I won't make it this year, but out of interest what temperatures would you expect along the route?

[Stefan_G]

This has been playing on my mind... I won't make it this year, but out of interest what temperatures would you expect along the route?

Well, I guess last year's AZT-300 temps were pretty mild - highs in the mid 80s (F) the last day, but single-digit temps + snow and ice on Mount Lemmon.

[AZTtripper]

Seems like every March we get a week of 90's here in Tucson. On the other hand we have had snow in the valley (not just up on the mountain down here in town) in early April. Up north of the canyon one year things will be bone dry in early May the next year, well we've seen Scott's pics of the giant snow banks.

[wookieone]

Ok I have some time off, hope it is enough!?? So looks like I am in, hook line and sinker...oh yeah Jefe

[Shaggy]

Cheers guys!

[AZTtripper]

Sweet no excuses for Mr. Morris not now that there is some healthy competition.

[OurManInTheNorth]

This has given me some sleepless nights too! Was hoping to make the AZT300 this year, now dreaming about the long haul... A few questions to satisfy/fuel my curiosity:

Navigation question - do people rely on a GPS track and the route cues for things like this (i.e the AZT, grand loop etc), or take a bunch of topo maps with them too (if they can't get topo on their GPS/want a back up)? If using maps, do you buy them and fold/cut to suit the route, or print from i.e. Topofusion?

What's the longest unsupplied/unwatered stretch in the AZT300/AZT - the 90-odd miles from Oracle to Highway 60? And are water points in the cue sheet or do you have to try to find knowledge of them yourself?

Thanks!

[AZTtripper]

Sleepless nights should be good training.

I'll try to answer some of your ?'s.

I was able to do the whole state by GPS in 06 with only one problem spot north of Pine just don't get on the highway there is trail in the drainage along side. Cue sheets for the 300 are pretty well set by now and should have most of the water stops. But it would be good to check out other sources such as the ATA website and their water list. The down side is your mileage will be completely different from theirs. But it will give you a good idea of whats out there when you are on the true AZT.

As to maps it would make sense as a back up to print the route from TF and carry them as well. I also like to carry photo copies of the Gazetteer maps to help with planning off route travel (resupply/bail one you need the other you hope not to).

The 90 miles from Oracle should be the biggest one. It does get dry above the rim the campgrounds have water but it will likely still be off when you get there. Not far off route there is the Blue Ridge Ranger Station and they should have water turned on (always have in the past).

Hope that helps it's an awesome trip wish I could go but I have to work that weekend of the start. Looking forward to watching this on Spottracker.

[wookieone]

So I was awondering...after Scotts post about the attempted ride to the north rim, what all is in Jacob's lake? When I was searching for supply points I couldn't find anything there? This area is all new to me, I drove once from Pheonix to Flag to ST. George but it was all night driving outside of Flag, I don't remember where I was. Bottom line I am clueless about Arizona north of the 300 course, actually pretty clueless all together. Seems like there are quite a few possible places to resupply along the way, but once past the South Rim it is pretty isolated. Also some potential good news, I have a ride down there and a ride back! So maybe anyone into this we should plan a retrieval from the finish. OK I have babbled enough, again any info is apreciated...Thanks Jefe