Yay Shelia!!!!   Congratulations!!!
Way to persevere through some amazing challenges!   Bask in the glory, you DID IT!!!  So proud!
Katherine

Oh GAWD......I just checked Shelias tracker and had to come right here to see what was going on!!!

Good for her, that's one smart cookie to realize that she was in a predicament and make the right decision to return to Flagstaff.
And that's one TOUGH cookie to have the gumption to say that she'll refuel and push on!

Yay!   Go Shelia, lots of good thoughts, tailwinds and smooth trails going your way!   I know you can do it!!  Hang in there and soldier on!  We are all pulling for you!!!

GO SHELIA!!!!!!!

She's almost at Flagstaff!!

Well, I hate to say this but I am scratching from the AZT 750

Rich, you are my absolute hero!!  I am so amazed at what you have accomplished so far!  No one can say that you didn't give 110% and more to this race!  Completing the 300 was a phenomenal effort, and if the 750 is just not meant to be, then it is not meant to be.    As much as I would have loved to see you continue, it has to be fun and your heart has to be in it, so I applaud that you have dug deep and made this difficult decision.

To everyone else out there, Rich Rocks!  (if you didn't know that already),

And now, we all get to cheer on Shelia!!  Yay, Go Girl!!!

And Scott, best of wishes for tomorrow's part deux....glad there will be more excitement to watch!!

Katherine

Anyone know what is happening with Mark C.? I'm getting worried... He has been off trail for over 9 hours. Don't know if he is just waiting the heat out, but just curious if anyone has heard from him?

He's just appeared approaching AJ.  Hopefully no more than a battery issue.

(Katherine Wallace: I believe the two riders taking a nap in Bloodsucker Wash are Sharon & Michael, as we leapfrogged a few times over the route)

John, those were phenomenal photos!!  Thanks for the tour of the course!  Wow, how did you find the time to take so many!??!

Also, thanks for the note re Mike and Sharon, and Scott, thanks for your report on them.  They did awesome at 4+5.

I got a voice mail from Rich W this afternoon and see that he and Shelia just bike past Mark Caminiti's last SPOT, and he didn't mention anything about bodies on the trail, so hopefully Mark just forgot to turn it on, battery issues or the like.

Fingers crosses that Rich and Shelia will make into Picket Post this evening (morning) and get a well deserved rest and meal.  Rich does have a bit more trouble than most riding at night, so that cuts him short some days.

I was over the Mogollon Rim/Payson area a few times today, and was looking down for Max, Aaron, Blake and the rest of the guys but couldn't make them out!!
Looked like great weather and we've had a high overcast build this afternoon to hopefully keep it slightly cooler for them.

Jeff, kudos to Nancy for such a great achievement!  (and you too of course!)
And congrats to all the other finishers and starters, you're all heros!

Go Go racers....keep it up!!!!!
Katherine

saw them late Saturday night at Rincon Market.  They were heading up Reddington Pass to camp.  I rode up after them and never saw them, and didn't see them pass me while I was camping either.  But they could have pushed on late into the night and gotten much farther ahead of me.  I stopped at about 12:30 am Sunday morning after turning off Reddington Rd. Probably outdated info, but that's what I know.  Do either of them have SPOT?

Thanks for the update!  I hope they are doing well.  No, neither has a SPOT, hence no idea where they were.

Just got off the phone with Rich Wolf.  He is doing great!  He had just found the Freeman Rd water stash, and was busy re-hydrating.  He had bumped into Shelia there, and it was the first time they had seen each other in 2-ish days.  Which is amazing, as their SPOTS were reporting so close together that I thought they surely must have been riding together.  He said Shelia looked great and was hoping to push through to Gila river tonight, as was Rich.
He said the weather was great and the wind although strong was nice and cool.
He had a message for Aaron Boatman..."Thanks for the help with the new tire in Sierra Vista, it is holding up like a champ!"

Go Go Racers, you're all amazing!!!!
Katherine

Anyone have any updates on Team Alaska?  Michael & Sharon. Thanks!

Rich Wolf called in with another update tonight.  For such a little guy he sure has a big stomach!!!  Outside Oracle he hit pavement and made a beeline into town to eat dinner!  He has backtracked, rejoined the route and now heading back to Highway 77 in the dark.  Very proud of him for pushing on.  He hadn't seen Shelia all day, but they must've been within spitting distance of each other for a lot of it!  I was sure they were riding together, their SPOT's were so close.

He has a message for Scott.......He'll be racing the AZT twice this year...His first time and his last time!!
I think he's having a great time.  Said that he is really enjoying camping out in the desert at night.

Go go racers!!!

Katherine

I think Shelia was up at the Iron Door restaurant.

Yes, I see her moving now!  She's chasing down Rich!  He'll be glad to know she's pushing on.

I just got off the phone with Rich Wolf.  He is in Summerhaven and has renamed it Slumberhaven while he waits for the store to open at 10am.  He was in good spirits but said the HAB's were some of the toughest he has seen.  Sounded like he had a good nights rest and was keen to push onto Oracle. He was also looking for Shelia, her spot wasn't tracking this morning, but now she's appeared up above Summerhaven.  Maybe she was getting some good photos!!!   Huge shout out to all the racers still out there!

Congratulations to Aaron and Pete for their stellar finishes and words can't describe what Ezster did out there!  Way to make us all proud!

Pedal On Racers!!!
Katherine

And finishers - you get to sleep now!!!

Wow!!  Way to go AZT'ers!!!

This time last year I was out training for TD2012 and got to meet Jill, BearDog and MarkC as they motored north on the AZT750.
This year looks like another amazing race!
Go Everyone!!
I am just so proud of you all for making the start line and giving this a go!  You are hero's in my book!

I just got off the phone with Rich Wolf.  Rich said yesterday was tough, and he had a wrong turn in there that cost him a 5 mile backtrack, but he was in excellent sprirts.  He was camping at some place called The Ranch for the night, and planning on an early start in the morning.
He is an amazing cyclist, a SC400 and a TD2012 veteran.  I am so proud of him because (we think) Rich, at 60 years young, is the eldest racer to have started the AZT750 (yes he's doing the full monty) and I have no doubt that he will be the eldest to finish!!!

I am also rooting for some additional SC400 2012 veterans, to include Laurie and Steve Horton ( you guys rock!!),  Michael Braun & Sharon Sell (all the way from Alaska to Arizona to tackle this beast, are you guys kidding me!?!? phenomenal!) and of course, lady of hour, Ezster H.  And if there is anyone I forgot, please forgive me.

But it is an illustrious field......veteran racers abound, and from Tour Divide 2012 (where my heart lies), in addition to Rich and Eszter, we also have repeat performances from The Artist - aka - Justin Simoni, Cjell Money and Eric Foster (break a leg!!).

Not to forget Scott M who was planted at Brush Mountain Lodge to goad us on after a feeding and verbal encouragement.

But my biggest 'Shout Out' must go to all the Rookies who are getting out there and just giving it a go!  For you I have the utmost respect and admiration.

And I can not finish this post without a special cheer for Eszter, whom I have only ever seen her tire tracks, but what a way to start this race, and she's almost done!!!!  yay!!

For all the racers, go go go!!!

To all the fans and family, I live in Phoenix, so if any racer finds themselves in need of help around the Phoenix area, please PM me and I will see what I can do.

Tailwinds to all the racers.......pedal fast and safe!!
Much Love,

Katherine Wallace
Tour Divide 2012 & SC400 Allumni

Roland,
Thank you SO MUCH!  Very kind of you to think of us.  Was an absolute pleasure meeting you in CA.
Keeping your fingers crossed for me (I'll need it!)
Katherine

A month or two ago, Slippery Pig Bike Shop in Phoenix AZ (Central Ave) had a Large Ti El Mariachi unbuilt frame. (arent you in Flagstaff?)
Not too sure if its still there, but worth a call.
Best of luck Foster

Jarral,

My whole kit doesn't weigh much. Easily under 10 lbs before food and water anyway. (from your blog)

So what are you including/excluding in that weight? I'm way above that but my packing list looks pretty similar to yours....

Hey guys,

What have y'all come up with for Bear Spray?  Everything that I'm finding that is dedicated bear spray is pretty large and heavy (half pound-ish).  Plenty of pepper spray/mace type items in much smaller sizes.  Does anyone know if I'm wasting my time with one of those?  I'm working on avoidance as the best strategy, but should I end up closer than intended to a bear, and piss her off, is something going to be better than nothing?  Just curious what the rest of ya's are thinking here.

(PS I have bear bell, whistle, and are pretty well researched in bear strategy)

Thanks all.
Grounded

PASS - Pacific to Atlantic Self Supported

Whatever you call it, have fun out there!

I like it!!!

And the finishers T-Shirt can read "The PASS can go and kiss my A*#!"

And of course that leads to another version should there be any non-finishers.....

  If anyone has any suggestions on obtaining spousal approval for races like this, let me know. 

TANDEM!!!!

See that was easy.....

So, totally doing this on a whim.  Will make my decision tomorrow for sure and will send in my email and add my name to the spread sheet if i do. Had a few questions though.
1) Will there be maps available for purchase at the start?

No.  Try www.adventurecycling.org

2)Can someone attach a gear list link? (im sure there are plenty on this forum)

Sorry, I don't have one.

3)Will be driving in and wanted some ideas on travel back to Banff.

I guess you could turn around and bike back!.....but if you're tired, catch a ride to Phoenix, AZ and fly on WestJet back to Calgary.  Or USAirways, but they'll cream you if you want your bike to go with you.

Good Luck!

Broke, Just graduated, 23yo, and dumb as hell....Obviously. But, this might be the best opportunity i will have for something like this.  My wife will be gone for Navy business for the next 2 to 3 months and I have some free time.  Can't think of a better way to spend it.

Thanks Scott.  Much appreciated!