AZ Trail 300 race

[mtnbik]

Does anyone know how much total elevation gain there is to the Arizona 300 trail race?  Also, if anyone out there has done both the AZ Trail 300 race and the Coconino 250 race, can you tell me how much more difficult the AZ Trail 300 is compared to the Coconino 250?  Or is it about the same just 50 miles longer?  Is it about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive from Phoenix to the start for the AZ Trail 300?  Thank you.

[AZTtripper]

I have done both and would say the AZT300 is much harder then the Coco 250. And its not just the extra miles its the extra miles of walking.

According to my TopoFusion track from the web there is 45,000 feet of climbing but I am not confident in that read out. I don't think its that much. The thing is again its more about the walking. A lot of the 300 is hard slow technical riding and hike a bike but the biggest climb is on pavement then there's hiking on the down hill. Numbers in feet of climbing can't really convey the effort put out. There have been some changes to the course since I have done it from what I understand it makes it a bit harder at the end.

When doing the Coco during the race with the stage stops the first day is not that bad a little HAB and a lot of road, the second has a lot of fun riding and only gets brutal at the end, the third day is long but mostly road, on the last day the only sick of more spot is Sycamore Canyon and that's short. The latest version of the course has a couple of changes since I rode it from what I understand they make the course easier.

I would guess 4 to 4 1/2 from Phx it depends on who's driving of course and how fast they take all of the corners in the last 25 miles.

Tim

 

[tanman1337]

This is what I had on my etrex 30 at the end of the 300 this year. I did go into town in Tucson and Oracle for resupply though. Not sure how accurate the elevation gain is, but maybe this will help. I have not done the coco 250 yet.

[AZTtripper]

Comparing the Coco to the 300 based on the official tracks I get 30,000 for the Coco compared to 45,000 for the AZT.

Topofusion also has a difficulty index rating for the 300 is 267 and the 250 is 167 just a different set of numbers to compare. The Coco comes out easier by the numbers.

The Coco has a pretty high completion rate the AZT not so much. The Coco is very doable at stage pace but then so is the AZT at a 5 plus day pace.

[ScottM]

No doubt the Coco is hugely easier/faster.  Just look at the record times for thru-rides.  53 hours for the 300 and 36 for the Coco.  Neither is easy, but the Coco has a lot more "easy" miles on it.

I'd say ride both and find out for yourself.