I would suggest just downloading the gpx2img program from the site below and create an overlay map. 

Great way to load up huge tracks like the AZT, CTR, CDT, etc...  Also works wonderfully when you want to create trail maps for multiple areas you'll hit on an extended road trip.

Google gpx2img and you'll find plenty of links to tutorials and videos on the how-to.

www.gpx2img.com

Wimp womp, gpx2img is only for PC

Oh, you use one of Those computers, eh?

My suggestion:

Go out on Craigslist and find someone selling an 'obsolete' PC laptop for $50 that has and runs Windows XP like a champ.  Then, install everything you need and use that machine as a dedicated GPS workstation.



Those activity tracks are all of your track log files.  One will get created each time you turn on the gps unit and each time you reset/clear your log file/trip computer.  So, for each daily file on the SD card, there will be one or more activity tracks within that file.  I like to use EasyGPS to go in and clean out all the garbage tracks before renaming and saving the file with my actual 'activity' data.  It's also a good program to open and save files to fix header info that keeps the file from loading in Mapsource, Topofusion, Google Earth,etc...  Totally different thing, but maybe it helps someone else reading through this thread?

If anybody in the area wants to join in, I'm doing a 3 day, 150 mile route through the Fishlake NF over the 4th of July weekend (Fri-Sun).  Plan on doing 55/55/40 on the mileage.  Water should not be a problem along the route.  Looking to just take my hardtail outfitted with big, bouncy tires, do the miles, enjoy the scenery and relax in the evening with lots of Captain and Coke!

The route is a little pavement, then essentially all Forest Roads after that.  Could possibly do the trail around Fish Lake, maybe, but...Just want to explore the area and check out the area above where the Dixie 311 stops.  And this stuff is actually rideable!  I've actually got a lot of routes and segments through the Fishlake that can make anything from a 100 - 500 mile loop and just want to start getting up there to explore and map it!

Probably be going back up in mid-August and doing a route (or possibly just hoofing it and backpack) through the big, actual Tushar peaks.  May likely do a little drive towards Big John Flat and Baldy Peak on way back home, just to get a peak of what awaits six weeks or so down the road.

I've got both a gpx and kml file of the route attached.  Different start/end point than what is on these files, but you see the overall route.  Camping will be up high with first a view to the East, then a view to the West.

I'll be leaving Vegas around 5am on Friday and should get to the start point by 9am.

Anyone interested, let me know. 

Ok, forget all the BS everyone is telling you about it not being able to be done.

What you need to do is download GPX2IMG.

http://www.gpx2img.com

Put your tracks into the program, let it create a file to add to MapSource (and given you are using a Vista, I assume you use MapSource and not BaseCamp), then transfer that whole 'overlay' map/file to your GPS unit, along with the other topos you may need that cover the route.

If you need to do it, you do know how to 'batch' upload multiple maps to your gps, right?

Also, you do know that there is an option to save your track file to the SD card and put virtually unlimited data points to the card and not have to worry about the 'snaking' nature of the track log 10k limit when you save at the end of the day.  I've got more than a years worth of 2 second plot intervals on the card, plus my current topos and overlays and I don't use but a fraction of the 2Gig total on the card.

Creating overlay files is the way to go!

Great, simple solution you've shared.  Thanks!

Been thinking of different bar bag designs, but simply 2 spacers, 2 lashing straps and a dry bag?

That's going to be the setup!

I've done this for a 2006 Medium Stumpy.  Seems like you've got a little less space to work with.  That said, I think you'd be better to use one long zipper like I did.  If not, it's going to be tough to get anything stuffed into that pack.  On my setup, I can get a 100oz bladder, tire pump, shock pump and light jacket squeezed into it.

Did mine by first sewing the velcro to the end pieces, then sewing each end piece to the sides (zipper sewn in before attaching to other pieces), then stitching the end pieces to each other.  That would make it easier than taking one piece and trying to sew around the angles of what will be the top of your pack.


Pics:

1 - Original template for my pack

2 - Some new packs I've made, including the frame pack.

3 - Detail of front hose exit port in the frame pack.

4 - Detail of method to attach bladder drink tube to bike for drinking while riding.

5 - Pic of older frame saddle bags and seat pack I made.  Have velcro strips along the back of each to make them stick together and prevent potential rotational movement.  These can actually go over the newer center frame pack to give more carrying capacity.  These saddle bags that I made are ugly, but they do work.  You could do something like this, but design them to fit the outer lines of the frame from the head tube back.

What I do is different than what most folks do, but you could start with the way I do my zippers.  Then, just add on a storm flap to keep out the elements.  

All I do is use my utility knife to cut an opening like this:

\                                   /
 -------------------------
/                                  \


From the pictures, and all three bags were made by just making an opening in a single piece of fabric, the inside stitching is to fold and hold the initial opening.  The outside stitching is to attach the zipper to the outer and inner layers of the opening.

I should have used a bar tack (and will on future projects) on the ends of the zipper openings.  But even though there is a little fraying on the corners of my zipper openings, I know it will be years until there is any real issue with it.

But, most folks should and would bar tack those ends to prevent future issues.

Just my way of doing it.  Have a dual-compartment frame bag I'll be making for my hardtail that I'll do the same way.  

Just make sure to take snowshoes and a chainsaw!

But, if the snow is deep enough, you may not need the chainsaw!

You could get lucky and have a very dry winter and spring, but I doubt it.

Selle Anatomica Titanico Saddle

Watershed Leather

Color: Red

Essentially new, only put in 3 road rides for about 5 hours total on it.

Felt wonderful on my right side and never any numbing, but it just won't work with my problematic left cheek.

Saddle comes with the original packaging and birth certificate for warranty registration.

$80 shipped.  

So, Scott, or anyone else.

Is this thing actually available yet?  The SPOT website doesn't even seem have anything on it (nothing I even saw looking thru the press room pages)!

http://www.rei.com/product/860469/spot-gen3-satellite-gps-messenger

Any intel on beta units as to how they perform as opposed to gen 1 and 2 units?

Any possibility of being able to test/rent one if I'm doing the Dixie in a few weeks?


Please, give us some info!

I've got a 3-day weekend over Labor Day. 

If I've got to solo ride, I'll probably car camp and trail ride somewhere.

But, if I can get a small group together, I'd like to do one of the following:

Mark-Pauns 150 - A modified Dixie 200 course through the Markagunt and Paunsagunt Plateaus in Utah.
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/Mark-Pauns150.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1


CocoNorth Loop - A 180 mile loop through the higher grounds of Coconino County, AZ between Williams and Flagstaff. 
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/CocoNorth.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1

For either one, just looking to do it as a 3-day (Sat - Mon, Sept 1 - 3) trek.

Check out the attached maps.  Click the links above for gpx files of the routes.

A night or 3 spent riding and sleeping out on my local mountain trails = bikepacking.

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour.

Unless it's a race there are no rules!

My .02

Tim

Maybe that should be stated as:  

A multi-week traverse of the entire AZT = bikepacking tour(ture).


Touring, trekking or bikepacking; call it what you will.  

Just take off and hit the pavement and/or forest roads and/or trails and enjoy!

I can make one last long weekend before my time gets restricted again.

Looking at a window from Fri - Tue (June 15-19) to be able to get out of town.

So, anyone up for a 2 or 3 day trek around one of those areas?

Somewhere around 50-70 miles a day.

Short notice, but if you're experienced, know your capabilities and ready for a trek, let me know.

You're going to be doing a good bit of fire roads wherever you go.  And there are a lot of FRs, even pavement,  on the FlagZWlms course.  I came up with that route as a quick response to a question by another Vegas rider.  We planned on riding a loop over Memorial Day, but the weather wasn't too great around Flag that weekend, so, we ended up going to St George and did a 2 day BP trip, that became this St George 100 mile route.  https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/stgdc

But, back to Coconino County.

For the distances you want, you may want to do the Flag70Loop (in blue) over 2 days, then either ride the Elden Mt trails or do the AZTNLoop, 40 miles, (in red) as day ride. 

The routes for these and many others can be found in the following files. 

Coconino Northern Routes:
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/CoCoNorthLoops.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1

All Coconino Routes:
https://sites.google.com/site/dirtypursuits/files/CoconinoLoops-All.gpx?attredirects=0&d=1

Actually, the co-op is red trails.  It got renamed a few years back.

And, the site address is still  http://www.redtrails.com

Site does have plenty of trails you'll not likely find elsewhere!

Day 2 of bikepacking around the St. George/Washington County Utah area.  Taking a break before the short FR and on to the Ice House Trail downhill!

06 Specialized Stumpjumper
Homemade seat pack and frame packs
Modified rail-mount tool bag for a jerry bag
REI Stoke 19 pack
Garmin GPSMap 60CSX

Here's what I use.  Lightweight paddling socks.

http://www.rei.com/product/707391/warmers-2mm-sandal-socks-with-fleece-lining

Is there really a need to do anything special to get yourself physically ready to bikepack? 

Now, if you think you're going to jump right in and try to do some grand event like the AZT, CTR, CDT/GDMBR, etc...Yeah, you need to think of getting yourself ready for high daily mileage, high elevations and severely adverse riding/existance conditions!

But, if you just want to go out and enjoy...Think about the trails and rides you normally can do, mileage-wise, and come up with a bikepacking route that keeps you at or under those miles per day.  The extra gear and weight will affect you and you'll ride slower, but you have all day to get where you need to go! 

You may feel like a nut, but, if you want to get a feel for what bikepacking will be like, do this:

- make a list of everything you would need to do an overnight bikepacking/backpacking trip.

- figure out how you will get all of that on you or the bike.

- go out and do one of your local trail rides with all your provisions on you and your bike.  Maybe even do one of your longest rides, perhaps something with a convenient bailout option?

- modify/refine your pack list, packing methods and daily distance estimates based on what you experience on the test ride.

- repeat until you're confident you're ready for the real thing.


Don't worry about how fast, how long, how far others can go. 

Find and understand your current limits and create adventures within your range.  If you want more, try to increase your training distances or improve your training methods and see if you can ride more miles.  And, try to create bikepacking routes that have bail options, just in case you come up with something that is more than you can do!

It's just like finding your distance in running and figuring if you are capable of doing 5k, 10k, 10mile, marathon or ultra rides/races.  Simply make of it what you can!

Zombie threads, gotta luv em!

So...Never tried, but know several folks that swear that eating raw garlic does the trick.  And that's a light-weight, compact solution.

Personally, I just throw in some DEET-based spray and use when/if needed, which isn't very often.

Well, even if you did have to carry 10 days of Esbits, that's probably only somewhere between 2 to 3 boxes (24-36 tablets) and 12-18 ounces.  Not too much weight or volume and both decrease with every tab used.

Not that most folks would even give a damn, but, if level 1 or above fire restrictions are in place, Esbits, Sternos and alcohol stoves are all technically illegal for use on the trail! 

Normally only pressurized white gas and canister stoves with on/off valves are legal when fires are restricted to developed campgrounds.