Want to singlespeed tour the 300 with me this year? I am not sure if I was destined to be an ULTRA-endurance racer based on my last two years.

Chad does this mean that you may actually slow down and give yourself a chance to finish this year.

I am a guaranteed DNF again in 2009.

That's good we wouldn't want too many finishers some one might get the wrong idea and thing this thing is easy.

Word is the new trail is pretty good so mostly likely a lot easier Zach and I flew on those last 2 miles in 07.

As for north of the Gila right now would be a good time to hit the new stuff. As long as the river is low the crossing is easy. The dam is turned off right now the flow can be checked on line at.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/az/nwis/uv/?site_no=09469500&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060

After fording the river there is a flagged route to the alignment and then fresh trail cut all the way to Walnut Canyon and then 4x4 roads lead to Battle Axe or Cochran and another ford of the river or continue on to Martinez and the Box.

Just back from the White Canyon work event sounds like there is now 8 miles of new ST south of Picket Post. Details soon to come but it sounds like 1.5 miles past the old turn off and about 6 more miles of new trail than last year.

Yuri

Some thoughts on your last leg of the AZT not sure but you may be the first bikepacker to break it up this way. I know lots of hikers have done the whole thing in segments but it seams like all of the bike trips have been more of a one push kinda thing.

Breaking it up is going to be a big plus on this leg. It should be reasonable to make reservations well ahead of time and then just back plan for your start date.

Starting at the border are you doing the Buckskin Passage. There is a lot of slow ST should be all ride-able but Winter road will get you there easier and faster. You should make Jacob Lake easy if you skip Buckskin. Then from there to the Park the next day seams doable.

Then there is 10 more miles in of trail riding in the park do you plan to pay and spend a night in the park or camp out side the park and ride in to meet shuttle. Can the shuttle bring backpacking gear. You should be able to do the ride meet the shuttle and hike to Cottonwood all in one day. To make it to Phantom you might want to be staying in the park.

Phantom is great and worth the cash the dorms are reasonable thou someone may snore all night long. But if the shuttle can bring backpacking gear you could have a stove and make your own food by not carry the bike you should be able to carry a good amount.

I would think it would also work out good to start in Flag do the most direct/best dirt route the south rim. Some blend of the AZT and the Moqui Stage route. You could camp out side of Tusayan and then ride in to the park in the morning meet a shuttle and then still make Phantom before they stop selling beer I forget if it was 3 or 4 in the afternoon but they close the store to get ready for dinner. Beer was free with the steak dinner. If you end the ride at the state line finishing with the Buckskin Passage is great the last switchbacks are fun, fast and flowing down to the finish line and the State Line camp ground is a great place to spend the night.

Either way you go, be sure to look for the new carsonite signs on the south rim the AZT is now officially in and there is some great riding on the rim trail just south of Yaki point. This is the only part of the rim trail where MTB’s are allowed. Most of the signed route is on the old entrance road and goes pretty fast.