AZT 750/300 2015 Planning

[raybum]

All,
I am working to coordinate a shuttle from Picket Post down to Parker Canyon Lake on Thursday, April 2nd.  If there are people that need a ride from Tucson, we may be able to work that out as well.  We did this 2 years ago and it worked out well and was quite reasonably priced....still working with a phx bike shop who has a shuttle van on price.
If you're interested, send me a note at rhemmele@gmail.com.  Not looking for firm commitments quite yet, but will be soon so we can lock down cost per person.
cheers...
Ray

[aarond]

Here is an article on the AZTR 750 in Bikepackers Magazine.   http://bikepackersmagazine.com/two-years-arizona-trail-part-one/?utm_content=bufferb9b14&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fb_ref=Default&fb_source=message

[ScottM]

Aaron -- snakes and scorpions and prickly pear and cows, oh my!  Good run down of the dangers of the desert.  Looking fwd to the subsequent parts.

Rick Miller - Good to know on the water system being out during race time.  That is unfortunate since it's nice to water up at Cottonwood or Roaring Springs before starting the big climb out of the ditch.

[ScottM]

CAMP TUCSON is back for its 3rd year.  Timed as a good last chance to get some big miles in before the AZTR, and also to preview some of the route.

Details here: http://topofusion.com/camptucson.php

March 13-15.

[raybum]

All,
Joe at Sunday Cycles in PHX recently acquired a shuttle van capable of carrying 11 riders and bikes.  I stopped by and spoke with him today and he is available to get up to 11 of us from Picket Post (where we'd meet him the afternoon of April 2nd) down to Parker Canyon Lake.  The following people have currently expressed interest and we'd have room for more (and thus the cost/ person would be less).
me (Ray H)
Bob M
Arturo C
Phil
Don Rose
Ryan Mostue

If you're interested, please let me know.  At least 3 weeks out, I'll have to ask for committed $ from people.

thx!   Ray

[tanman1337]

Hey Scott, do you think there will be any significant changes to the GPX from the 2014 version for this year?

[ScottM]

Hey Scott, do you think there will be any significant changes to the GPX from the 2014 version for this year?

Funny you should ask.  I was out with Mr. Schilling attempting to add some singletrack in far east Phoenix (Apache Junction).  [Thanks for the tour and route work, John] There's great trails, killer views, and not too unreasonable routing.  Stay tuned for a possible change there.  It shouldn't add any significant amount of time (no more than an hour?), if it gets the nod.

I don't know of any changes for the 300.

[Adam Alphabet]

What's the best way to get down to Parker from Tucson? Has anyone started on coordinating a shuttle or have other ideas? Thanks.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

Can anyone help me identify resupply stops on the 750 that are time sensitive due to store hours? (Smaller places that do not have 24 hr services) This will save me loads of time. Thanks!!

[dream4est]

Can anyone help me identify resupply stops on the 750 that are time sensitive due to store hours? (Smaller places that do not have 24 hr services) This will save me loads of time. Thanks!!

The only 24hr stops exist in Tucson, AJ, Payson and Flag. The rest are time sensitive. Google maps is your bro on this task. Also previous years race threads hold clues too.

Edit-It doesnt take long to come up with a list of all available stores and hours and add them to your cues. I did it so should everyone else. Here is one for you:

Tusayan- Texaco open 6a-11p. I would only use this stop if arriving in town after the general store closes and one is planning to enter the canyon at night. Otherwise a bad option the general store is also high priced but better food.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

Thanks for the tips! If anyone is feeling particularly generous with non-google info about stores and such on route for this rookie, my email is ajtomassetti@comcast.net  Thanks in advance! Jeff

[mikepro]

Thanks for the tips! If anyone is feeling particularly generous with non-google info about stores and such on route for this rookie, my email is ajtomassetti@comcast.net  Thanks in advance! Jeff

Does it help if I regurgitate info on the Rincon store from page 1 of this thread? 

One bad piece of news: I've heard the Rincon Valley Market is completely closed.  That's going to necessitate some different refueling strategies.

That's one detail that's got an out-of-stater like me looking at G-maps and planning, but it's fairly clear that an off-route trip down Broadway is highly likely (but certainly not a given for all racers) and it's been done many times before.

[Adam Alphabet]

Does it help if I regurgitate info on the Rincon store from page 1 of this thread? 

That's one detail that's got an out-of-stater like me looking at G-maps and planning, but it's fairly clear that an off-route trip down Broadway is highly likely (but certainly not a given for all racers) and it's been done many times before.

I received the guide book in the mail yesterday which prompted me to spend a few hours on google earth last night digging up store hours and menu's etc.. Funny you brought this up as I've got a big asterisks for Tucson. I need to go back and figure something out that won't be a huge time suck. On the flip side there are some pretty nice back yard pools that are just begging to be jumped into 

[AZTtripper]

Back in 010 I did  the Broadway Subway ate b-fast picked up subs for lunch and dinner and yeah lost a fair bit of time. I think most will use the Circle K on Tanque Verde/Reddington just before heading out of town.

Can't remember if I posted this or not, there's a newly reopened bar and grill at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Escalante. http://www.saguarocorners.com/ It's right on course but obviously another time suck.

If you want to jump in a pool legally you could check in here http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/ it's been done once before not the swimming but the checking in during the race. And then if you feel you need an extra couple of hours HABing you could pay $25 for a guided bike ride and I'll take you out our jeep trail into Redington.

Scott and I talked about this jeep trail as a way to skip Redington road, we didn't think people would want to pay for the right to push their bikes even more.

[mikepro]

I think most will use the Circle K on Tanque Verde/Reddington just before heading out of town.
Can't remember if I posted this or not, there's a newly reopened bar and grill at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Escalante. http://www.saguarocorners.com/ It's right on course but obviously another time suck.

Happy hour from 3pm-6pm!  Of course, the fast peeps will be through that spot before then.  And the swimming sounds mighty tempting ...

[ScottM]

Scott and I talked about this jeep trail as a way to skip Redington road, we didn't think people would want to pay for the right to push their bikes even more.

A hike-a-bike tax, why not?  I bet the Schill-dog might be up for that added challenge!

I still haven't gotten around to formally writing up the AZT750 bonus medals challenge.  But I'll lay it out briefly in case anyone else (besides John Schilling) is up for more hike-a-bike and suffering.  It's the 10th year of racing the AZT, so it's a good time for a little added challenge.

The idea is pretty simple: you can ride extra sections of the AZT not included on the race route and still be considered a finisher. 

No time bonuses, no advantage to be gained.  What do you get?  The satisfaction of riding more AZT, the joy and bliss of more hike-a-bike, and the challenge of lengthier resupplies!

Oh, and you get some letters after your name on the results.  One for each bonus section you complete.  Here is a draft list of examples:

O - Obelisk Start
S - Sunnyside Canyon
L - Mt. Lemmon Wilderness bypass (Bug Springs, Green Mtn, Incinerator Ridge, Sunset)
M - Montana Mtn.
F - Four Peaks (#20)
B - Boulder Creek

[mikepro]

I'll lay it out briefly in case anyone else (besides John Schilling) is up for more hike-a-bike and suffering.
The idea is pretty simple: you can ride extra sections of the AZT not included on the race route and still be considered a finisher.  
Here is a draft list of examples:

O - Obelisk Start
S - Sunnyside Canyon
L - Mt. Lemmon Wilderness bypass (Bug Springs, Green Mtn, Incinerator Ridge, Sunset)
M - Montana Mtn.
F - Four Peaks (#20)
B - Boulder Creek

Ah, yes.  Curiosity piqued.  I'd do one or more, perhaps, but have no idea what each entails.  Although, I recall reading something in the past about Mt Lemmon bypass (less pave, maybe skips Summerhaven store?). I'm assuming the draft list is written in order, South to North.  Looking forward to more details.

[schillingsworth]

O - Obelisk Start
S - Sunnyside Canyon
L - Mt. Lemmon Wilderness bypass (Bug Springs, Green Mtn, Incinerator Ridge, Sunset)
M - Montana Mtn.
F - Four Peaks (#20)
B - Boulder Creek

This is going to be interesting to say the least!! Really looking forward to the challenge of bagging all 6 letters.

Scott, just to verify, the Obelisk start will be a prologue of sorts? I'm planning on doing the short trek down there on the 2nd, so I can be at the grand depart on the 3rd.

Also, for the 'F': Four Peaks (#20) bonus, this is a CCW loop, correct? It sure rides better in that direction!! The only, very small, catch is a short ~3 mile retracing of some flat pavement to the west of Roosevelt Bridge.

For anyone else considering any/all of the options. I have some ride reports on the blog.

L: *Keep in mind this report was during a Lemmon Drop ride, the 'downhill' direction and that was hard!! Incinerator Ridge had not been built yet. This post was from Oct. '11: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2011/11/lemmon-drop.html

M: This is split between a few reports since I was dumb enough to ride up there in June!! Again, keep in mind the option route does NOT follow FR650 on the way down. We'll be climbing the AZT and taking FR172 down. All three reports were riding down the AZT. The upper 1/2: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2013/06/meltdown-on-montana-mtn.html
The lower 1/2: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2013/06/whitford-canyon-loop.html
Some pics from our climb up FR172: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/11/montana-mtn-via-fr172.html

F: For this one, we did a CCW loop, but also added a short OnB hike from Mills Ridge up to the Wilderness boundary, don't worry about that. The AZT portion will begin at Mills Ridge. http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/01/azt-20-four-peaks.html

B: This is probably the one that sparked all this nonsense. Not only will you ride almost all of AZT #21 and a few miles of #22, you'll get to do the famed El Oso climb and the Gold Ridge (#47) trail down into Rye!! Our ride started at the midpoint of this option in Sunflower: http://schillingsworth.blogspot.com/2014/10/sunflower-pines-spines.html

Enjoy!!

[Yogi the Barry]

To heck with the pool, this [off their spa offerings list] is what to opt for at the ranch. I wonder if the lychee and chestnut cream is edible?

CATALINA LEG TREATMEMT
Relieve tired, aching legs with our lychee and chestnut immunityboosting
leg cream, improving circulation and stimulating the skin
while effectively reducing visible signs of varicose veins. The delicate
lychee fruit helps relieve soreness so you can ride and hike all day long.
May be added on to any body treatment.
30 min – $45

...snip...
If you want to jump in a pool legally you could check in here http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/ it's been done once before not the swimming but the checking in during the race. ...snip...

[AZTtripper]

I've got some pics to add for Johns bonus miles


The first legal ST at the southern end of the trail. To reach it you ride about 3.5 miles on 2 track then you ride about 3.5 back on the AZT so say 7 miles and you'll come out .5 miles further down the actual course. So 6.5 miles extra but he'll get the first legal miles of the trail. I went out there on tour but never could convince Scott to make you guys ride such a silly little dogleg only to come out .5 from where you just were.

And after the El Oso climb he'll come to this lovely piece of trail


Who know's what it looks like now tho.

Gold Ridge should be cool tho


People actually ride this one because it's fun.