AZT 750/300 2017 Planning Thread

[geekonabike]

Any info on a Picketpost to Parker Canyon Lake Shuttle/Ride???  Thursday or really early Fri.

[geekonabike]

Hey.  Anyone that has run water bottles on their fork legs on this route, was it a big problem in any spots?  I'm wondering if it would just be a huge pain on Oracle Ridge with all the bushwacking.

Thanks

Hose clamped cages let go right after KY camp. Oracle Ridge caught my bag (fork mount) & dumped me. Bottles well attached should be OK. Just use you own poor judgement as to voluntary dismounts as opposed the involuntary kind.

[bmattingly]

I checked the snow depth yesterday at Aspen Corner.  16 inches snow in the trees with most of the ground covered.  The elevation there is approximately 8,400.  I think it will still be snowy or if not very muddy in two weeks.  A reroute is very wise this year.  Looks like Scott may be doing this.  I will be watching you all.  Good luck.

[jasonshearer]

Thanks for the recon.  Looks like we'll be taking the snow detours across the board.  I believe Scott posted a few responses above.

Jason

[jasonshearer]

Dudes.  Just talked to Kurt Harris who is the maintenance engineer for the AZDOT northcental district.  SR67 is completely clear from NR to JL according to him.  He also noted that foot and bicycle traffic IS NOT restricted while the road is closed for the winter, only vehicular traffic.

Good contact info here for future reference: http://www.azdot.gov/business/district-contacts/northcentral

We talked for about 20 minutes and he thinks we are crazy AF but is really stoked to hear that a race/route like this exists.  He is an avid mountain biker and had ridden a good bit of the AZT.

See you suckers soon!

Jason

[Jeff Z]

Dudes.  Just talked to Kurt Harris who is the maintenance engineer for the AZDOT northcental district.  SR67 is completely clear from NR to JL according to him.  He also noted that foot and bicycle traffic IS NOT restricted while the road is closed for the winter, only vehicular traffic.

Good contact info here for future reference: http://www.azdot.gov/business/district-contacts/northcentral


We talked for about 20 minutes and he thinks we are crazy AF but is really stoked to hear that a race/route like this exists.  He is an avid mountain biker and had ridden a good bit of the AZT.

See you suckers soon!

Jason

AWESOME!

Thank you for finding that out. I was one bit of stress I so did not need. See you at the start.

[elfreako]

That is excellent news!

[ScottM]

Dudes.  Just talked to Kurt Harris who is the maintenance engineer for the AZDOT northcental district.  SR67 is completely clear from NR to JL according to him.  He also noted that foot and bicycle traffic IS NOT restricted while the road is closed for the winter, only vehicular traffic.

Good contact info here for future reference: http://www.azdot.gov/business/district-contacts/northcentral

We talked for about 20 minutes and he thinks we are crazy AF but is really stoked to hear that a race/route like this exists.  He is an avid mountain biker and had ridden a good bit of the AZT.

See you suckers soon!

Jason

Good work, Jason.  Thanks for calling them.

This contradicts what the park service is saying (at least in email form, to me), but if we have ADOT's blessing, I say it's a go.

Everyone should be aware that someone in the park service thinks the road should be closed to bikes, even when it is dry pavement.  I doubt that someone is going to be on the ground, on the north rim, but please do be aware of that.  Hopefully ATA / bikepacking roots / someone can get them to change their mind on this in the near future.  But please, use caution up there and be extra respectful.  This applies to the entire National Park, really, where both bike and race access is on tenuous grounds.

For what it's worth, the pavement in the Park is only the first 9-10 miles.  So once out, only ADOT might be encountered, and knowing they are OK with it is great, great news.

I'll send out an email to every 750er signed up on TL, with this info, and the snow detours file that I posted earlier on this thread.

[Norb]

A big thanks to you, Scott, for dealing with reroutes and the decisions that go into making that call. That's just never easy.

And to all the others offering up 'wheels on the ground' intel on snow levels, closures, etc.  And Great News on SR67...thanks Jason! 

It's a big help when you're a thousand miles away and your kit is 'evolving' based upon changing conditions. The sled remains at home!!

Cheers all.

[JoePAz]

With just a few days to go I am really get jazzed up about this.
 

While I am only doing the 300 it still a big deal for me. It will be my first bikepack race and while I have made some plans for avg pace, miles per and how many days it will take all of that is open to what happens.


I have my water stops planned, I have my food stops planned, I have gear planned.  Will load the .gpx this evening.  Bike is pretty much ready.

[jasonshearer]

Sounds like you are good to go, Joe!  Just remember to enjoy it and stay flexible in your plans.  First goal is just to finish in one piece.  I have to remind myself of this constantly.  Roll with the punches.

[AZTtripper]

That's great news, back in 06 I was able to take the trail in the park by riding on the crust. Well most of the way until it got soft and sent me OTB.

Facebook update on the Kelvin trail trail work, apparently there is a lot of loose soil in the work sections. Someone who just rode an out and back saying there is trail damage from the work. I can't see calling it damage until the dust settles.

Tim

[evdog]

Here's a question for the race vets.  I'm going to start an ITT Thursday morning, hopefully early.  Never been this far south though...

Is there a preferred place where one can leave a vehicle near Parker Lake TH for 4-5 days? 

Probably not cool to park right at the TH for that long.  Looks like there are a few smaller doubletrack roads nearby off the main road that have pullouts I could use. 

If anyone has suggestions on a good place to park, or also, places to avoid, I'd appreciate any input. 


Due to uncertain schedule I've been planning to self shuttle from Picketpost.  But if anyone is planning to drive down from Picketpost to the start early Thursday morning and has room I'd gladly pay for gas and breakfast/lunch if I could jump in.   

[evdog]

Facebook update on the Kelvin trail trail work, apparently there is a lot of loose soil in the work sections. Someone who just rode an out and back saying there is trail damage from the work. I can't see calling it damage until the dust settles.

I rode PP to Kelvin last weekend.  Its true, the work that was done left parts of the trail covered in loose dirt. I wouldn't call it damage per se.  But it did make climbing some parts difficult, where they may have been rideable before with a hard surface.  I normally HAB parts of that climb anyways so its not a big deal to me.  This loose dirt will either pack down with more rain or wash away.  My recollection is it seemed like it would only be an issue heading towards Kelvin, and really only noticed it on that final climb to the high point above the Gila. 

Everything else seemed in great shape.  I rode Boulders to Ripsey on Sunday, it was in great shape as well.  There were just a couple spots on Boulders I had to hop off the bike at rocky wash crossings with steps.  Heading toward Ripsey wash, all the wash crossings were rideable.  I missed one turn just before a steep jeep road climb, other than that it was all good and I was able to ride all the way up the wash to where the trail leaves the wash and starts going uphill. 

There has been a trail angel camped at Freeman Road keeping the water cache there full.  He was going to stick around until today (Apr 3) at the latest, and make sure its full up completely when he leaves.  There were plenty of hikers on the trail, and he said there are another bunch of thru hikers starting the AZT on April 1.  So racers will likely come across lots of them.   

[xcracer]

Palisades spigot is still broken...few more miles to summer haven to get water.

[todds]

 

Palisades spigot is still broken...few more miles to summer haven to get water.

That should be ok since CHarlie will be passing out AZT beer by the Fire dept.....lol!!!

[JoePAz]

That should be ok since CHarlie will be passing out AZT beer by the Fire dept.....lol!!!

Wait there is a beer stand at the top of Lemmon?  :O

[AZTtripper]

Evdog right at the trailhead should be fine maybe at the back not right up at the starting line.

[akault]

Palisades spigot is still broken...few more miles to summer haven to get water.

Am I remembering correctly that the fire station has a spigot, but it is not potable water ...(?) Thx.

[mtbcast]

As usual feel free to call in updates to MTBCast and I will post them up! 888-866-4491.