Stage 1: Jacobs Lake

Sunrise in Big Water

I woke up at sun rise and go to work pedaling to the start. A ton of empty pick up trucks passed me and I hap hazardly stuck out a thumb hoping someone would give me a ride so I could get on singletrack. There was a surprising amount of traffic once I turned onto dirt of people going to assorted trail heads. I got to state line campground around 11:20 and did some stretching and ate a little in the shade.

At the Northern Terminus

I started up the first hill and it was tough! It was 86* with no shade and a ton of elevation to be gained. I saw a through hiker about to finish only about a mile from the trail head which was a cool way to start. It was interesting I felt like I was on New Mexico style desert, looking at big red rock Utah style desert and marching towards Arizona style terrain. Once up top in the woods the trail became more enjoyable. I was making great progress but right before dark I started to feel weak. I decided it was time to stop and eat so I pulled out my stove. After eating I felt much better. I decided I should stop in Jacobs Lake to get water. I had planned to continue pedaling a few more hours as I originally had planned to make it all the way to the North Rim the first day but the prologue got the best of me and pushed my time off. It was really cold there. I ended up getting a milk shake at the store and as soon as I sat down in their lobby area I was surrounded by a family of 20 making plans for the next day. I decided to grab a spot on a picnic bench at the campground across the street. I planned to pay the next morning since it was pretty late but got woken up at 11 PM by the campground host being asked if I paid. I settled up in the morning and met some cycle tourists who just finished a 4 day trip on roads, paths, and some AZT. The campground closed for the season that night!

First AZT Gate

Milkshake at Jacobs Lake

Stats: 8.5 hours moving time
60.5 miles 6,342k of gain

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Video Montage

I've created a 7 minute movie from my 2 weeks of footage. The camera mount broke at Martinez Canyon so I don't have much from the final few days.

Stage 3: Into the Canyon

I got up to cook breakfast and pack my things up. I tried to be strategic knowing I'd be attaching my bike to my bag shortly. I killed the partial butane I had started with and broke out my brand new can, one less thing to carry through the canyon. I ate with the rim hikers I had met the night before. I got to the permit office just a few minutes before 8. They phoned the South Rim and were able to get me a permit at the group spot in Bright Angel which was ideal. That meant I would hike the 7 miles down and 7 miles across today and save the 7 miles up for the next day. I donated my left over shower quarters to the NPS to not carry a bunch of extra metal across the canyon. A few hundred feet in Bike Disassembly Once at the trail there was a small sign that said "No Bicycles". It took me about 40 minutes to pack my bike up. The weather was overcast and drizzling which was ideal. The bike felt heavy but manageable. I was very glad to have a proper bag to keep...

Stage 5: Leg Redemption

I started the day out nice and cozy from sleeping in a hotel. I woke up early and decided to grab a quick breakfast from the Mexican restaurant from the same plaza, it was freezing outside. I was expecting breakfast burritos but was surprised by an all you can eat American breakfast buffet. I grabbed my bike, stopped by the general store to grab some sugary snacks and an packet of Ramen as I was low on food and wasn't sure if it was gonna be a one or two day journey to Flagstaff. The trail to the lookout tower was in quite good condition. I was serenaded by the anthem of the Northern AZ woods: Chainsaws. There was a crew of 6 lumberjacks cutting trees just off trail. I ran into some hunters looking for elk just after and and let them know the elks probably don't like all the chainsaws going in the area. Warm Hotel in Tusayan Grandview Firetower At Grandview I had to go up the fire tower to get a look, I've never passed up a fire tower overlook. ...

AZTR Enduro

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