Bikepacking the Arizona Divide Off-Road Trail – Alone and Unsupported

The Challenge: To ride the entire Arizona Divide Off-Road Trail completely self reliant. No phone, gps, tracking device, visitation, outside support, hotels or markets (BLM, AZ State Parks and USFS Campgrounds are okay)

2024 marks the 15th year I’ve been retired and also my 70th birthday. Every year since I’ve retired I have scheduled something

epic as motivation to stay fit and to force me to think outside the box. For my next adventure I’m planning on a solo unsupported bikepacking trip riding the entire 270 mile Arizona Divide Off-road Trail. This will be my first attempt at bikepacking. To challenge myself further I plan on doing it with minimal resources including no electronics (no phone, gps or tracking device) along with the commonly accepted rules of non supported bikepacking (no visitation, no outside support, no film crews, etc) and doing it at minimal cost. Plus I won’t be purchasing anything from stores or paying for lodging while trying to be as self reliant as possible (no need for credit cards or cash). The only electronic device will be my Drift Ghost Action Camera (has no internet access or communication options) to document the ride, with the two batteries it has 15 hours of recording time. Planning on a May/June timeframe and hoping to finish in less than three days. Due to cataracts I can no longer see at night so I will only ride sunup to sundown. This will enable me to keep my normal sleep schedule of seven hours each night.

Since I will not have access to any type of electronic tracking device ( gps device, odometer, cell phone etc.) I will need to rely on a hardcopy map. I have drawn one up and included some mileage and reference points to help provide me with an indication of my progress. There are two sections that could be tricky to follow, the first is the section from the start to mile 12. This involves numerous intersections, I don’t want to waste any time or energy overshooting one of the many turns. I have already familiarized myself with that section so no concerns there. After that section it is relatively straightforward, especially the 95 mile section along FS 300, the Rim Road. The other troublesome section is mile 194 on the road to Vernon. I’ve ridden that section a number of times but because I was staring at the gps navigation I never paid much attention. I do know that FS 182 is signed and about a third of a mile past where the road turns from pavement to a brilliant white dirt and then a half mile past that is the turn onto FS 283. This is the start of by far the toughest section of the entire route. A huge climb to mile 220 and Greens Peak. From there to Big Lake and the finish is relatively straight forward.

Bike:

Gear:

Nutrition:

Training: