RAW 2019 Plan by Segment

Read about OUr Support VEHICLES... FOLLOW, SHADOW, and RELIEF...

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	Description	Segment ​Distance	Cumulative Distance	Map	Plan	Highlights
​1	Oceanside to Borrego Springs CA (checked 5/26)	88.3	88.3	​TS00-TS01	​Start to TS01	The Coastal Escape Support Notes (en-route): FOLLOW queues with Eric at the start, follows for a few blocks, around the Surfrider way corner, then diverts to the first feed via follow alternate route SHADOW remains in Betty's lot, after photos, crew in SHADOW go directly to Borrego Springs via auxiliary vehicle route. At the first feed on Old Castle, things will likely be crazy with 80 crew waiting or still arriving.  Make sure I can find you coming into the feed.  Use the feed bag, I'll want one water bottle, one SIS bottle, two Lara Bars, and two gel.   ​Support at TS01 (Borrego Springs): COOLING: At TS01 Crew should have the cooling vest ready, soaked, loaded with frozen inserts at TS01​. LIGHTING: At TS01  Fresh Vya Tail Light.​ Over nearly 90 miles, the route climbs from the pier in Oceanside, through the Coastal Range, climbs the San Luis River Valley to Lake Henshaw and descends the famous "Glass Elevator" into Borrego Springs CA. The segment begins with a 8.6 mile neutral start (called a "Parade"), and remains self-supported to mile 24.  From there, the crew will be providing leapfrog support into Borrego Springs, where we will prepare to cross the desert in the heat of the late afternoon.  The Glass Elevator drops 3600 ft in 11.9 miles.  We expect the temperature in Borrego Springs to be 100-105 F when we arrive. I am self-supported and self-navigating until mile 24.   We hope to delay first-support until the Lilac Foods at 31 miles and miss the congestion down at Old Highway 395 and Old Castle Rd. Borrego Springs is a critical stop, with important things to take care of for the racer, and the crew vehicles.  I take on two iced bottles, the cooling vest, and any other desert wear we can think of and begin the crossing of the desert.  The next several hours will be wicked hot.  Unless we have significant delays, we will arrive in Borrego Springs well before sunset.  The current time estimate has us transitioning to Direct Follow after leaving TS01 at 7 pm local time near Ocotillo Wells, 18.4 miles beyond Borrego Springs.  The Auxiliary Crew Vehicle needs to take an alternate route to Borrego Springs.  They need to stock coolers and find dry ice for the cooler holding the cooling vest refills (or we may use rock salt and ice in a dedicated cooler for the inserts), Arctic Glacier Premium Ice (needs verification) Albertsons (needs verification) The next gas station beyond here is in Westmorland (at mile 140), and we are very unlikely to be moving that quickly and will certainly be in Direct Follow before Westmorland.  This is the last gas stop before our follow vehicle is glued behind me for the next 11 hours. All vehicles need to fill gas tanks here!
2	Borrego Springs to Brawley CA ​(checked 5/26)	57.0	145.3	TS01-TS02	​	The Desert: Part 1: Salton Sea Support Notes:​ FOLLOW and SHADOW should top off tanks before leaving Borrego Springs. Anticipate transition to direct-follow at 7 pm near Ocotillo Wells. Traffic is likely to be heavy with lots of crew vehicles in close proximity heading to Brawley from TS01.  SHADOW is probably better off just heading on up to Westmorland or Brawley and getting dinner for everyone.​ Take great care to only pull off on solid dirt or pavement, do not get stuck in sand.  FOLLOW has a compressor and shovel for sand recovery (dig, air-down, drive out, re-inflate) ​Support At TS02 (Brawley): ​LIGHTING: Fresh Vya taillight, Fresh Rando Headlight.  Rando on low 12 hours, should get us through the night.   CHARGING: Both USB Battery packs, phone and bike computer, transition after 2 h to charge headset Leaving Borrego Springs, the next 15 miles are rolling, before starting the gentle descent to the low point on the route near the Salton Sea.  Here we will be 190 feet below sea level.  Vegetation becomes increasingly sparse as we descend the Lower Borrego Valley.
3	Brawley to Blythe CA (checked 5/26)	89.7	234.9	TS02-TS03		The Desert Part 2: Algodones Dunes ​Support Notes:​​ Watermill Express vending machine one block north of CA 86 on Rio Vista, 150 S Rio Vista Ave, Brawley, CA 92227   Do not stop or wait in Glamis (the store), per race direction.  There may even be an official there keeping you from stopping there.  (See the FB post explaining this here) Border Patrol Northbound Checkpoint at TS02+44.8 miles Take great care to only pull off on solid dirt or pavement, do not get stuck in sand.  FOLLOW has a compressor and shovel for sand recovery (dig, air-down, drive out, re-inflate) ​Continuing east from Brawley, the first 14 miles crosses irrigated farmland before crossing the Algodones Dunes, a 45 mile long, 6 mile wide sand dune field with dunes as high as 300'.   We will almost certainly cross the dune field in the dark, passing through the mostly ghost town of Glamis shortly before midnight.   After emerging from the basin, the route climbs steadily for 30 miles and over 1100' into the Chocolate Mountains, and obscure range once known for numerous small gold mines and the Bradshaw Trail, a historic overland stage route from San Bernardino to La Paz, Arizona.  Our plan is to arrive in Blythe about 3 am, and decide if I'm ready for a sleep break, or if we should push on through the night another 50 miles to Parker. ​We should be in nighttime direct follow through this entire segment.  There are no services.   The crew will have to be super careful about pulling off the road, as it's easy to get stuck in the sand once you leave the pavement (the crew will have sand mats and a high volume compressor to recover from sand if needbe).
4	Blythe CA to Parker AZ ​(checked 5/26)	51.4	286.3	TS03-TS04		Parker Valley (or... more desert) Support Notes: The Shell on the turn leaving town at Intake Rd is open 24 h. FOLLOW to suspend direct-follow at 7 am, near Parker AZ. Parker Circle K at TS04 is open 24 h. Our desert crossing continues as the route heads north up the Parker Valley.  The first 7 miles heads north across irrigated farmland.  After crossing the Main Canal Levee, we are back into the desert.  To the east is the Colorado River and the irrigated farmland that fills the valley.  Visually from the road, we are still surrounded by desert.  ​There are no services The right turn onto Agnes Road at 34.6 miles looks totally featureless and will be easy to miss at night. There is a dedicated right turn lane but no obvious sign. The crew will have to watch the clock so that we correctly transition from direct follow to leapfrog support at 7 am local time once in Arizona.  Even though we change time zones, AZ is on MST, CA is on PDT, they are the same, clocks to not change here. This segment will likely be mostly the dark, with sunrise (5:25 am MST) just about the time we cross the Colorado River into Arizona.    This part of the route might redefine featureless, especially at night.  Do not miss LEFT turn onto 2nd Ave, at flashing yellow light. The first sleep break is still a bit ad hoc.  Eric will likely take a short sleep break (~2 hours) near Parker, depending on how things are going, and the heat.  Any sleep break through here will be in the back of FOLLOW, or on a cot along the side of the road.
5	Parker to Salome AZ ​(checked 5/26)	56.0	342.3	TS04-TS05		The Ranegras Plains Support Notes: Photo Op at "Beyond Hope" sign, just north of Hope AZ (TS04+49 miles) Salome Market and gas at TS05 is open 9 am to 6:30 pm. Do not pull off road onto tall dry grass! Leaving Parker and the irrigated farmlands, the next 56 miles is pretty featureless as we climb slowly up the Bouse Wash and Ranegras Plains,   The Arizona and California Railroad follows us from Parker.  There is not much out here.  Between Parker and Hope, there is a 14.5 mile stretch dead-straight road. The highlight of the segment will be the "You're Now Beyond Hope" sign as we leave Hope AZ, after 335 miles, with just another 595 miles to go to Durango.   We will be racing to gain altitude and beat as much of the heat of the second day in desert as we can.  It will be a hot morning run into Salome.
6	Salome to Congress AZ (checked 5/26)	52.6	395.0	TS05-TS06		McMullen Valleys Basin Support Note: ​SHADOW needs to coordinate with RELIEF, drive ahead and meet in Congress, apply signage and lights, coordinate inspection with RAW HQ. The slow climb through the transitional region between the Sonoran Desert and the Colorado Plateau continue through the McMullen Valley Basic.  We cross a 20 mile stretch of perfectly straight road on US 60 just outside Salome as we approach the Yarnell Grade, the first major climb on the RAW. The run from Salome to Congress should be Wednesday afternoon, arriving in Congress about 4 pm The tentative plan has our third support vehicle and Maria joining us in Congress to give the crew some rest before the Prescott to Camp Verde descent.  The Auxiliary car ("SHADOW") will need to go out ahead to Congress, meet Maria with signage and lights, get the car set up and inspected at the Congress TS before she can join us.
7	Congress to Prescott AZ ​(checked 5/26)	50.5	445.4	TS06-TS07		The Yarnell Grade Support Notes: SHADOW and RELIEF are available to support Eric up the Yarnell Grade as Aux Vehicles ​From about 12 miles past the summit of the Yarnell Grade, SHADOW and RELIEF must take alternate route starting at TS06+21.5 miles into Prescott SHADOW stands by near Kirtland Valley Rd/CR15, supporting Eric and FOLLOW until Eric and FOLLOW passes Skull Valley.  If no contact in one hour, SHADOW should proceed to Prescott. FOLLOW should have good cell coverage to Skull Valley, but expect outages between Skull Valley and through Iron Springs. SHADOW and RELIEF may also have spotty coverage north of Wilhoit en-route to Prescott. RELIEF is available for errands or crew break. The first two major climbs of the RAW, the first is the Yarnell Grade (9 miles @ 5%), an interesting twisty road most notable for "Elephant Curve".  We will not see the Elephant as its on the descent.  We pass through Skull Valley, population 350, and start the second climb to Iron Springs (12 miles @ 3.2%).  Then we descend quickly to Prescott and the time station at the Walmart Supercenter.   We should ascend the Yarnell Grade in daylight, and perhaps top out at Iron Springs right at sunset.  Since sunset is so late in AZ, the crew will be in direct follow starting at 7 pm, shortly after Skull Valley.  Because of the narrow roads up the Yarnell Grade, the auxiliary crew vehicles will drive directly to Prescott and meet us at the Walmart, beating us to Prescott by about 1 hour.  Just enough time for shopping, stocking supplies. In Prescott, we change over the lights to the brightest we have for the descent through Jerome, the only major descent we expect to make at night during RAW.
8	Prescott to Camp Verde AZ (checked 5/26)	54.5	499.9	TS07-TS08		Mingus Mountain and Hull Canyon​​ Support Notes: ​SHADOW stands by in Prescott near Fain Road junction until Eric passes Mingus Summit (Mile 471, TS07 + 25 miles) and begins the descent down Hull Canyon and through Jerome, then proceeds to Camp Verde (TS08) via the alternate route.​​  Estimated ride time US89A/Fain to Mingus Summit 1:10. RELIEF goes ahead via alternate route and checks into hotel in Camp Verde with crew taking first break. RELIEF remains at Camp Verde hotel while second set of crew members rest.  RELIEF leaves approximately 4 hours after Eric departs Camp Verde and drives via I-10 Flagstaff TS-09 at the Walmart Supercenter. Leaving Prescott the route crosses the broad Lonesome Valley before beginning the 12 mile 3.5% climb to Mingus Summit.  The route descends through Jerome and on down to Clarksdale--probably the only long high speed nighttime descent in RAW.  The last 15 miles are pretty flat on into Camp Verde and the all night Shell Station.  Unfortunately for the crew, the McDs closes at midnight, and the Starbucks even earlier, at 9:30. The crew should be in direct follow for this entire segment, leaving Prescott about 8 pm and arriving in Camp Verde shortly before midnight.  There are limited pullouts with the first 13 miles in Prescott are on a controlled access highway.  Most of the climb to Mingus Summit has guardrail on the right and no shoulder.  We will have our most experienced follow driver on duty.  Our auxiliary support vehicles miss out on Mingus Summit and the Hull Canyon descent and must take AZ 69, AZ 169 and I-17 to Camp Verde. The descent from Mingus Summit down Hull Canyon and through Jerome, should be most exciting, at night, and high speed.   There are two sets of hairpins, one above and one below Jerome.  Through Jerome there is another interesting hairpin and super narrow streets.  After Jerome, the descent is even steeper, but less technical.   The five mile run from Jerome to Clarksdale should take less than 10 minutes. We have a hotel in Camp Verde.  FOLLOW, in direct follow supports Eric into Camp Verde.  RELIEF can go ahead, check into hotel late afternoon, shower, and get some sleep.  SHADOW, after standing by Fain Road in Prescott Valley until Eric summits Mingus, joins SHADOW at the hotel in Camp Verde.  Upon Eric's arrival (between 9 pm and 3 am), Eric eats, sleeps a few hours, and continues to Flagstaff with fresh crew members in FOLLOW.  The tired crew that brought Eric into Camp Verde sleeps a few hours, then drives directly to Flagstaff on I-17 in RELIEF, and meets up with Eric, FOLLOW, and SHADOW at the time station.  ​Crew drive time to Flagstaff, Time Station 9: 54 min. Eric ride time to Flagstaff: 6:00 hr.
9	Camp Verde to Flagstaff AZ ​(checked 5/27)	102.9	602.8	TS08-TS09		The Arizona Century Support Notes: ​Eric's estimated ride time to Flagstaff is 8 hours.  Drive time from Camp Verde to Flagstaff is about 1 hour.  RELIEF should leave no later than 5.5 hours after Eric leaves. In Flagstaff, we expect to lose one of our vehicles and Maria as she returns to Tucson.  We continue support without RELIEF.  Minimal pullouts are available on the climb out of Camp Verde. The longest segment in RAW is the 103 mile dark-of-the-night run into Flagstaff.   To add to the challenge, there is 8400 ft of climbing, most of it in the first 40 miles climbing up to the San Francisco Plateau.   Once on the Plateau, the next 60 miles are surprisingly flat. Depending on how long the Parker sleep was and how long Eric sleeps here, the is considerable uncertainty exactly what time we depart from Camp Verde.  The goal is to be back on the road by 3 am.
10	Flagstaff to Tuba City AZ ​(checked 5/28)	75.0	677.8	TS09-TS10		The Painted Desert and Deadman's Flat Support Notes: ​Mandatory direct-follow in daylight starts near Tuba City at the US 89/US 160 junction. Note change to MDT at TS09+42.1 miles as we enter the Navajo Nation.   We basically stay on MDT to the finish now.  Don't be confused by the clocks in Tuba City. Navajo tribal offices and schools observe Mountain Daylight Time (RAW time - 2 hours), while most businesses do not to conform with the Hopi Indian lands immediately to the southeast. Do not trust your cell phones to show local time correctly and verify that the times are correct. Last gas before mandatory direct-follow is the Cameron Trading Post, (TS09+51 miles).  FOLLOW and RELIEF both need to top off here. If we are on schedule, between the required daylight direct-follow and the nighttime segment into Cortez, expect 260 miles of continuous direct follow support by the crew ​Tuuvi Travel Center at TS10 open 24 hours. The next segment takes us out of the tourist bustle of Flagstaff and out across a remote series of mesas and plateaus that mark the southwestern portions of the Colorado Plateau.  Most notable is the 36 mile descent of Deadman's Flat, a broad open plain with a rather grim name that apparently goes back before 1864.  A series of low cliffs and mesas are to our right, as is the Painted Desert.  At the bottom of the descent we cross the Little Colorado River next to the historic Tanner's Crossing Bridge.  The suspension bridge built in 1911 still stands next to the modern highway bridge. The Shell Station at the Cameron Trading Post (mile 51) is the last gas station before mandatory direct follow, which begins in 14 miles when we turn off US 89 onto US 160.  All support vehicles need to get gas here.  The direct follow vehicle needs to get there early enough to be waiting at US 89/US 160 to start direct follow. This segment should be in daylight, early in Thursday morning, arriving in Tuba City midday.   Under RAW/RAAM rules, the crew must begin direct follow support once we make the turn onto US 160 at mile 65, and continue direct follow at all times to the Utah/Colorado border.  With this segment of 6-7 hours of daylight direct follow, then the nighttime direct follow on into Durango, this will be about 260 miles of continuous direct follow support by the crew.
11	Tuba City to Kayenta AZ ​(checked 5/28)	71.8	749.6	TS10-TS11		Kelthla Valley Support Notes: ​Shanto Marketplace at TS10+40 miles closes at 10 pm. In Kayenta, the Giant Station is open 24 hours (need confirmation), the other gas stations are open until 8 or 9 pm.  The McDonalds closes at midnight Sun-Wed.   The segment from Tuba City to Kayenta is outback Arizona.   The route slowly climbs the Kelthla Valley--a name for the valley the skirts the northwest side of Black Mesa that appears to be memorialized only on the US topographical maps.   After cresting the summit, at 52.6 miles we begin a 19 mile descent through Tsegi Marsh Pass. The pass's original name as La Puerta Limta, or "The Border Gate", and the Armijo Route of the old Spanish Trail passes through here.   Other than the simple beauty of the high desert, there are few highlights. The twin rock pillars of Elephant's Feet stand silently at 701 milepost in RAW.   This is a direct follow required segment during daylight.  The only services en route is the Shonto Marketplace, a rather modern looking Shell Station which closes at 10 pm.   On schedule, we should make the 4 1/2 hour run in the afternoon on Thursday 6/13, and arrive in Kayenta before sunset.
12	Kayenta AZ to Mexican Hat UT ​(checked 5/28)	44.7	794.3	TS11-TS12		Monument Valley Support Notes: ​Monument Valley Photo Ops everywhere.   Forrest Gump Point at TS11+36 miles Expect no cell coverage across Monument Valley, SHADOW should stay line of sight, and in contact via radio.  Also monitor expected arrival times carefully. US 163 from Kayenta to Mexican Hat is the quintessential highway through the American Southwest.    We began to see the famous buttes almost as soon as we leave Kayenta, and they become more common and larger as we keep heading north.   As we crest Monument Pass at 6666' elevation, we have the classic panoramas that make the Valley famous, including Brigham's Tomb, Setting Hen, Eagle Mesa, and Stagecoach.  Now we are retracing the last 6 miles of Forrest Gump's fictional 3 year/19,000 mile run in the 1994 movie.  My RAW 2019 website has this incredible view as the splash page, looking back over that last six miles and the famous buttes. This segment should take less than three hours, but unless we are well ahead of schedule, with twilight fading as we ascend Monument Pass.  Even on the "late" schedule, we arrive in Mexican Hat before sunrise.  The moon will be 90% illuminated, and not setting until 2:45 am, so we may see some of the scenery.  There are essentially no services along this segment.  The Navajo Market closes at 11 pm, but that is not far after leaving Kayenta, and the 7-eleven in Mexican Hat closes at midnight. It is now only 136 miles to go, finishing RAW from here is sort of like a training ride.
13	Mexican Hat to Montezuma Creek UT (checked 5/28)	39.6	833.9	TS12-TS13		Valley of the Gods and Comb Ridge Support Notes: Could not identify any 24 hours services, and hours for Red Mesa Express in Montezuma not posted on Goggle Note that Goggle has a second Red Mesa Express at the first corner coming into town, it appears to be a ghost. The trademark sandstone buttes become less numerous as we leave Monument Valley, although there is a short scenic overlook to the Valley of the Gods seven miles outside of Mexican Hat.  The route climbs a sharp 9% half mile climb up and around the south end of the Comb Ridge, a 30 mile long ridge of light colored sandstone contrasting against the red desert terrain.  The final 15 miles is "flat" series of rolling small hills into Montezuma Creek. Direct follow at all times continues through this segment, although we expect this will be late night, arriving in Montezuma Creek shortly after midnight.
14	Montezuma Creek UT to Cortez CO ​(checked 5/28)	50.2	884.1	TS13-TS14		McElmo Creek Support Notes: Do not miss the left turn onto Ismay at TS13+7.1 miles.  If you cross Mc. Elmo Creek and MP 22 you have gone too far. Direct Follow Daylight ends at unmarked state line at TS13+19.7 miles.  There is a cattle guard at the state line just after crossing a wash and a gentle right turn.  The Ismay Trading Post is just after, which is just a old apparently abandoned building on the left. This is one of the most remote sections of RAW, as we ride the back ranch roads of the high country of four corners region.  Generally we follow McElmo Creek, with Cannonball Mesa to our north.  The area is so remote, the only a cattle guard marks the Utah/Colorado state line.  Again, no services.  Most of this segment should be in the early pre-dawn hours of 6/14.  If we are behind schedule, we may be treated to sunrise as we roll into Cortez. Under RAW/RAAM rules, the "direct follow all times" segment ends at the unmarked state line.  If its after 7 am, we drop back into leapfrog support.
15	Cortez to Durango CO ​(checked 5/28)	46.4	930.5	TS14-TS15		San Juans Support Notes: ​Our hotel is the Best Western coming into town, at TS14+42.9 miles. Race direction are silent on how FOLLOW and SHADOW get to the finish.  SHADOW can scout ahead, and be prepared for the photo ops.   If we arrive before 7 am (unlikely), FOLLOW will still be direct-follow.   The final 46 miles into Durango are spectacular.  The San Juan Mountains fill the horizon to the north, the North Rim of the Ute Mountains and Mesa Verde to our south.   This is a familiar road, from several camping trips to the San Juans and bike tours in the 1990s.   We climb the final two climbs of RAW, to Mancos Summit (7932'), and Hesperus Hill (8418').  Hesperus HIll is the high point on RAW.  After a bit of a false flat, we descend the final 10 mile, 3% grade into Durango. RAW is not quite done... the last 2.2 miles back up to the finish at Ft. Lewis College climbs 360'.  One last climb. On the baseline schedule, we should make this run early Friday morning  (6/14), after a short sleep break near Cortez.   If I think I can stay up for 3 h more hours safely, we will skip the break and try to make it all the way through to Durango. The crew will likely be in leapfrog support, then head up the road to meet me at the finish, see if we can get into the hotel early, and relax.