“The 2,700-mile Western Wildlands Route (WWR, formerly known as the Wild West Route) offers bikepackers a non-technical riding experience through the vast expanses of wild and public lands in the Intermountain West. Nearly 70% of the route is on public lands - 18 National Forests, 6 National Parks and Monuments, and 4 areas with Bureau of Land Management National Conservation Lands designation.”, according to Bikepacking Roots.
Totals: This route took us 12 days, 8 hours, 40 minutes, and 9 seconds of cycling time to cover 4312 km (2679 miles), including 47660 m (156372 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 15 km/h (9 mph), reaching a maximum speed of 63 km/h (39 mph) on Saturday, June 1, 2024. During cycling, there was a minimum temperature of 0 °C (32 °F) on Thursday, May 30, 2024, and a maximum temperature of 50 °C (122 °F) on Friday, June 7, 2024.
Today we rode from a dispersed campsite at the top of Schnelby Hill north of Sedona to another dispersed campsite north of Flagstaff. We had blue skies all day, however, because of the elevation and wind it was never too warm. We had some rough roads today, combined with nice gravel roads and a little pavement.
Riding statistics: on Sunday, May 19, 2024, day 19 on the route, it took 10:58h (07:01h moving time), between 5:52 and 4:51, to cover 90 km (55 miles), including 1276 m (4187 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 13.0 km/h (8.1 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 43 km/h (26.7 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 22 °C (72 °F) with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 34 °C (93 °F).
...
Day 10: The beautiful but challenging Schnebly Hill
Today we rode from the Sunrise Resort RV Park close to Happy Jack to a dispersed campsite at the top of Sedona’s Schnebly Hill. We started with blue skies, had some clouds during the morning, and ended the day again with a clear sky. The road surfaces today were either paved or very rough off-road.
Riding statistics: on Saturday, May 18, 2024, day 18 on the route, it took 11:40h (08:40h moving time), between 6:14 and 5:55, to cover 104 km (64 miles), including 1280 m (4200 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.0 km/h (8.7 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 48 km/h (29.8 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 28 °C (82 °F) with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °F) and a maximum of 47 °C (117 °F).
...
Day 09: The Mogollon Mountains
Today we rode from a dispersed campsite north of Young to the Sunrise Resort RV park. We had blue skies starting the day, some clouds during the day, and again a clear sky in the evening. The road surface was mainly gravel, some double-track, and very little pavement.
Riding statistics: on Friday, May 17, 2024, day 17 on the route, it took 11:40h (08:40h moving time), between 6:14 and 5:55, to cover 117 km (73 miles), including 1502 m (4928 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.0 km/h (8.7 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 45 km/h (28.0 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 23 °C (73 °F) with a minimum of 8 °C (46 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91 °F).
...
Day 08: Higher elevations
Today we rode from a dispersed campsite at the Salty River to another dispersed campsite 15km north of Young. The day started with blue skies, later clouds, sometimes dark clouds in the mountains, and some rain in the evening. The road surfaces was about 50/50 paved vs non-paved.
Riding statistics: on Thursday, May 16, 2024, day 16 on the route, it took 11:29h (08:16h moving time), between 6:27 and 5:57, to cover 90 km (55 miles), including 2341 m (7681 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 10.0 km/h (6.2 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 56 km/h (34.8 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 25 °C (77 °F) with a minimum of 17 °C (63 °F) and a maximum of 33 °C (91 °F).
...
Day 07: Swim and camp with kind locals
Today we rode from our dispersed campsite in the Pina Mountains to a dispersed campsite at the Salty River. We again had hot weather with barely any clouds. The road surface, yeah, a barely rideable double-track with rocks and loose gravel, to nice gravel, and also pavement.
Riding statistics: on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, day 15 on the route, it took 11:29h (08:16h moving time), between 6:27 and 5:57, to cover 69 km (42 miles), including 1215 m (3986 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 12.0 km/h (7.5 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 54 km/h (33.6 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 29 °C (84 °F) with a minimum of 13 °C (55 °F) and a maximum of 38 °C (100 °F).
...
Day 06: An oasis in the middle of nowhere
Today we rode from a dispersed campsite 12km after Oracle to another dispersed campsite in the Pina Mountains on our way to Globe. We, again, had a hot day, I think even hotter than the previous days, and with less wind because of the mountains. The road surface varied between excellent gravel, paved, bad gravel, and riverbed.
Riding statistics: on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, day 14 on the route, it took 11:29h (08:16h moving time), between 6:27 and 5:57, to cover 110 km (68 miles), including 1335 m (4380 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 14.0 km/h (8.7 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 49 km/h (30.4 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 36 °C (97 °F) with a minimum of 16 °C (61 °F) and a maximum of 46 °C (115 °F).
...
Day 05: Mount Lemon up and down again
Today we rode from the Molino Campground on Mount Mellon to a dispersed campsite 12km after Oracle. The weather started as previous days, all blue skies with later some scatteres clouds. The road surface started with a paved road to the top of Mount Mellon and from there changes into off-road, varying from easy and comfortable to very rough.
Riding statistics: on Monday, May 13, 2024, day 13 on the route, it took 11:29h (08:16h moving time), between 6:27 and 5:57, to cover 94 km (58 miles), including 1871 m (6139 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 11.0 km/h (6.8 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 49 km/h (30.4 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 28 °C (82 °F) with a minimum of 13 °C (55 °F) and a maximum of 44 °C (111 °F).
...
Day 04: Tuscon again
Today we rode from our dispersed campsite north of the Cascabel Community Center to the first campground (at 1400m). Weather same as previous days. The road surface not so much. This difficult and challenging conditions.
Riding statistics: on Sunday, May 12, 2024, day 12 on the route, it took 10:53h (07:53h moving time), between 6:19 and 5:13, to cover 80 km (49 miles), including 1454 m (4771 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 11.0 km/h (6.8 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 44 km/h (27.3 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 30 °C (86 °F) with a minimum of 11 °C (52 °F) and a maximum of 42 °C (108 °F).
...
Day 03: Gates, gates, and more gates
Today we rode from Thombstone to a dispersed campsite 8km north of the Cascabel Community Center. The weather was similar to previous days, blue skies all over and a bit of wind. The road surfaces included paved (but not as much as previous days), gravel, loose gravel and sand, double track with pinned bushes at the sides and in the middle.
Riding statistics: on Saturday, May 11, 2024, day 11 on the route, it took 10:53h (07:53h moving time), between 6:19 and 5:13, to cover 121 km (75 miles), including 650 m (2133 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 15.0 km/h (9.3 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 46 km/h (28.6 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 31 °C (88 °F) with a minimum of 12 °C (54 °F) and a maximum of 41 °C (106 °F).
...
Day 02: The official route
Today we rode from Sierra Vista to Thombstone. The weather was similar to yesterday, blue skies and winds from the south. Road surfaces were plenty today, a mixture of paved roads, good and bad gravel roads, single track, loose sand, and rolling hills.
Riding statistics: on Friday, May 10, 2024, day 10 on the route, it took 08:15h (05:30h moving time), between 7:50 and 4:05, to cover 89 km (55 miles), including 622 m (2041 ft) elevation gain, with an average speed of 16.0 km/h (9.9 mph), while reaching a maximum speed of 56 km/h (34.8 mph). During this ride the average temperature was 32 °C (90 °F) with a minimum of 19 °C (66 °F) and a maximum of 40 °C (104 °F).
...
