az: show low to globe on rt. 60?

[MrBent]

Anyone ridden this? There is no way we can make it in a day.  We are on tour now--in NM--and working our way west.  Looking for options other than the ACA route through Safford, etc.  For the 60 rt., what are camping and water options? I understand that the Payson-- Phoenix run is crazy w/traffic.  Any help would be great!

Thanks.

Scott

[Rick.in.AZ]

Yes, Pason to Phoenix (Mesa) on hiway 87 is buzy.  On the other hand, the shoulders are wide.  Weekend trafic (friday/saturday AM up to Payson; sunday back) will be very heavy.

60 show low to globe is mostly down hill - curvey.  It is the Salt River Canyon. Never riden, but have driven. Great views though.

If you are planning to hit Phoenix after the weekend, I can provide a "warm shower" I am in Mesa, 3 miles south of the ST route.
PM if interested.

[valygrl]

Anyone ridden this? There is no way we can make it in a day.  We are on tour now--in NM--and working our way west.  Looking for options other than the ACA route through Safford, etc.  For the 60 rt., what are camping and water options? I understand that the Payson-- Phoenix run is crazy w/traffic.  Any help would be great!

Thanks.

Scott

I rode that in the other direction (Globe - Show Low) this April.  8700' climbing & 6000' descending - would not call that "mostly downhill".

Are you coming from Silver City?  If so - we went thru ALpine/ Eagar/Pinetop (hwy 160) -- and you go right past a ski area and spend a bunch of time at 7-8000' elevation, so watch the weather.  We had snow last April there.

If you are super hard core and ready to do huge climbing, the ride between Morenci and Alpine is fantastic, but climbs about 9000' in 90 miles with no services.  There *might* be water at one of the *possibly closed* campgrounds or the lodge near Blue Mesa, and there *might* be water at  fire station somewhere in the middle.  And the road might be closed too, if it snows.

Otherwise, heading north on 180 to Reserve would be a less intense option.

This time of year, I might go the Safford way to stay low if the forecast is iffy, but the other way, while much much harder, is also much nicer.  Very limited services, though. 

[MrBent]

Hey, Valygrl:  Just the person I most wanted to hear from--yeah!  Here's the deal:  We're currently holed up in Springerville having just finished the traverse from Socorro.  We have a rest day tomorrow--thank God--and we plan to motor Rt. 60 to Show Low the day after.  I've done the high route to Show Low before and want to try 60 this time.  My wife and I are traveling pretty heavy and slooooow on recumbent trikes with our doggie--Django the Wonder Dog.  On the route from Globe to Show Low, what was your experience about places to camp, access to water, etc?  I'm thinking we might need two nights out on that section even though we only have six thousand feet of climbing.  Thoughts, ideas?  Thanks so much for responding.

Cheerz,

Scott

[valygrl]

Hey - aw shucks, you are nice!

Sorry if this is too late, didn't check back here!  But, I can't add much.

I was on a supported tour when I rode there, so I was pretty blind to services.  There was a gas station/c-store at the intersection of 60 & 73.   There was a rest stop at the bottom of Salt River Canyon, right at the river, but it was closed for construction when I was there (APril) and I never noticed if there was water available there.

Apart from that, there was not much out there that I can remember - but as I said, I completely was not looking, as we had a support vehicle.

Sorry to be of little help.  Hope your weather is ok - it's snowing here!