I ran into the American Conservation Experience (ACE) volunteers doing trail work in this section last week. At the pace they are working, they should have the section between Bismark Lake and FR 418 completed in no time at all. I stopped and helped them for a couple of hours. A great bunch of folks doing some outstanding trail work on the AZT.
Also, this long passage is very hard to find water, if any at all. Kelly tank was dry, along with the other tanks, and there is no more water stashed at the Cedar Ranch trailhead at the end of the passage. Since the next passage can be very dry also, I would recommend water planning or stashes between water sources, in which I didn’t of course, and, subsequently ran short on water.
Westbrook