Spoke N Wheel: Picket Post

Hit the Arizona Trail out at the Picket Post trailhead off of the 60. Heading south, the trail winds slowly uphill through a heaving, rolling desert. There aren't many moments where the trail is straight and level. It demands constant change. Its a trail that will lull you into the zone.

The endpoint can be seen here, probably still a few miles away, the little
rock formation sticking out at center horizon.

Saguaro, the trees of the desert. Similar to the area south of the Superstitions in Gold Canyon.

The trail was cut in and every bit was welcoming to bikes. I remember no grades there were out of my reach.

The new steed. Second ride on the bike and it performed very well. The DW link is a far cry from my single pivot. It climbs with confidence and rolls the chunk with ease.

VooDoo Canzo. 29er. Super Duper ride.

Still riding south here, coming up on mile six of the ten mile out-n-back. Nice place to stop and soak up some scenery. Its great being far out, away from civilization.

Not many people venture past Jeep Road 4, as evidenced by the lack of tire tracks and effluence of horse-hoofed trail and nippy catclaw. It was a trail with bite. The slightly more aggresive type of desert riding. However, there were moments of respite.

Working on one last hill before the big push to the top.

Working up to the high-point of the ride required one last effort.

Worth the work, which I barely even thought about. I just kept pedaling.

Here's the south side of the once distant rock. I had lunch here, a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was quite tastey, as I had worked up a healthy appetite. The lunchtime view couldn't have been much better.

Heading back down to the trailhead was the reverse of all the effort it took to pedal up the 1300' elevation gain that took 2400' of climbing to attain. Rolling in and out through the ridges never got old. I felt like water, seeking my level.