Hawes Night Ride

Hawes is one of my favorite trail systems in the valley, probably due to it tight trail design, gripping, steady climbs, the rolly long downhills, and its night riding. Hawes is more dark than other places since it sits on the outside of the city, bordering the Salt River, but it also sits in a bowl type shape where the ground light from the city can't reach its inner depths, and the sky is just a bit crisper. You certainly feel like the torchbearer night riding in Hawes, because there are nothing but sounds around you, and only your light can show you what's there.

Group got together from Walgreens and hit the standard outer loop, with the excellent Mine drop about halfway through. Mine is special at night, as even during the day it can pose a challenge. All made it out unscathed this night, although not all switchbacks were conquered, by me at least. I think I missed one. The one with the big rock. Gotta go right next time.

Early evening light that will sood fade. The lights are already on. We've crested Cardiac Hill. Secret awaits. Ridgeline awaits. Its gonna be a good ride.

 I stopped at the after the saddle after coming down, well.....Saddle Trail, and took some pics of those behind me. I lit the area with my lights and watched my friends rip the descent. Got some strangers that snuck in too.

C. making that switchback at mach speeds.

Has been dubbed light light rock by Sammoch.

Lighting the way. These lights really do a great job. Hours of really strong light. On known trails, I can keep daytime speeds no problem. Very impressive.

Javelina teleporting through rock and dirt.

Stranger! I just caught this fella coming down after us.

Freeskier is deep into mountain biking. Contemplating his next big move. "Ride three times tomorrow, and save the world."

I was lucky enough to have the old lady Marin in shape, since the two 29ers were down. Voodoo with a hub, and the MC with something. I forget. Maybe I was just to lazy to take it out. But 2002 really kept its own, even after about decade of use. Compared to the 29er, I felt like a dart on the downhills, rather than an out of control Ice Road Trucker. Not that I don't like that, but the nimbleness was palpable. I felt like a cricket, jumping and bouncing everywhere. The 29er has really given me a power and steamroll mentality. Its nice to crack the mold every now and then.

Night legs, get us home. But not after a little Ridgeline descent and some sonoran dessert on TRW.

Little 3D view of the good stuff. Secret is center far and Mine is to the left. Ridgeline is bottom left. That Hawes is good.

The whole ride from Walgreens with TRW and the road back up Thomas.

12.3 miles and about 1800ft of vert. Seems a little high, but fair enough.

PMP Night Ride Action

With summer in the desert comes night rides and because of this, I actually have a reason to look forward to the heat, since night riding brings old trails back to life, puts you in contact with some strange night life, as well as just being plain fun. Flying down a familiar trail in you own personal bubble of light is exhilirating and freeing at the same time. The heat might stop us, but the night never will!

I rode in on the Dreamy Draw side after a 2 mile paved ride-in to meet some friends, then we were off. We opted for a side trail entrance to T100 then 220 down around to the bottom of T100, which we took up to 1a, then back down 8 and back to the cars. From there I rode back out of the park, getting my 2 mile pavement cool-down. Almost 16 miles for myself, and 1900ft of "El", as they say. Climbing T100 twice helped a bit. Not bad for a Tuesday evening. Night snaps are hard to get, but with the tripod, I seem to get better ones, but the action shots still elude me. I'll need a slighly better camera than the Kodak point-n-shoot if I want some nice night action shots.

Taking stock after walking through Cheesegrater. The desert outside our lights is dark. Its almost like riding in the void, and you have to keep the lights in front of you, painting the terrain as they shine. Hang on! Its creation before your eyes! I'm grateful I discovered night riding. Sure gets me through the summer. 

Sitting atop VOAZ with some of Paradise Valley glowing in the distance. A tire is barely visible.

Grand overview of the ride. The climb from DD up T100, 1a then VOAZ was the highlight. About 575ft and pretty close to 1.7 miles. Got the blood going. (Map by Topofusion)

You can follow the climb here. PMP really has lots of great mountain bike opportunities and for being in the middle of the city, it is amazingly fantastic. I've yet to go down VOAZ, but I sure like it as a climb. Lots of challenge there.  (Map by Topofusion)

Total 1900 climbing and 15.6 with 4 miles of road.

Pima Riding is Dynamite

Finally, after many, many years of thinking of it, contemplating it, passing it on the way to Bartlett lake, I made it out to Pima and Dynamite for a ride. I've always heard it was good, but nothing serious. I could see the expanse of land that spread out through where the trails would be. It seemed flat, almost uneventful, but it was not the case. The trail undulates, constantly sloshing you about like on a water bed - it ripples. But there is rythym. There are miles. And there are smiles. P&D looks like a great place to put on some fast miles, which is just what Freeskier did a few weeks after we went there.

We took off from the northern end of Alma School off of Dynamite and went at it. We had no real plan, other than maybe try and follow the course that  recent race took, that was supposed to be pretty good. But we los the line, even with GPS and winged it, which turned out perfectly fine.

Is this a sign of what to come?

P&D doesn't have much vertical to brag about, but it does still have some views.

I didn't see any trail that go far up the only elevation out there. We would at best only ride around the base of the few "mountains" out there. That provided us with enough potential energy to roll fast through the low-lying trails.

The abundance of big rock out there was surprising, and fun to ride through.

After we headed north from our start towards the end of the ride, we found a nice little playground.

Big rocks, almost like Easter Island Heads, the Moai.

Freeskier taking it easy, rollin' without the camelback for a few, taking in the various lines.

The sonoran desert has plenty of expansive blue skies to hand out. Just get out and head toward the horizon.

Gilamonster providing the subject in this prickly situation.

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Our route through the State Trust Land (have your permit!). Looks flat, but if you could see all the rolles, your arms would be sore. I'll be back.

Almost got a good 20 miles in, but he morning was getting long. Roughtly 1800ft of climbing for the day. Healthy enough. Not every day has to be a Prescott Monstercross!

Pass Mountain

It had been a while since I've been to Pass Mountain. Last time I was there I was on 26" wheels and not as hardly strong as I presently was. I remember the climb, long and hot. Stopping  a few times as I pushed up a steep section, sucking water. The saddle was a welcome break, and those first few miles seemed like many more. But not this time. I've been riding. Riding long. Riding strong. The climb to the saddle was a nice steady burn. The heat was coming on, but not getting under my skin. I was regulated, even without my sun sleeves. I was feeling good about the ease and steadiness with which I could make the climb, the time since last done providing ample contrast for my development. I felt good.

Then I ran my leg into a trail-side cholla and remembered the desert can always get ya, one way or another.

Pass Mountian is only 8 miles around, but the effort and trail variation give it the presence of something a little bit longer, which is a nice gift. We even added Cat's Peak, since our bellies wanted more miles.

Nice switchback seciton where riders can get stackecd up. Make for nice snaps.

Coming up to the saddle, C. a recent valley transplant, was still getting used to desert riding condition. P. was making his way around familiar territory.

Looking to the east over Bullfrog Canyon. I hear there is riding through there.

Parts of the trail heading around the northern end of the mountain are buttery smooth, with nice flow even. This doesn't keep up, as Pass Mt. changes often.

It rolls you, then throws chunks at you.

P. twisting around the fun stuff.

Another huff up to the second saddle, where it gets a bit loose.

The sign at the entrance says trail not recommended for bikes. I think its perfect for bikes.

Looking north, with Pass Mt. on the right. If you're ever lost out this way, you'll at least make your way back to Phoenix.

Pedals for your legs. Pedals for your beers. Pedals get me to where I'm going. Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!

Our route, looking to the southwest. We took it clockwise.

The ride down from the second saddle. Fast and loose. Keep your head up! I blew out a brake pad here. Had to desend with rear only.

A fair share over eight miles, and about 1500ft of vert. and 2.5 hours with all the chin wagging. Been thinking of a double loop or CCW. And one day I'll certainly hook Pass Mt. up with Hawes and Wild Horse, making a wonderful day loop.

Casner Dirty 60

Another great AES ride found us on a Saturday in Flagstaff, with morning temps in the low 40's. The deal was to ride from Flagstaff to Sedona, some 60 miles away, by way of forest roads, dropping off of the Mogollon Rim in between two wilderness areas, the Red Rock Secret Mountan Wilderness and Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. That was to be the defining event for the ride, as the rest was merely getting there and then getting to Sedona. Of the 60 miles, maybe 10 at most were on singletrack, but the day wasn't about the singletrack today, but the sweet, sweet views and the big drop off the rim.

The whole ride is actualy down to Sedona and then back up to Flag by way of Shnebly Hill Rd and Munds Wagon Trail and some other such dirt I've not ridden. While I think I could have pushed out 100 miles for the ride, since it was mostly dirt road, I didn't attempt it, for whatever reason, it just didn't allure me. But the 60 into Sedona was perfect. We were much faster with the road, compared especially to the 60 miles of the PMC, which took us a long 13.5 hours. This day, we were done in just over 8 hours which left us enough time to eat at Oak Creek Brewery and drive home with daylight to spare. Freeskier and I were lucky enought to find some other back of the pack flower sniffing, picture taking buddies to ride with as well, BrianC and Noelg.

The early morning grind had but a few miles on pavement before we hit dirt. It would be dirt all the way into Sedona. The lead pack broke off quick, and I was alone for a few miles.

BC caught me soon enough and we pedaled on together for a few more miles, enjoying the smell of pine and the crisp temps. The road was pretty well graded, with only minimal washboard, considering we were on it for 30+ miles.

We rode through an old burnt out section as we approached the end of the rim.

Heading out of the pines and approaching the wilderness ridge ride. Quite a big burn out here. We also passed a small area where the tornado or microburst passed through the previous year. All the trees were snapped in half. It was an awesome show of power. Unfortunately, my legs didn't think to stop for a snap.

Ah.....the Mogollon Rim dives down into the Sedona red below. This is the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.

We started dropping into the ridge ride, which follows a powerline service road. Ahead is the start of the views for Sycamore Canyon Wilderness.

There be Wilderness behind that sign. Didn't see the cabin, but dropped the bikes and walked over to take some snaps of SCW.

AZ sure has some great geology.

I found it funny that at first the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness was actually pretty green.

The ridge ahead opens up to us. Lots of up and down from here.

Big climb ahead. There were a good three of these, with some nice down on the backsides.

The road, for being far from anything, was in pretty good condition considering.

The beautiful Sycamore Canyon Wilderness.

This was our sliver of non-Wilderness land. To the left was RRSMW and to the right was SCW. Good thing people need power or this little ribbon of land would certainly be wilderness too.

All mountain bikers seem to be photographers as well.

RRSMW. There are some red rocks behind the green there, slowly coming into view.

This fella was super busy with his face stuffed with pollen.

Another good climb, and probably the biggest of the day. Crushed it on the 1x9, my big accomplishment for the day.

Had to stop for this mean nature machine to cross the road though.

The road cut-in was really apparent here. Just hanging on!

Up and up. Get on it! Good solid climb here. One more after this.

The reward was a shady grassy area where we took some lunch. about 4 hours in and at just over 30 miles. Good timing so far.

One last climb after lunch, going up Casner Mountain. Half of this was ridden, and the other half wash pushed.

My friend, HaB.

Freeskier likes it though. I mean, if you're not HaBing, then you're just riding your bike.

Center background is the San Francisco Peaks, where we started some 5 hours earlier and about 30 miles away. Love how the bike can teleport you over land. Amazing.

Poor little fella.

Dropping off the front side of Casner Mountain now. Lots of steep road switchbacks to come.

Black mountain in front with some more Sycamore Canyon Wilderness in the background. Here, the views are BIG.

Behold the wonder and glory of Nature!

Heading down the south face of Casner Mt, BC lets the forearms burn.

Straight out of Red Dead Redemption.

Freeskier coming down the mountain. Steep, loose and fast was the menu.

Casner rolls out into the plains below. Freeskier rolls on by.

Coming down that was pretty fun.

"So, Oak Creek Brewery is that way....."

Freeskier picking his background. Nice choice!

The road after the drop was a bunch of this. Uneventful, sandy and a bit wash-boardy, for 20 miles or so.

RRSMW from ground level. I guess there's red there after all.

There were still some flowers in bloom, and the air was ripe with their scent. I had to stop to literally smell the flowers. But I didn't even have to get off my bike, they were so strong.

The ride ended on some Really nice Sedona singletrack, which we finally got to partake of at about mile 55. But no worries since the ridge ride and views was totally worth the dearth of singletrack. Next year, maybe the 100.

What I really liked about this ride, was starting in the tall pines of Flagstaff, with grassland prairies to the side, and lots of shade on the road to low shrub of the high red desert and bare rock faces. I get the same feeling as I prod along north on the BCT and the saguaro disappear and greener, leafier plants take hold as we approach 4000ft. Here, we dropped form about 7300ft in Flag to about 4000ft in Sedona, and the ecosystem changed with it. It is amazing to see that change from a bike, to be so "in" it as you ride along, with your own power pushing you on. Arizona has to be one of the best places for unique rides like this, considering all of its ecological zones. I sure feel lucky to have my chance and health to take as much in as I can, and have some good folks to share it with. I hope this ride never ends.