My original plan heading up was to just skin around the resort and ski the corduroy, but once I got up there I was beckoned to see if I could find another route up to the ridge.
I had a couple of way points set in my gps, and one of ‘em was the Bomber crash site. To get there I went in the general direction of the Humphreys trail. Once I got to the trees I could tell the snow was in pretty crappy shape and I couldn’t find my way thru the glades to the Dutchman slope (I think I was just south of the slope). There were a couple of descending tracks, but nothing heading up. I thought I was on the right path cuz the trees had been tapped. But my bread crumb trail disappeared, so once I got to the 10,500 foot level I ripped off my skins and headed back down. Besides I didn’t really have anything to eat other than a measly Cliff Bar.
From there I dropped off my shovel and stuff off at the car and skinned back up to the top of Agassiz chair. I was kinda hurting once I got up there. My boots were killing me, I was outta gas, and my head was rocking from the altitude. But all in all the groomers were kinda fun, and it was a good fitness day.
The little bit of vid I took was pretty bad.
Jan 22, 2008
Jan 19, 2008
Mormon Trail - South Mountain
My neighbor just added a new shock and fork to his bike, so we decided to do a little shake down ride on South Mountain. We entered the park at the Pima Canyon lot around 10:15, and it was so packed we couldn't get a parking spot. At that point we decided to head down to the 46th street entrance. We rode up Javalina, and then tied into Mormon Loop. On the way up we discussed the idea of coming down Mormon Trail instead of National. I've been riding South Mountain a year and half, and I haven't been down it yet. Mind you, Mormon Trail and Mormon Loop are not the same thing.
We continued on up National to the Waterfall, where we dragged our bikes up for a little thrill on the Waterfall. I've been working on coming down the shoot and I've got it pretty much down, and my buddy decided today would be a good time to give it a shot. Once all the Boy Scouts had cleared outta the way we road the bronco down. Standing on top of The Waterfall is really intimidating, but it's a thrill to ride.
We made our way back down National to the Mormon Trail intersection. I knew this trial was gonna be gnarly, but it was an extreme blast. Loads of drops and boulders and tight turns. About half way down, I see my neighbors rear tire unexpectedly leave fly up and over. After hearing his reply that he's okay, I find myself flying in slow motion over my handle bars. With my feet still plugged into my pedals I land hard on a boulder. It was a pretty exposed fall, but all I ended up with was a banged up right palm, and a bashed right shifter. I think both will survive.
I didn't witness, my buddy's second OTB accident, but I fully understand how it happened. It happened because this trail has tons drops and sneaky boulders.
With our arms fully fatigued from bashing down the trail we made our way down to the 24th street parking lot. From there we followed the road and canal back to the 46th street parking lot, where we started our adventure.
I love this trail.
Here's a short vid of the Waterfall
We continued on up National to the Waterfall, where we dragged our bikes up for a little thrill on the Waterfall. I've been working on coming down the shoot and I've got it pretty much down, and my buddy decided today would be a good time to give it a shot. Once all the Boy Scouts had cleared outta the way we road the bronco down. Standing on top of The Waterfall is really intimidating, but it's a thrill to ride.
We made our way back down National to the Mormon Trail intersection. I knew this trial was gonna be gnarly, but it was an extreme blast. Loads of drops and boulders and tight turns. About half way down, I see my neighbors rear tire unexpectedly leave fly up and over. After hearing his reply that he's okay, I find myself flying in slow motion over my handle bars. With my feet still plugged into my pedals I land hard on a boulder. It was a pretty exposed fall, but all I ended up with was a banged up right palm, and a bashed right shifter. I think both will survive.
I didn't witness, my buddy's second OTB accident, but I fully understand how it happened. It happened because this trail has tons drops and sneaky boulders.
With our arms fully fatigued from bashing down the trail we made our way down to the 24th street parking lot. From there we followed the road and canal back to the 46th street parking lot, where we started our adventure.
I love this trail.
Here's a short vid of the Waterfall
Dec 30, 2007
National - Phoenix
I met up with a big crew of MTBR riders at the ramadas near the base of Pima Canyon for a little Eve of New Years Eve ride up SoMo's National Trail. We split around 11:00 am with temperatures nearing 60 degrees. We did a little sessioning to practice climbing the big time obstacles on the way up.
Chongoman had a quite a spill on a set of gnarly stairs on a shot down hill section. He's okay, but it was a high altitude fall.
Once We got up to the saddle, I turned around and headed down, while everybody else continued on.
Heres a vid of the ride up:
Media Player Version
Chongoman had a quite a spill on a set of gnarly stairs on a shot down hill section. He's okay, but it was a high altitude fall.
Once We got up to the saddle, I turned around and headed down, while everybody else continued on.
Heres a vid of the ride up:
Dec 24, 2007
Black Canyon Trail: Arizona
I have been riding in other places around the valley, but for some reason my most recent posts seem to focus on the Black Canyon Trail. The trail is all connected together now, and it starts on W Table Mesa Rd, and we did an out an back to here. We basically did about 26 or 27 miles and about 3,500vf of climbing.
GeeDubb posted up a topo of what we did here and here are some more stats
I started off the ride in t-shirt and shorts, not bad for the second day of winter.
If you head out on this trail be sure to check the how fast the Agua Fria river is flowing. It is recommed to not cross this river if it is flowing more than 100 to 300 CFs.
Here's a vid of the ride:
GeeDubb posted up a topo of what we did here and here are some more stats
I started off the ride in t-shirt and shorts, not bad for the second day of winter.
If you head out on this trail be sure to check the how fast the Agua Fria river is flowing. It is recommed to not cross this river if it is flowing more than 100 to 300 CFs.
Here's a vid of the ride:
Nov 18, 2007
Black Canyon Trail Building - Arizona
Yesterday the equestrians, hikers and bikers all got together to continue the work on the Black Canyon Trail system north of Phoenix. We had about 20 people show up to bash on rocks and lay down some really great trail. We added about 1,300 feet of new buff trail.
Not the most exciting way to spend a day, and the cramps in my arms weren't all that pleasant. But truth be told it was a great day. The cooperation and guidance leads me to believe we are creating something very kewl.
The most interesting part was routing the trail around an archaeological site that contained pieces of broken pottery.
Here is a vid that shows the pottery, and some other hi jinx.
Not the most exciting way to spend a day, and the cramps in my arms weren't all that pleasant. But truth be told it was a great day. The cooperation and guidance leads me to believe we are creating something very kewl.
The most interesting part was routing the trail around an archaeological site that contained pieces of broken pottery.
Here is a vid that shows the pottery, and some other hi jinx.
Nov 12, 2007
Pass Mountain & Hawes: Arizona
I met up with a couple other MTBR riders to ride Pass Mountain (Usery Mountain Park) and the Hawes Trails system. Shaker came down from Vancouver B.C. and was rolling on the his heavy all mountain bike, and CSTuttle is visiting from Moab, Utah.
We met up at the Wild Horses entrance at about 8:30. We headed out on and up Usery Pass Road for about a mile, where we entered the park to climb and circumnavigate Pass Mountain. The wash we came in on had deep sand for about half mile, but then we tied back into the main trail. The climb up took no time at all, but as we neared the top the trail composition changed from fast cinder to dirt and head sized rocks. We took a little brake to put our crash pads on, and then we bombed down the highly technical top section of the trail. This was a blast. Way fun.
The rest of the trail flowed nicely, as we casually finished up the loop. After exiting the park the way we came in, we headed back to the cars to fill up our camelbacks. Shaker called it a day at the point, and CSTuttle and I rolled into Hawes. The kewl part about where we entered was that is starts off downhill for about 3 miles. The trail here is fast and flows nicely. We made our way around to the Hawes Trail, and at the about the 22 mile mark I was feeling pretty fatigued. Knowing I had about 9 to 10 miles back to the car I wished CSTuttle the best of luck and headed back to the car. I took it really slow as I began to feel the twinges of cramps settling in on my quads.
About 100 yards before the last major wash (Power Road Bailout)out of the corner of my eye I spotted a big white mass climbing up a rock. I hit the brakes and it blew my mind to see a silvery-white horse grazing in such a inhospitable spot. I'm hearing from Chollaball that there is a group of about 10 horses that inhabit the area near the Salt River, and frequently meander into the area I was riding.
Anycow, heres a short vid of the day:
We met up at the Wild Horses entrance at about 8:30. We headed out on and up Usery Pass Road for about a mile, where we entered the park to climb and circumnavigate Pass Mountain. The wash we came in on had deep sand for about half mile, but then we tied back into the main trail. The climb up took no time at all, but as we neared the top the trail composition changed from fast cinder to dirt and head sized rocks. We took a little brake to put our crash pads on, and then we bombed down the highly technical top section of the trail. This was a blast. Way fun.
The rest of the trail flowed nicely, as we casually finished up the loop. After exiting the park the way we came in, we headed back to the cars to fill up our camelbacks. Shaker called it a day at the point, and CSTuttle and I rolled into Hawes. The kewl part about where we entered was that is starts off downhill for about 3 miles. The trail here is fast and flows nicely. We made our way around to the Hawes Trail, and at the about the 22 mile mark I was feeling pretty fatigued. Knowing I had about 9 to 10 miles back to the car I wished CSTuttle the best of luck and headed back to the car. I took it really slow as I began to feel the twinges of cramps settling in on my quads.
About 100 yards before the last major wash (Power Road Bailout)out of the corner of my eye I spotted a big white mass climbing up a rock. I hit the brakes and it blew my mind to see a silvery-white horse grazing in such a inhospitable spot. I'm hearing from Chollaball that there is a group of about 10 horses that inhabit the area near the Salt River, and frequently meander into the area I was riding.
Anycow, heres a short vid of the day:
Grand Canyon - South Rim
We've been here about 18 months,and we hadn't taken the opportunity to see the Grand Canyon. So my wife, mother-in-law, and her friend from N.Y. decided to drive up there and see what this place is all about. I can truly say that I was amazed.
Our first destination on this road trip was a quick stop to Sedona, where we visited the Chapel of Holy Cross, and then we hit up a couple of shops and grabbed a quick bite to eat. It was a little over cast and hazy, but the rock formations were remarkable.
From there we continued up scenic 89 and interesected with 40 at Flagstaff.
We pulled into the Grand Canyon (Mather Point) at about 5:00 pm, anticipating that the sun would set about a half hour later. Unfortunately, we had high clouds and it was hazy from a controlled burn on the other side of the canyon. So no amazing sunset, but the view was still incredible.
We stayed at a hotel back in town (just outside the National Park), and the next morning we headed back into the park, for day of awesome views and shuttle buses.
Our first destination on this road trip was a quick stop to Sedona, where we visited the Chapel of Holy Cross, and then we hit up a couple of shops and grabbed a quick bite to eat. It was a little over cast and hazy, but the rock formations were remarkable.
From there we continued up scenic 89 and interesected with 40 at Flagstaff.
We pulled into the Grand Canyon (Mather Point) at about 5:00 pm, anticipating that the sun would set about a half hour later. Unfortunately, we had high clouds and it was hazy from a controlled burn on the other side of the canyon. So no amazing sunset, but the view was still incredible.
We stayed at a hotel back in town (just outside the National Park), and the next morning we headed back into the park, for day of awesome views and shuttle buses.
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