From 50-Year Trail AZSF 2010

AZSF 2010 started with an awesome guided tour of the Catalina mountains on the 50 Year Trail. Couldn’t beat the weather, the views or the chunk.

I shot 50 short clips of the gang riding, hucking, jumping, rolling, even a little falling… Below is one of my favorite sections. A couple of switchbacks, and big rolls all in a row. I was following Louis and Jobie. We lost Lewis to crazy speed and ability within 3 seconds, but I stayed behind Jobie as he showed me the lines…

From 50-Year Trail AZSF 2010

From 50-Year Trail AZSF 2010

From 50-Year Trail AZSF 2010

50 Year AZSF 2010

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The AZSF Hairball Night ride is going on right now. I really wanted to ride it with the gang, but without lights I opted for a daytime ride. Glad I did. That trail would be crazy at night! Props to all who adventure down all that gnar with just enough lumens to make out a rock or two.

I started my ride off right with Aunt Chilada’s for lunch. Then over to Trailhead Bike Cafe for some window shopping and a few supplies: Nuun and a Chocolate Chip Muffin to go.

I had Randy’s track from his favorite loop out in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve, I figured that would be a great start. I had not ridden the area since 2001, and I stuck to Trail 100 pretty much back then.

All I can say for now is I’ve been missing out not riding that beautiful piece of land. Now on the the Hairball descent. I’ll let the video Speak for itself…I was not afraid to walk a few spots.

Hairball Part One
Hairball Part Two

From PMP Hairball Loop

From PMP Hairball Loop

From PMP Hairball Loop

From PMP Hairball Loop

PMP Hairball Loop

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...and getting caught in the rain.

I planned a sweet lunch ride for today to include some new trails out in west South Mountain. DCX, Ruins, National, Mine Drop… had the makings for some sweet blooming singletrack, steep HAB climbing and wicked loose descending.

But as I got closer and closer to the TH the imminent downpour turned to plain downpour. I was riding right into the storm. I called the audible and flipped a U-turn, heading back to the East Valley where it didn’t look to be raining…yet.

In the car, a couple of hours to kill, surrounded by rain…where to ride? The only place that even hinted to be “less wet” was Silly Mountain. I decided to get there, ride the quick 2 mile loop and call it good. Timing was just right, a slow drizzle started as I approached the TH. I geared up inside the car as the drizzle, drizzled out.

The sun popped out and I took the queue, launched off into the forgotten trails at Silly Mountain Park… the system is fun, about 4 miles of loops, some tech, great views. As I reached the mile mark I saw a spur that looked interesting…so I took it. Fun, loose techy descent followed by pristine singletrack up and around the north east part of the mountain. Fun stuff but I think I was out of the park boundaries.

As I started to make my way back into the park, the rain hit hard. If I had only stuck to my two mile loop, I would have avoided the floods. But there is something to be said for the fun you can have getting caught in the rain. The desert just smells so good right now. The flowers are creeping out, ready to pop over the next week or so.

As I write this the sun is out and it’s clearing up. Just in time for AZSF 2010. I’m looking forward to some good rides the rest of the week.

Superstition View Trail

Wagon Wheel Rd

Queen Creek’s only hill. One mile long, 135 feet gain. I’m ready for Alpe d’Huez! It ends at the Skyline lot of San Tan Park. I rode it as far as I could. Then I rode it two more times. It’s the best I have from my door with only a couple of hours to ride. I didn’t feel like riding to Sacaton…

The End of Skyline Rd.

Wagon Wheel Hill

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Video made by out of towners who frequent the state of Arizona for its magical riding. I’ve never met or rode with them, but their video captures the essence of South Mountain and the northern country…and is well made. Enjoy.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=598510

From West SoMo 2-24-10

My insatiable thirst for steep adventure climbing and descending led me to my next West SoMo adventure… This ride would include three more brand new to me trails (Bajada, Ranger, Marker 33) plus three trails ridden in a new direction (DCX, National, Telegraph Pass).

West SoMo Epic

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Clockwise: DCX > National > Bajada > Ranger > National > Marker 33/Gila View out-n-back > National > Telegraph Pass.

Bajada is a beautiful beast. Techy XC climbing, in and out of washes, a cpouple of big moves, really fun. I was fresh, but if I was tired, Bajada would have been an ugly beast.

Ranger was all I dreamed it would be. Awesome climbing, switchbacks, and some tech thrown in the mix. National eastbound from Ranger is a hoot. I’d never ridden it that way before. Makes me want to do a National C2C2C.

I finally explored the Marker 33 Ridgline trail. Some call it the Gila View Trail. I’ll always call it Marker 33. It’s fun. Rough, narrow, looks like some trailwork has been done recently. I rode it to the end… It will eventually drop down the ridge and connect with the new 620 area, so I have heard.

Marker 33

I rode the ridgeline back to National and then bombed down the hike-a-bike. Took a nasty endo, but got lucky and didn’t fall off the mountain. I was sketching out down Telegraph, some of those drops are just too big for me, but it was still fun to find a few lines down that beast.

My endo down National. Not too exciting. You can listen to me cry and then act all cool when some hikers walk by…

Descending Telegraph Pass. Yes, I walked a lot, but I rolled a lot too…

Part II

All that’s left on my list for extreme south mountain riding is Viejo (Old Man), Cochise, Old Lady Ames, Mine Drop and the Ruins. Are there any that I missed? Wish me luck.

View Alta: South Mountain in a larger map

Alta is a South Mountain technical gem. It is a favorite for hikers and one of the legendary technical trails for mountain bikers. At 4.5 miles coast to coast Alta gives you a gorgeous sufferable climb for 1.5 miles — followed by a mile of climbing reprieve with challenging exposed descending. Add another half mile plus of climbing and you are at the saddle ready to descend into Alta tech oblivion.

If the tech up to this point didn’t buck you right off your bike, there are a few moves down this section that surely will. Switchbacks, exposure, loose, tight, cactus, and did I say steep?

Do not attempt Alta unless you are a seasoned skilled rider that is bored with National, Holbert and Kiwanis. The “easier” climb is East to West, the gnarly of all gnarly climbs is teh opposite. Make sure you have your SPOT messenger, it you ride solo. Better to bring a buddy that is strong enough to carry you down the mountain when you endo.

Access to Alta is limited with the closure of the San Juan Road. Hikers and bikers can enjoy a stroll along Bajada south of San Juan Road to get to the Alta Trailhead. Enjoy, be safe. Good Luck!

I hooked up a nice long loop incorporating Alta. See my ride at Everytrail.

South Mountain West

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My Videos riding Alta

Props to Tisser and gang. They rode everything I walked. Studs. Watch their vid and be impressed.

3/22/09 Alta from Tisser on Vimeo.

Photos of Alta (the first few are of Telegraph Pass and Kiwanis)

This is too good not to share. By Vladimir Chaloupka

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo from Vladimir Chaloupka on Vimeo.

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo
Feb. 13-14, 2010 — Tucson, Arizona

South Mountain in 1936

South Mountain in 1942

South Mountain Park in 1964

Current South Mountain Map

A better, but lesser known, South Mountain Park Map in 2007

Welcome to the future in South Mountain mapping — 2010 and beyond.

Larger map click here.

All historical maps courtesy of the South Mountain Blog

Only four days to order your AZSF 2010 T-shirt. Get it now or you will regret it!

But plenty of time to plan your trip out to Arizona for some awesome spring riding with the locals. Visit the this thread in the MTBR Arizona forum for all the details.

March 10-14 – Ride Arizona’s finest trails in Tucson, Phoenix, and Sedona — guided by locals, come ride Miligrosa, South Mountain, and the Black Canyon Trail (just to name a few of the our gems).

Four days or riding and celebrating the best of Arizona. Different rides for different level riders. No excuses. Come to Arizona!