Diary of Scott Morris

I have a few AZT happenings that may be of interest.

First, the Arizona Trail was officially completed back in the middle of December. They drove the “golden spike” on the White Canyon Passage just above Kelvin, AZ. This has been a long time coming, and represents a big change in routing for the AZT race (and AZT thru-riders as well, of which I expect there to be more and more). The ~100 miles of trail from Oracle to Superior is some of the finest anywhere, and has all the ingredients to become a famous MTB ride.

This coming weekend is the Arizona Trail Jamboree, an event organized by my good buddy Chad Brown on the southeast side of Tucson. Donations go directly to the AZ Trail Association, with last year bringing in $4000 or so. There will be some good riding and good friends at the post-ride BBQ/hangout, so if you aren’t signed up already, head over to: http://topofusion.com/jamboree. Jan 7 is the date.

Last year’s AZT 300 overall winner and endurance queen Lynda Wallenfels has distilled her knowledge of all things training and bikepacking into an AZT 300 training plan. Check out the announcement at lwcoaching.com. I love it that the AZT race now has its own training plan, and I can think of no better way to prepare for the race that to follow her plan.

2012′s first event in Arizona Endurance Series is the Antelope Peak Challenge, coming up Saturday the 28th of January. 65 mile and 115 mile options are available, both jam packed with miles on the AZT. I’ll be there, and the GPX/maps are updated with the new singletrack bypassing the gasline and bloodsucker wash.

That’s it for AZT news… soon some photos from frozen rides in Salt Lake City, and a new years riding binge in 70 degree Tucson.

January 3rd, 2012 | Category: Mountain Biking | Comments (1)

After attempting (with marginal success) to ride with Krista and Todd last week, it was finally time to do a big mountain bike ride. Earlier rides had broken me, so I took an easy ride the day before while they kept riding. I needed all the help I could get given how poorly my back has responded to focused mountain biking in the past.

Our goal was a loop we rode several times last winter, the TMP Rock ‘n Road Challenge course. It’s a virtual time trial, GPX defined, and one that links together most of the best riding in the Tucson Mountains. Even better that it’s right out the door. A late start, general fatigue amongst the group and my weak back gave us a pretty low “probability of finish.” There are plenty of bailouts, and there wasn’t plenty of available daylight.

Krista is tired, but still moving along at a nice clip.

As we coasted through the 6′ culvert, exiting Robles Pass, my probability of finish increased significantly. Only 1 hour in, but I wasn’t cringing at every rock, and Robles is the most consistently bumpy part of the route. It was also the hottest part of the route for us. The midday sun felt near 80*, which was just fine with me.

I asked, “should we skip Golden Gate?” (a difficult climb and following technical descent).

“No, stick to the route!”

It was a good choice. I managed to get everything on the climb and descent, and Krista even stopped to session a few spots.

It took great amounts of self control to not ride like usual myself. I avoided jumping off rocks and kept the manuals to a bare minimum. Some lines literally hurt my brain to not take. But my back appreciated the understated style, for sure.

It’s been too long since my last run down Golden Gate. Brilliant trail.

Too, it’s been too long since I’ve ripped through the ‘west desert’ singletrack. With open lines and smooth trail the legs came back online and we started getting some rhythm.

“No walking pictures!”

We missed the opportunity for many walking pictures by skipping Brown Mountain. If you hike-a-bike up Brown, you get an hour time bonus. No bonus for us.

We pushed through the scenic roads of Saguaro National Park, again at a steady pace. We were racing the sun more than anything. Well, maybe racing for our lives on Picture Rocks road, the only bad part of the route. As Todd put it, “bikes just don’t belong on that road. Drivers know it, we know it, everyone knows it.” But we rode through anyway, and kept our brains in our buckets.

I love how this loop connects so many different riding areas, in this case by way of some (fun?) pipeline roads.

Okay, steep pipeline roads!

Our next trailsystem — Sweetwater! I haven’t been back to Sweetie since last spring, and this was a great way to return. Five hours of riding in the legs, sun fading and a happy mental return to singletrack. There’s some great flow out there, and each big bump just made me smile at the lack of back pain.

warm cloud blanket

The prudent thing might have been to tuck tail and take roads back home, forgetting about the remaining Starr Pass trails to ride for an official ‘finish’. Especially when Todd’s tire went low and needed some work. We were all expecting it to get cold, or be windy. But the blanket of clouds was setting up the perfect evening. Temperature held constant and comfortable, and as night fell the desert fell even more quiet. There was a stillness in the air, so we flipped on our lights and kept pedaling.

From the Camino de Oeste Trailhead out to 36th Street we rode by lights, and though it may not have been fast, it was some of the best riding on the day. It felt like we had started a new ride altogether, not like we were finishing a long one. And that’s how some of the best ones end.

Thanks for the great ride guys. I want to see some new names and new times on the results page. So, Tucson locals (and Phoenix folks too, it’s right off the freeway) get on out there! Our time was 6:24 with no bonus. Not my fastest but not my slowest either.

And finally, a photo I snapped on the easy ride the day before. I just happened to be looking at the evolving sunset (duh) to my left when the sun lit up this cholla monster as I rode by. It was the only pic I took on that ride, but I love how it turned out:

December 19th, 2011 | Category: Mountain Biking | Comments (3)

It was perfect timing to follow up last week’s new AZT exploration by riding another giant chunk of new trail. This time a little further south, there’s now a ~10 mile detour to bypass the legendary (in my mind) gasline on the Antelope Peak section of the AZT. It’s with somewhat mixed emotions that I bid farewell to the hundreds of fall line hills, and also to Bloodsucker Wash, the name of which is just too fun to say and too fun to write about, just not that much fun to ride. Singletrack being singletrack, and I can’t see too many people riding the old route, except perhaps for nostalgia, or perhaps speed. More on that later.

I picked Chad up at the grocery store by his house, since his neighborhood was all but shut down by the Tucson Marathon. It seemed to be a good day to suffer out by Oracle, by the look of the thousands of folks out there pounding the pavement.

We drove on through Oracle to Tiger Mine road, starting with familiar miles of trail. Neither of us were brimming with energy. But energy spent has a way of feeding the same, and by seeing that Chad wasn’t tired, I convinced myself that I wasn’t either.

We looked to the left on the gasline, with its first ominious hill on the horizon, then kept pedaling straight onto new trail. As the trail meandered a bit, we started setting our expectations lower. Some awkward crossings and vague trail kept us on our toes. If felt slower than the gasline, for sure, but gives a much more natural feel.

Then without warning, sweeping views presented themselves. I forgot my GPS, so had no idea we had climbed so much.

Neither of us expected the miles and miles of ridgeline riding that followed.

It wasn’t long before we were both calling it a “mini-Ripsey.”

photo by Chad Brown

And it wasn’t long before the stoke factor went off the charts, and everything else in the world (including tired legs) faded away.

photo by Chad Brown

There’s nothing like laying fresh tracks on fresh singletrack. Being Arizona Trail only cranks it up a notch further.

Really? More ridgeline descending? OK… if we must!

Antelope Peak in the upper left corner

Finally the saguaros started to reappear, signalling our return to more Bloodsucker-esque elevations. The last descent to the confluence of Camp Grant and Bloodsucka washes was a brake burner, with some sections a little under-built (but still quite rideable). What this trail needs is some more bike tires on it (and feet, and hooves)! Enter the Antelope Peak Challenge.

The AZT climbs a 2 track, which we rode until we reached the old singletrack coming out of Bloodsucker. That’s it, GPS collected (by Chad) on the new route. At this point we sat down to consider our options.

• Out and back on the singletrack – we would run out of daylight, and probably food. Not to mention energy. We had underestimated the new trail.
• Gasline/Bloodsucker return – we would run out of legs on all the massive climbs and sand churning
• Camp Grant Wash to Mammoth via the GET route – we would be eating at Chad’s favorite mexican restaurant in no time, pronto

No brainer. Down the happily firm wash we went, soon finding big trees and running water from Putnam spring. I was curious to see how far off route this water source now was (answer – still pretty far at ~2.5 miles).

I had forgotten what a gorgeous canyon it is. And what a spectacular way to view it all, coasting and soft pedaling a bicycle, spending hard earned elevation in such a fortuitous way.

Chad’s Tour Divide impression, special Max Morris edition

An hour on the Camino Rio, paralleling the San Pedro river, turned out to be a pleasant cycle without a single vehicle or human siting. Pleasant, notwithstanding weakening bodies. But the call of La Casita is strong.

Little did I know it was on the other end of town. Stomachs grumbling, we rolled in to order tostadas, and burritos to go.

Heaven! The burritos went down quickly — so much for eating them down the road.

It was time to pay the piper. Life can’t be all coasting down scenic washes, pleasant cycles on car-free roads and super tasty grub.

2000′ of climbing awaited us from Mammoth back to the car. It’s a busy highway and many drivers refused to use the passing lane to.. pass .. us. There are two lanes there for a reason, you know? To pass! We got off just before it got dark, thanks to a last minute La Casita fueled second wind attack by Chad. We hit the balance just right — enough food to bring us back to life, but not enough to gut bomb us for the climb. Perfect.

It was a great ride, and I can’t wait to drop the new GPX into the APC route, the AZT 300/750 route, and the bikepacking.net GPX network. By Jan 1 there should be a 95% singletrack route from Oracle to the 300′s finish at the Picketpost trailhead, and that’s pretty exciting. It’s a good time to be a fan of the AZT. Many thanks to all those responsible for all the new trail!

Backtracking…

Krista is back in town, and back on the road bike. With my back still injured, I have been throwing road rides into the mix, with varying results. So far it’s been hard for me to keep up with her, but then what do you expect from someone just named to the Olympic long team?

Todd is back riding strong too, rocking his orange niner.

Krista on the heavily saguaro’d AZT (by Colossal Cave).

Such a beautiful trail, but my back/hips failed me on this one, and I ended up bailing to the road to spare them.

on top of Krein

Hey you guys!!!! I caught up late with Chad, Ty, Todd and Krista… and they rode the John Krein trail! Can’t believe I missed that.

I love living so close to Tucson Mountain Park… trails are just a quick ride away, and there are so many options.

Like this little gem we’re calling Wagonwheel. Such challenge, and such views, available so quickly.

I need to make it a regular. Hopefully I can now that my back is on the mend, thanks mostly due to having the energy (at last!) to get into a solid routine of yoga, stretching and core strengthening. Or so I think.

December 13th, 2011 | Category: Mountain Biking | Comments (4)

The fates smiled. A last minute bikepacking trip moved quickly from far fetched daydream to reality.

We didn’t have much time to plan, let alone pack. Trail construction status is unknown, the river is high, but the need to get outside and into the desert is highest of all. A year of ‘short’ riding took its toll on my adventure psyche. The last bikepacking trip is a distant memory. My injured back has prevented dreams of riding fast or long. And the other ‘details’ of my life have been draining as well.

But all is on the up, and Lee and I saw a tight weather window, so we took it.

We took a low stress approach to the day, meeting ‘late’ and picking up groceries at the Pinal Market in Florence. Then it was on to the Picket Post trailhead, finish line of the AZT 300.

We headed south on the Arizona Trail.

Lee said it best, “there’s nowhere I’d rather be”

And south was a very good direction. Come to think, any direction is a good move on the AZT.

Sometimes you’ve got to change directions abruptly.

We mingled with the saguaros, coasted past massive walls of marbled rock, and even got a little scorched by the sun.

It was that perfect temperature where you can pedal a hard effort, feel the heat just a touch, then lose it on the next descent or breeze. Right on the balance of warm and cool.

About 11 miles in, we reached the ridgeline where I spent a week camping two Novembers ago. I grabbed the brakes as my jaw dropped and goosebumps ran along my back. Look.. ..at.. ..that!

The trail exists! Part of me was incredulous that a trail could be made on sideslopes so steep and in a place so remote and so beautiful. We suffered on that hillside, trying to find spots to cross drainages, duck under rock fins and plant the apex of turns. To see it firsthand was just amazing.

A flash thought hit me — this piece of trail might be one of the most amazing and lasting things I work on in my entire life.

Let’s go ride it! See how the crossings and the turns came out. See if the tread’s purchase is wide enough to permit a little speed.

Stop and peer off the edge, into the sharp teeth of upper Martinez Canyon, and other views deep into the heart of Gila River country.

The trail could go this high, but no higher. Rocks and wilderness boundaries were the two biggest constraints out there. The fact that this trail lies just barely outside of the White Canyon wilderness makes it all the more special to mountain bikers.

Tim McCabe was on the crew with me, laying out this piece, along with trails master Mark Flint. Tim, this spire is still calling your name for a first ascent!

A technical section we threw in worked out oh so well. Smiling? You better believe…

There was indeed much to smile about as the sun lowered to the golden hour, calling an end to a superb afternoon on the trail.

Nothing called an end to the trail.

We rolled over the divide, dropping towards gnarly mountains familiar but from new perspective.

It was easy to imagine that the whole world is nothing but rock and cactus.

That the trail is all there is, endless and beautiful.

As the cool blue shadows drew us in, I lost myself in them.

And that was a good thing. The sky painters got to work, and the work of the trail builders continued into the night.

There was more trail than we could ride. So we pulled out the half eaten Subways and called it a night on the side of the trail.

Nights are long as November transitions to December, but a little stick fire is a pleasant diversion. So is Lee’s company and sense of humor. Thanks for being such a good friend, Lee.

My back may have been sore, and the night long, with the occasional mosquito or fly bugging our faces. But the stars were deep, and though the world elsewhere may be a chaotic storm, all was quiet and calm on a ridgeline a few hundred feet above the Gila River.

Breakfast. Experienced bikepackers know.

Sunrise on ‘the post’ (the real picketpost?) revealed incoming weather. The clouds and wind of the system were on their way.

The trail turned onto a steep section of road, and I figured that was it. We were prepared to continue on 4×4, or by foot if necessary.

But no! We spied another cut on the hillside. The trail continued.

It continued, and continued well. Some sections were fast and flowy.

In total, there were six more miles than I was expecting. We rolled brand-spanking-new singletrack (the trail machine’s tracks were still fresh) all the way to the Martinez/Coke Ovens road.

Chop chop! Martinez/Box/Orphan Boy, you just got the axe! The AZT 300 / 750 gets a whole bunch of new singletrack.

We pedaled backwards on the AZT 300 route, on roads that pitch steeply up or down, but never in between.

Around the flank of the Battle Axe (the white cliff in front of me), even the roads out here are incredible riding.

I think this spot qualifies as “idyllic.” After watering up and inhaling salmon and salty fish, we continued to loop back on roads.

Thanks, Stan’s.

We skipped food in Superior in favor of Mt Athos in Florence. Good call.

The entire White Canyon passage is not yet done (that we could tell, anyway) but it’s very close, and the most critical connection has been made. Start planning your adventures now, whether they are this winter or come April 13th (AZT 300 day).

GPX file is available here:

WhiteCynST_2011_12_01.gpx

I have to thank my friend Lee for helping make this trip happen, and so smoothly. Thanks Lee, I needed it.

December 4th, 2011 | Category: Mountain Biking | Comments (16)