Arizona Trail - Freeman Rd to Superior

The plan was to ride the Sedona (not so big) Friggin Loop this weekend. Since the race was shorten due to high water crossing, the cogs in the head started turning and decided to load up the bikepacking gear and put some miles down on the Arizona Trail instead. We decided on the AZT section heading north from Freeman Road to Superior.

Since my body is trashed and my brain is fried and I am having issues today formulating coherent non-run-on sentences, I will just leave you with some bullet points and pictures. Grab a beer and make up your own storyline They say pictures are worth a thousand words, problem is I suck at photos and my camera is jacked and leaves a fuzzy spots. You got ripped off, get your money back kid.

Signing at the Picket Post Trailhead

Tim (AZTripper) helped us out with the GPX files, shuttle, and water caches. Without Tim, we would have wandered the desert lost and dehydrated and hallucinating. Or we would have just rode a long two day out and back and returned home safely, but hey, almost dying sounded way tougher. Credit given, when credit due. Tim hooked the logistics of the trip up and answered my many of 1000's of questions as we rode for two days.

Ripsey - that big peak in the middle, one of the best sections of the entire Arizona Trail. (so I am told by crazy dudes - here and here. Their camera skills don't suck). Those sites helped with my recon prior to the ride.

Look at those switch backs on Ripsey.

My first wild Gila Monster sighting. Pretty rare, as I am told they spend most of their lives under ground. Saw this right after I startled a huge rattlesnake just off the trail. All on top of the ridge.

Try this for a few miles on a rigid singlespeed with loaded packs.


It was just like in 'Stand By Me'...


My favorite section - climbing north after crossing the Gila and riding the railroad tracks. Seems to be brand new single track. Pretty sure we had fresh tracks, didn't see any other tire tracks.

Steep.

Steep.

Steep and rocky.

Scrambling, pushing, pulling, carrying our bikes for one mile up a wash to access the Artesian Well.

Jimbo enjoying the high flows from the Artesian Well. Tasted great but the water was warm, unlike the Ripsey Spring water.

The Truth.


And I leave you with this sincere picture of myself to scare all your demons away and thought I rock a tiny mohawk for the adventure.