McDowell Bypasses

Decided on some chunky climbing on the McDowell Mtns for Saturday.  Also had gotten notice of a climb day on Sunday.  So I was up early, swapped the gears back on the bike and started the ride in Scottsdale at 8.  Long way around on Desert Park to Windgate Pass.  More pedal than HAB, yeah.  Down to the junction, and up to Bell Pass.  My first time and that is tough.  Actually riding a little bit a quarter mile from the top when my left pedal got tight.  Stopped and found the end cap missing, found it and reinstalled, but it came right back out, oh well, that was the end of my old style eggbeaters :(.  Over the top and bounced my way back to the truck by 10:30.

Then Sunday EARLY.  Up at 4:20, gone at 4:45, Kenny's at 5:30, loaded into Tim Reed's truck and heading for Mt Ord.  We got started on climbing up the road, ok at first, but that changed quickly.  Extruding clay/sand/rock mud thru the clearances between the tires and frames is not easy.  

So, back down we went and plan b was enacted down to the McDowell Mountain Park to find a hose and some rideable trails.  Started up the Sport Loop, then found our way over to Pemberton.  But I was feeling spunky and ambitious.  So I decided to head over the McD's again and ride back to Kenny's and my truck.  Plan C in action.  Up Dixie Mine, Up Prospector, and Up over Bell Pass again.  It started warm, then up into the cloud cover over the peaks.  At 2900' it started to sprinkle, then hard briefly, before tailing off again.  At 3100' (32XX' is the pass summit), lightning strike about a mile away, ruhroh.  Guess I need to boogie right over the top and start down, BUT the bottom dropped out right at the top.  Not much choice, so down the Bell Pass "River" and out to the Gateway Trailhead.  Looking west near the bottom cliched the decision to bail, it was DARK, all across Phoenix.  So called up Kenny who has just started into Fountain Hills for a retrieval.  That was Wild and Fun!

-Ryan

A whole lotta WIN!

Kenny and I rolled up to Prescott for a cool ride today.  Started from White Spar Campground, and followed the AES miniMonsterCross course backwards up Wolverton Mtn and down to Thumb Butte Rd before high tailing it thru town and back to the car.  The climb and start of the decent ended up in the mist/rain with thunder in the background.  Not a usual AZ ride condition, but quite a relief. I only snapped a few pics at one break spot...

Post ride lunch was found with some tasty sandwiches at Park Plaza Liquor & Deli.  Quite the hidden gem.  While finishing up, I checked up on Twitter and found some negative traffic info.  I-17 had been shutdown just north of Black Canyon City, then one lane (shoulder) open with a 5 mile backup; then 8; then 15; finally 20+ mile backup on the only legitimate route home.  At least without going WAY out of the way.  

But, we are resourceful, explorative, like minded buds...what about dropping down thru Bumble Bee from Mayer via Crown King Rd.  Lotsa washboard dirt road, but the Jetta has done it before.  So a plan was formulating.  The only hitch was the wreck/closure was still a mile or two south of the Crown King Rd exit/onramp; well we've ridden Maggie Mine Rd right into BCC.  A potential victorious plan had been laid out, but could the Jetta loaded with 2 guys and 2 bikes make it.  

Maggie Mine is not a maintained road.  Numerous sections of exposed bedrock, deep ruts washed across the road, loose baby head rocks.  Patience/smoothness/and a calm experienced "professional" offroader behind the wheel were the final keys to the ultimate win.  The undercarriage was scrapped a few times, the bike rack took several hard hits, but we made it unscathed with no loss of road worthiness.  1.5 hours from Prescott Valley to Black Canyon City to avoid a unknown LONG unmoving 20 mile backup.  That is WINNING!  

And I almost took the truck today :doh:

-Ryan

HOT

It's been Hot and slow lately.  But here is a review and small photo dump...

Check the time stamp at the top

A saguaro in my front yard with some blooms and the monster moon in the morning 

My new Twinzer in it's raw state.  Currently at the coater getting the semi translucent Black Smoke before coming to me

A truck ride up thru Cave Creek, Seven Springs, across the Verde at Old Sheep's Bridge, and near Horseshoe Lake

-Ryan