Sat buddy Bill Z, a local from old Bean days, called to ask me to share a ride with him today. He leaned to riding Transcept which has been adopted into the trail system and been worked on to address sustainability issues and make it acceptable to the FS. We met at almost high noon. To get to Transcept a piece of Hiline needs to be negotiated. Bill put an interesting spin on the approach to Hiline. We rode up Singletrack bypas that I had only ever ridden down. Not a bad climbing singletrack that kept us off Bell Rock. Hiline: Back a bunch of years I rode / hike a biked the trail when you needed the secret handshake to find the start and you carried your bike up the wash before leaving tracks. At that time it was jujst tips of rocks protruding out of the earth. I had hiked it several times recently while looking at it could I ride it in its now eroded nasty rocks condition? Bill said it is better to ride out than be carried out. With that as our mojo we tackled the nasty, Hiline is one of the 3 double black diamond trails. Exposure, rocks angled such to launch a rider off into space. Not enjoyable or satisfying anymore. We made the Pedestal stopping for a view break.
Then dropped down several descending turns to the official start of Transcept. Above pic catches early part of trail which continues in and out of washes clear to far right edge. It was not dumbed down as a goodly amount of walking feet. Bill is 4 years younger than me hence the old men’s ride. He huffed and puffed like me. Trail ends out on Verde Valley School road and a pedal back to VOC. Once and done on both these trails. I don’t need my face rubbed into what I am either unskilled to ride or just plain protective of risk. Better to ride out than be carried out. 9.75 miles pedaling for 1 hr 31 mins climbing 1029′ Sedona elevation. Like the red rock and the firm dirt.
Sat was a scheduled Western gateway trail build event but was cancelled because the FS leaders are locked out and volunteers need FS supervision. I drove out to the Cultural Place just in case. If no work I would ride from there. Plan was to ride down Draino, cross Dry Creek then continue with Last Frontier etc then return on Girdner which is down in the creek bottom crossing it several times. A new trail to be constructed will keep the trail out of the creek which will be a better ride. I made the creek crossing which is normally its namesake. It was running of sufficient depth and velocity, a knee deep wade crossing, leaving me with wet feet for the rest of the ride and more crossings ahead.
My recovery route was to ride out to the highway then ride some road till I made red rock trail paralleling the highway to climb back to town. I found a social trail which made the climb while above the system trail. Scant mostly just ridden in, lots of hiking for me, definitely better to let gravity assist than to fight it. I rode down Herkenham then climbed up Old Post then rode Skywalker back to the high school. Again, not many miles but lots of energy expended.
Friday I hiked up Schurmann which is what Scorpion traverses. Great view spot at the top. I had parked at a TH beside a car with NM plates and a bike rack. I returned to my van as the man and woman were loading their bikes. Guys asks almost right away after he confirms his suspicion of who I am did I get my door fixed? They read my blog, I knew nothing of them. Setting an example.
Thurs was laundry and another PT session. Afterwards I headed out to ride Old Post, Skywalker, Scorpion, and Sketch loop. As I rode the sky started showing serious signs of rain. I carried my rain coat in case. I made it back to my van before it fell. I put the cover over my bike just before it rained. I slept at the Uhaul.
Rancher is running cows on the other side of the road from where I stay. In a short while they will be moved over here to graze down an alrready drought stricken desert. Over here there is a big tank, like and old boiler, which holds water for the cows. I finally learned how water gets into the tank: he hauls it in.
Slow internet. Goodnight.