2 long underwear tops and insulated leggings might have kept this week’s upper 30 temps comfortable but the trails were saturated. Patience. Today I hiked new trails out at Western Gateway and yesterday Slim Shady to Highline turning around at the Pedestal. Add freeze thaw mud and clouds have prolonged water absorption even at 41% humidity today. Patience.

Yesterday was sunny and in low 40s. I headed out on Slim Shady which was plenty wet even several small patches of thawing puddles. Then Highline which for most of the section I hiked is N facing meaning frozen and firm. Maybe 25 hikers were encountered head on, my timing must have been catching the returnees if not they all had a good long hike. Ran into a man and woman mixing a lot of walking with pedaling on Highline. They had mud tracks up their backs. They were in way over their head. They were escaping from New York. I did not inquire as to their trail choice of riding this double black difficulty trail and they were using Trailforks. Might guess that back home they ride blacks so this trail should be comparable. They bailed on Transcept which will have way more hike a bike. Beth was pedaling, short conversation. Highline has become very technical beyond the drop off as all the footsteps have eroded the sand between the rocks which cause the rocks to “grow”. Back when the trail was just built as a social trail that sometimes required the secret handshake to find the start the rocks were not features and could be ridden mostly by me. This spring I rode and walked it with Bill Z. It seems more difficult now. I propose a biker trail that won’t get the hiker traffic and has the views that present Highline has.

Today I hiked new trails that all of us have helped build in the last year. I took a flyer at a faint tread which lead to a being constructed trail that I hiked to end of construction. I then followed flagging down to enter a wash which is right at Girdner before the climb out on Girdner. Great way to escape the difficult climb. I suspect we will finish the build this winter. Whatever tread faced either south or west was drying out or already there. N face was slippery mud. Many trail loop choices to be had with some that offer less strenuous climbs. Excited to ride there and figure loops.

Last bunch of nights I have stayed at the paved overlook as the desert is too soft and slippery. Yesterday I checked out MP 4, I prolly could have slithered in and back but I decided to give more time. The places I have stayed along Beaverhead have been badly beaten from vehicles, more since I checked out the spots last week. Irresponsible destruction of our natural resources before cows are let in to add their destruction.

Still waiting for the call from the repair shop for an appointment to install replacement resonator and hose.

I stayed at the overlook all day christmas. Very close by is a defacto shooting range. Lots of ammo fired.

Temps are forecast as is sunshine. Trails will become hero dirt soon. Maybe tomorrow.

Precip is falling turning the ground red like Santa’s fictional suit. 40 degrees. Reindeers will be wearing galoshes, maybe the good people will be given umbrellas. Need a brighter nose light to penetrate the fog.

Sunday Doug and I met at the pic location for our ride. Between us we made our route. We started down Girdner with me leading and he was right on my wheel, like right on it. I was working too hard to stay ahead of him. It is what it is, I am 18 years older than him and the age difference is apparent in our speed and effort. I beat myself to point of shortening my ride while he rode the planned route. He was gone by the time I returned to our start.

We rode down Girdner on new section which met the legacy piece to join Chuck Wagon to Mescal to Aerie to Cockscomb. Our route was to ride the new Outer Limits back which is almost 7 miles long with a big climb finish. I bailed continuing on Cockscomb to descend Rupp then picked up the start of Girdner which is new also. 2 new trails have been built that avoid the Girdner climb that I wanted to ride. These 2 trails provide access for horses at Color Cove, horse hoof pocks. Rode newly finished Axis to join Girdner at the top of the climb. 21 miles pedaling for 3 hours climbing 2018′. I was spent. The EDGE calculated recovery time which was 24 hrs. Good enough decision to make Monday a rest day in spite of it being the last dry day for a bunch of days.

Yesterday I returned to the Cultural park to hang out. By late afternoon I had enough of being inside so I went for a hike. I walked down Stirrup which is mostly downhill then returned on Axis which is like brand new and is a nicer climb back out. I added other trails. I was hiking up right at a downhill drop when a rider appeared. Rider said he met me here same spot last year, he riding and me walking, he botched the drop that launched him over the handlebar for a nasty landing. A rider right behind him, a legendary local riding an ebike which are not permitted. Later I ran into a FS person and I mentioned the ebike. He said only LEOs can write tickets and there is something about ADA mudding the waters on legality. They are not legal but no enforcement effort is expended. It just ain’t right.

Observation after riding and hiking these Sedona trails is that they are unlike any other places I have ridden. The tread is the tops of buried rocks not very tall. The tread rides over the tops which will grow over time as the dirt is eroded away between them. Compliments to new trails. I record my rides using Backcountry Navigator. On Sunday’s 21 mile ride the recorded max descent was 6.5% and climb of 7.5%, those are max values.

Rain is falling again. This morning I waited out a sucker hole to drive to ACE for propane refill. I burn almost a gallon a day. I am still at the Cultural Park which is now posted for sale 41 acres.

Sufficient rain has fallen to test my roof repairs. Off road driving will be quagmire meaning I will find pavement at the overlook off Beaverhead, will prolly be crowded. Internet speed is slower which is a drawback. I put the rain cover over the bike last night before rain started.

Yesterday morning at the Cultural Park and the new FS trails location I waited out sun warmth inside. I pedaled away around 11, just about right. I rode the new Outer Limits to Cockscomb, trail is almost 7 miles long. Rode over what I helped build. Trail is weathering in nicely. Soft rock. My bike handles differently because of new fork with The RUNT and custom tuned on front, more significantly on the back is PUSH’s Elevensix shock. Getting reacquainted. Sedona riding of short climbs, not yet 100’/ mile. Beautiful day, just slightly chilly.

Ran into Rodger, an older local rider. He had kept his age to himself. Today i told him I turned 70, he said he had me by 10. 80 years old riding what he is able.

Last spring at a trail work day I met Doug who was visiting from Canada. We struck up a ride together. At Thurs’ trail work day he was there. He started talking to me as if he knew me. My memory recall tumblers searched to no avail. As he spoke my memory came partially to life. We said something like riding together again. We hooked up today for a ride from the Village. We rode my standard short Llama loop. There were several spots that I did not make on the first go so I sessioned them to success. Still that climb further out still has me bipeding it. My breathing held me back today, more effort required for progress. Is it because of soft dirt? tread was firm with a few small patches of melted freeze thaw. We got passed by other riders who are younger than us. We stopped and visited.

Being back here is reconnecting with people I have history with. yesterday it was Robert, Alex, and Darrel, and Roger. Today it was Duf and Sarah.

Bike and Bean has all new staff. New climate to learn of culture.

Tomorrow is Doug’s route up in West Sedona.