Sonoran Desert

I had an opportunity to go on a ride in Scottsdale Arizona.  I have never seen anything like this... The vegetation was amazing. The first indication I had that I was a long way from Oregon was the temperature.  November 13th and it was very warm.   Here are a few photos from my trip.

What?  91 degrees in November!

Sunset- on the way back

A quick look at the trail

Mule Mountain trail and Mule creek trail

I headed up solo from Jackson Campground to try out something new- the mule mountain trail.  I've seen it on my way up to Applegate lake and always wanted to try it.  There are two ways to reach the trail head.  One is a small trail just off Upper Applegate Road the second is a road, it looks like you could drive to the trail head- if the gate is open.  It is private land you have to cross through with either access point.  On the map below you can see that I accessed the trail on the way up and came out the road on the way down.  

Here is the trail head below.

Sunrise over Mule Mountain.

After you make your way through the Pine forest at the bottom of the trail you will see the exposure change and transition into an oak woodland.

Things get pretty steep at this point and the trail is very narrow.  There was one place I had to walk over because it was too rocky to ride over.  Just about all of the trail I was able to ride up.  

Once you reach the top, there is a trail that will take you to the peak although it didn't look like it has been used very much.

Here you could take the trail to the peak, if you can find it.

Great views with the meadows.

After I reached the ridge, I headed down the trail, where there is a brief connection with a road, then dove off on Mule Creek trail. 

Mule creek trail needs some major maintenance on it.  Bring your clippers, especially on the section that connects back to Mule Mountain trail.  Also watch the turn- there are some small diameter trees that cross the trail that mark the turn off to get back to Mule Mountain.  There are a few flags that I missed as well.  I blew by the turn off and made it to a gate "no trespassing" and had to turn back.  

This was an adventure and a challenge.  I ride solo all the time on trails that I have been on before.  In retrospect, I think it would have been a good idea to have my riding buddy with me.  Sure I had a cell phone- with spotty service, I felt quite isolated at times and as I looked down the mountain as I was climbing to the top I thought- no mistakes allowed!  When navigating foreign territory it is extremely important to have someone to discuss the situation, the challenges, your direction the course you are taking.  The TEAM approach applies here and in all situations.

Night rides

I've been doing a few night rides and I love it!  As the hot days of summer hit it is nice to head out about 8:00 pm and get out on the bike for a few hours.  Here are a few shots of some night rides and one ride we completed fairly recently in the evening.

Top of panther point at sunset:

Glade fork trail:

The trail is a little too rough for night riding- we found out that the hard way... Had a sidewall puncture and Stan's went to work.  I was loosing air fast and it got fairly low pressure and sealed up.  I had to pump it up a bit to make it back to the truck but it had sealed up a slice about 1/4 inch or so.  I was impressed!  I just don't want to have to drop another $60 on a new tire. 

Lost creek lake ride

Last year, my son and I headed out to ride around the lake.  At 11 did a great job and we made it just a bit over half way.  This year with another year under his belt, we headed out again with plenty of water and fuel.  It took us right at 3 hours to get all the way around.  I took a few videos with the helmet cam of the trail.  Once you get on the west side of the lake it is a great trail.  The rest of the ride around the lake is unfortunately paved.  Regardless of the pavement it is still a pretty good ride.

Here is one really pretty section on the south end of the lake.  This section obviously has pavement.

Some beautiful spring weather

Big difference from the last post with all the snow and ice.  We went on the panther gulch to East fork loop.  There is some great singletrack on this ride.  The last part of the ride has some twisty singletrack that is a lot of fun.  Here are a few pics and a map.

Love the panoramic pictures

Climbed to the top- up and over last summer.

View Larger Map

Riding but not blogging...

I have been riding regularly dispite the cold wet weather.  I once thought I was a purist and never would buy fenders.  I guess I am getting wiser because I have no idea what I was thinking not to buy fenders years ago.  I bought a SKS front fender and a rear fender as well.  I started with a fender in the front.  No more mud in the eyes.  The rear fender adjusts nicely fit around the tire- minimizing mud on the back.  Here are a few pics over the last few months.

 

Not much mud on this ride- no fenders needed.

Making tracks

Mud and snow this ride

Made it to the top!

For quite a while, we couldn't get very high up the mountain.  This is the top of what it now called Panther Point.  The handgliders launch off of this spot now.

Layton Ditch Trail

trying out the panoramic function.

As ususal, the valley is socked in.

Happy New Year Ride

An amazing morning, sun, blue skies, definitely cold.  We headed up Findley Road and took a slightly different uphill route.  This route makes the findley uphill a whole new challenge.  There is a section that due to someone driving up, it is a mud bog.  I tried going up the last time a few days ago and my chain was coated in red clay mud.  One positive that someone drove up the road, we were able to make it to the Summit.  Here are a few pictures on the way up and at the top.  From about 2500 to 3000 feet there was a lot of snow!

Made it to the top... Somehow

 We had to walk about the last 300 yards through the snow.  Great ride and took about 2  hours round trip.