SoMo: Natty C2C DNF

 It's crazy to think the final Flight of the Pigs ride, the 20th Edition, was 10 years ago. Say whaa?? Over the years the growing trend to #opoutside on Black Friday has been growing. Most of my friends have been doing just that long before it was the 'in thing' to do. However, the community here has been itching for a bigger group outing on this day for those past 10 years. One ride, which is rapidly becoming a tradition, is to ride the famed National trail at South Mountain, aka: SoMo, coast-to-coast, C2C. It's a bit over 15 miles each way and some of the most technical riding in all of Phoenix. Not an easy task by even seasoned vets.

I did the ride a few years ago, marking my first time to do the full trail as an out-n-back. This year, my plan was to test it out on the singlespeed, but take the slightly easier Mormon Loop climb going westbound and some concoction of trails on the way back. National trail isn't exactly singlespeed friendly, but I've been known to enjoy a good hike-a-bike.

At the start, there were about 20 riders mingling at the Pima Canyon trailhead. I knew about half of the knuckleheads. There's a couple mile warmup along a dirt access road, aka: The Boardwalk, until you reach the gauntlet of technical climbing. I was dropped on the dirt road and was completely fine with it.

A bunch of the group was trying their luck at the first feature on National: Gate Keeper. I began heading up the Mormon Loop. I think it's now called Javelina Canyon or something, but it will always be Mormon Loop to me. I did pretty good on the first few challenges, but knew I'd be walking most of the main climb. I was able to ride a short section after the landing pad, but that's about it.

A sprawling Valley of the Sun as I crest the Mormon Loop.

I soon linked into National trail and caught up with Gerrit of all people. He's typically riding at mutant speed, so I'm guessing a mechanical slowed him down or he was helping the guy he was with. In no time, they were gone. I was beginning to settle into a rhythm, mixed with some short hike-a-bike. It was a perfect day to be out on the trail. 

Nearing the radio towers. This section of National is so underrated.

As close as you get, almost to the chunky downhill.

The calm before the storm. It's a really fun, but rowdy descent. I'm sure I'd get plenty of sideways looks for riding a hardtail down it, but that's all I know.

Trail parallels the Summit Rd. as it meanders to Telegraph Pass.

I reached Telegraph Pass exactly at the 2 hour mark of the ride and was pleased with that. Snack time. Next up was the sustained hike-a-bike up to the Pyramid trail junction. I want to say it's a solid 15-20 minute hike with one short rideable section mixed in, at least for me on the singlespeed.

I was feeling good when I topped out, stoked to be pedaling again as I was about to ride one of my favorite sections of National trail - the bit beyond Ranger trail to where the ultra loose steep descent begins. I topped out and began coasting the first downhill. I was making a righthand turn, nothing sharp, just a normal turn, but there was a lot of loose medium sized rocks littering the corner. My front wheel slid out on the marbles and I wasn't able to leap off the bike in time. Tuck and roll!! It really wasn't a bad crash at all considering the terrain, but you're still landing on rocks. I took a fairly large chunk of skin off my inside right palm and got my right knee scraped pretty good. I was pissed. I knew my plans for the day were over, but I needed to get off the mountain. There wasn't really a quick easy way to do that but to continue forward and bail down the Ranger trail.

So gnarly. Game ender. Grrrrrr.

The ridgeline views are A-ok here.

Bailout plan. Thankfully, the wound on my right hand was virtually a non-issue while riding as it wasn't making contact with the grip.

It has been a while since I last rode down Ranger, it was a hoot.

Down at the bottom I had settled into my new slightly adjusted groove. I opted to stay on dirt, aka: sand, instead of hopping on the pavement at the Ranger trailhead. I dropped down into a sand wash and it was just enough downhill to keep pedaling.

Probably not too much fun going slightly uphill on this.

I had to wait a few minutes while a group of people finished up there holiday card photos here.

A couple miles of pavement to link into the expansive canal system.

Highline Canal.

I was feeling good enough to finish up on the East Loops.

Peeled off my glove to see the carnage. Luckily, it wasn't deep. Tis just a flesh wound.

It was still a great ride, wish it wasn't modified due to a crash, but whatevs. South Mountain always delivers. 

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