AES: Coronado's Fool's Gold 40

 I've been on quite a roll with the Arizona Endurance Series, AES, rides lately. However, my finishing of said events hasn't been so hot. I've DNF'd 3 of 4 lately for various reasons. Thankfully, none due to injury. The Coronado Gold series is now in its second year and we've scheduled it around my birthday, which also happens to be Gerrit's birthday - another AES contributor. So we bill this event as a dual birthday party ride. Why not?

I opted for the 40 mile option again as it's a nice mix of terrain and can be done in a reasonable amount of time. The big route, a 75 miler, begins a couple hours before the 40 and 24 mile options. There were 8 folks out on the big one today!! We had a nice gathering for the other two distances and rolled out of Patagonia right at 8a.

While I was getting my gear in order, I realized I forgot an important part or two of my setup: both of my water bottles!! Gah!! I had my 1.5L bladder, but those water bottles carry my electrolytes. Oh well, I guess I'm riding with water only.

Heading out through town.

It didn't take long for me to be trail sweeper!!

Train Track trail is a nice mellow trail linking Patagonia to the Arizona Trail, AZT.

A short bit on SR83 as we connect with Hog Canyon.

Hog Canyon begins mellow and connects to the Coronado Nat'l Forest.

Don't forget to read all the rules and regulations, it's VERY important!!

Continuing up Hog Canyon 2-track.

Soon enough you peel off the gentle grade to a more daunting slope. I was immediately off and pushing for a while. It does become rideable in the mid-section, but I noticed a rider approaching. I assumed it was someone who had been up ahead of me and was bailing off route...

Nope!! It was my buddy, Carlos, from Tucson, who I hadn't seen in years!!

Carlos was out doing his own thing, kinda doing the 40 mile route in reverse, but he staged at the Oak Tree trailhead and also rode all of the new AZT. Something a few of us would be doing the next day. I wished him well and wondered where on route I'd bump into him again.

Holy moly, a gravel setup for this ride?? He said it was going ok so far.

There's another rider a bit farther down that hill, he had been ahead of us, but missed a turn and rode off route for 30 minutes!! Sheesh, that's a huge error, but he opted to not bail and stick to the route. More on him later.

I finally topped out on the climb of Hog Canyon and was making the chunky descent towards Gardner Canyon Rd. where we'd join the AZT. As luck would have it, I spotted a stray water bottle in the jeep road. I'll grab that. I picked it up and of course it was full. Thanks to one of the speedy riders ahead, I now had some electrolytes!! Haha.

Entering the fun Flume trail and one of the interpretive signs.

It's a rare flat, smooth section of the AZT and provides wonderful views of Mt. Wrightson.

Great to see Cave Creek flowing in Gardner Canyon after such a dry winter season.

On to the Casa Blanca Canyons singletrack.

This newer piece of the AZT is nothing short of spectacular.

I caught up to the fella on the gravel bike at a gate as he was futzing with his shoe. He asked if I had a cleat bolt as he lost one of his. Bummer. I gave up cleats 10 years ago, sorry. He said he was still enjoying the route on the gravel setup, but it was work.

I saw him again at the finish, but he ended up bailing down a side canyon after losing his rear brakes!! Yikes.

The AZT winds in & out of the contours, up & down the surrounding hills.

Mt. Wrightson providing a watchful eye the entire time.

Can't help but smile when you see a long steady downhill approaching.

A leafless blooming Ocotillo.

It's like being on cruise control for a while.

One more big climb remaining.

I had caught a glimpse of a rider up ahead, but he seemed to be maintaining a 5 minute lead on me each time I spotted him.

Ocotillo forest.

I spotted the other guy nearing the top of the final big climb, but still about 5 minutes ahead.

Let's just say I did a bunch of walking on the big climbs today. The ATA gate ahead signals the top of the main push. Hooray!!

I was looking at my total mileage and the time. I thought if I could average about 10mph for the remainder of the ride, I could sneak in before 2p. It was gonna be tight, but it gave me something to aim for.

That's the trail I just walked up.

Yellow Mariposa Lilly. I don't recall seeing that color before, only orange ones.

The Zipper section of the AZT. So fun!!

I came around one particular corner and the guy ahead of me had stopped for a break. I finally caught and passed by him. He ended up finishing a few minutes after me.

Down on the valley floor, a Mesquite grove.

Back on the Train Track trail into town as time ticks down.

Almost there, poppies in bloom and barely 5 minutes until 2p!!

Finished!! 1:58p!! I'll take it.

The official AES pizza box score card.

It was fun hanging out with everyone at the brewery waiting for the 75 milers to roll in. It didn't take too long before they arrived.

Remember that guy who made the wrong turn way back in Hog Canyon? Well, turns out, he lost a water bottle after that wrong turn. I was glad he did as it was filled with HEED electrolyte mix and was rather tasty. I thanked him for the drink and gave his bottle back to him!! He ended up running out of water and a hiker helped him out. I guess everything worked out.

A bunch of us had planned to camp at TerraSol in town that night, it's highly recommended if you're going to Patagonia for a ride. All the amenities you could need including a refreshing shower. Mary runs a fantastic operation there.

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