BCT: The Copper Russian

 My birthday was rapidly approaching on Monday, I was looking forward to a mountain biking heavy long weekend beginning on Friday. I was able to clear my work schedule and opted to head north for the first of four planned rides. 

It had been a while since I last rode the Russian Well segment of the Black Canyon Trail, BCT. It's easy to add on the Copper Mtn. Loop on the way back to the trailhead, so that was the plan. I staged at the Big Bug trailhead off SR69 in the higher elevation and cooler temps than the Phoenix area. As soon as I parked I noticed it was a bit windy. Hmmm. The first part of the ride on Old Sycamore Rd. is wide open, I hoped I wouldn't get blasted.

Let's get going.

Wide open Old Sycamore Rd. Windy, but not too bad.

Making a left here, near I-17, onto Orme Rd.

It's undulating terrain out here.

Not much, if any, traffic. You get a good sense of really being 'out there'.

The beginning of the BCT singletrack. Doesn't get a bunch of visitors it appears.

Keeping singletrack single, isn't a problem up here.

Windmill down and out.

Russian Thistle was in bloom all along the route.

Nearing the top of a short climb the views begin to open up.

Copper Mtn. stands tall in the foreground.

Passing by Russian Well.

There's about a half mile in this area where the trail is extremely difficult to follow. The spider web of cow tracks look more like the BCT. Cairns and signage would help keep you on track.

Must be nearing the Agua Fria River as I pass through a thick canopy of trees.

Look at that!! The Agua Fria River was actually flowing.

Too bad the trail was overcrowded...

I reached a short dirt road climb right before this backhoe crawled up.

The Xm gate, signaling the start of the Copper Mtn. Loop, off to the right before going through the gate.

Heading off to a work site as I begin the loop.

Fantastic contoured climb.

Fun routing all through here.

Mariposa Lily, they were blooming all over the place.

The flowers were putting on a show.

All the colors were out.

Scenes of the high desert.

Simple gate fixture that works nicely.

No scratchy vegetation today.

SR69 comes into view, almost to the high point of this section.

Camper with a view.

There's a really fun, twisting, rocky, sometimes technical descent that mostly completes the Copper Mtn. Loop and the main reason I ride the loop in a counter-clockwise direction.

A flowy section of trail that stays just high enough on the slope and out of the wash.

This is such a great loop, 35 miles and not one other trail user. If you're tired of the busy weekend crowds at your local 'in town' shred, venture north a bit and check this one out.

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