NoPho: Dirt & Champagne

 My friend, Amanda, was in town for an extended desert visit, down from Colorado. We have been digital friends for a couple of years now and unknowingly met each other back in the summer of '21 at the famed Brush Mountain Lodge. I was on a whirlwind Colorado tour that summer and had stopped by for the night. A bunch of other friends were also there and we all hung out on the deck that evening. The next morning I took off for the Palisade Plunge and later saw a post by Amanda on Instagram (@dirt_and_champagne) from the Brush Mountain Lodge!! We both put 2&2 together and laughed about it.

That's Amanda, foreground left at the Brush Mtn. Lodge.

She was now hanging at Kirsten's southern home in NW Phoenix and was about to embark on a modified Fool's Loop bikepacking ride. I asked if she didn't mind some company for the beginning of the route and we met up around 7a to ride the Maricopa Trail eastbound through Spur Cross.

I warned her that I'd be slow on the hills since I would be on the singlespeed, she countered with a heavy bikepacking setup.

All friends get an obligatory hike-a-bike photo.

I had mentioned to her my last time through here was at night during my Maricopa Trail bikepack. It was nice to be able to see the area as it was only my second time riding this section of trail. It was more chunky than I recalled. Cue the hike-a-bike!!

This section was marvelous in the early morning light.

The trail eventually opens up for some fast miles before Spur Cross.

Huge Ocotillos great us on the Spur Cross trail.

I've ridden the Spur Cross Loop a bunch of times, but usually going westbound through the area. It actually rode quite well going eastbound, which surprised me a little, not sure why. Maybe the climb to the high point had received trail maintenance since my last time riding this direction, but that was a long time ago. Dunno.

Beautiful desert vistas in these parts.

We reached the trailhead in a reasonable time too!!

Amanda would continue solo from here, taking on the infamously rugged Trail #4. I'd begin to make my way back to Kirsten's place, but I wanted to do a bit of an extended loop, not just the C4 route. I could drop a bit to the south and ride some trails in the Sonoran Mountain Preserve, aka: Apache Wash.

It's Spur Cross.

Making my way through the fast trails of Apache Wash.

I exited the trails on the north side making my way through a few miles of paved neighborhood riding until I rejoined the Maricopa Trail a bit to the east of Kirsten's place.

Anthem trailhead, which I believe is the official start/end of the Maricopa Trail loop.

Some history of the ground breaking ceremony.

From here it was only a mile or so back to my car. Then it was time to hang out with Kirsten and share some stories from the past year. Always a good time.

Strava link.

NoSo: Apache Wash + C4 Loop

 One of my goals for 2023 is to ride the local trails I normally don't get to. The Phoenix area has something like 20 riding areas, a few are a bit of a drive, but all are worth it especially if you make a longer ride out of it.

This day had me going up to the Apache Wash trailhead of the North Sonoran Mtn. Preserve, NoSo. There's a connecting trail to the Cave Creek area I've never been on, so I figured today was the day. I could then tack on a C4 Loop, aka: Cave Creek Cactus Classic or now: Captain Cosmo's Crazy Challenge. C4 Loop either way.

There were a couple of connector trails in the Apache Wash area I had never been on, so I routed my ride to include those.

Much to my surprise, Cave Creek was flowing all the way down through NoSo. Doesn't happen very often I reckon.

Heading north on the Cliff Walk trail.

BB8 sighting crossing under SR74.

The connector trail to Cave Creek wasn't really anything special, but it was dirt linking two trail systems so that alone made it cool.

It would be really nice if we could all play along. There have been a few asshats in the Hawes area who feel the rules don't apply to them. It's a real slap in the face to those who have donated their time, money & effort to create new trails. It's not like there aren't moto legal trails directly across the road there. /rant

On the town section of the C4 loop.

Since I was nearby, I rolled into Flat Tire Bike Shop to say hey to Kaolin, bike fitter extraordinaire!!

The Cave Creek Town Trail parallels Spur Cross Rd for a few miles.

I followed the trail up through the wash route, a bit more technical and sandy, but still fun. Bring $3 cash or have a Maricopa Regional Park Pass to enter the Spur Cross Conservation Area and continue on the C4 Loop. Glad I had my pass with me.

The climbing and views hit almost instantly.

Spur Cross Trail is absolutely beautiful, but you work for it. Good climbs, rocky and hardly anyone out there. It has a real backcountry feel to it.

Black Mtn. near the center of Cave Creek.

Sweeping views of the hills around Brown's Ranch and the McDowell Mtns. PeakFinder app.

Continuing to pan right, a distant Camelback Mtn. in the center of Phoenix seems so far away. PeakFinder app.

The C4 route through Spur Cross doubles as the Maricopa Trail.

You can read about my experience bikepacking the entire Maricopa Trail and all the Regional Park spurs in this post: Maricopa Trail: Super Mega Ultra Edition.

What an incredible view. I'm never ceased to be amazed out here.

First poppy sighting of the new year. It's still January!! Should be a great season for wildflowers.

The route winds south to the Cave Creek Regional Park.

Start of a fun downhill on the Overton Trail.

Go John!! Ok!!

Some real nice climbing grades here.

Made a wrong turn on the C4 - NoSo connector and ended up here, made for a cool photo though.

The desert is so green right now. I hope everyone is getting outside to enjoy it.

I was closing in on 3,000' so to be sure I hit it, I tacked on a climb to Apache Vista.

Mission accomplished. It had been years since I last rode that trail. It's a short climb, but the vantage point up there sure doesn't disappoint.

Looking towards the McDowell Mtns, Brown's Ranch and Four Peaks in the distance.

Strava page. Stralizer app.

This was a great route and helped make the hour+ drive worth it. I can always add more miles down in NoSo, easily making a 50 miler.

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Spur CroSS: C4 Loop

2019. Let's get this thing started. My buddy, Eric, tossed out the idea of doing the C4 Loop (Cave Creek Cactus Classic). This sounded like a brilliant idea since it had been something like 7 years since I rode it!!

We met in Cave Creek proper and began pedaling up to the Spur Cross Recreation Area. It was a nice warm-up as I was giving the singlespeed, SS, another go. Naturally, I forgot my wallet to pay for entry, so, Eric, I still owe you a beer or two!!

There were a few people milling about the trailhead area, but it wasn't crowded for a perfect Friday morning in the desert.

Cool desert critter mural at the trailhead.

We dropped in to the trail, crossed a flowing Cave Creek and began climbing. I had remembered this climb from years ago and wasn't sure my SS legs were up to the task. To my surprise, they were!!

Rolling over the top of the first climb.

The Spur Cross trail has a legitimate backcountry feel, yet is beautiful bench cut trail...mostly.

 We flew down the backside and took the connector towards the Regional Park. A bit of chunky terrain in there, but super fun and fast. It was a re-route since my last ride up here.

Riding up the bone dry wash.

 There were a couple of short steep grunts that I couldn't quite turn the pedals over.

Entering the Regional Park.

Flowy contours along the Go John trail.

We peeled off on to Overton and met a couple from the Yukon enjoying our sun & warmth.

Eric grabbing a little bit of air time.

The desert wildflowers have been blooming for a month already. Crazy.

Go John, GO!!

Top of Go John before our split to Quartz trail.

Nice signage along the way.

 There was also a new-to-me trail alongside Cave Creek Rd. that was a nice addition. It's always nice to have a singletrack option instead of the shoulder on a busy road.

Since we were in town, we had to pay a visit to Kaolin at Flat Tire Bike Shop. The last time the Voodoo was here, it was frozen, blow torched, cut & sawzall'd until the seat post broke free!!

The C4 Loop is a great route, it has a bit of everything in under 23 miles. Check it out if you haven't.

Thanks for the suggestion, Eric.

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