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.

McDowell Mtns: Double Bypass

 The Double Bypass route in the McDowell Mtns. is a long-time classic. Classic beatdown that is. It's a relatively short loop, but it sure packs a punch as it goes up & over both Windgate and Bell Passes. Wear comfortable shoes as they say.

Mike had wanted to do a longer ride, but I was a bit more crunched on time, so we opted for the shorter. We'd be riding from Mike's house which is only a couple miles from the McDowell trails. It was nice to get some easy pedaling in, you know, a warm-up? My singlespeed was my only bike at the moment and there was no way I was doing this ride on that. Mike was able to loan me his Chumba Sendero 29er hardtail so I felt right at home.

I always forget how rocky the trails on the front side of the McDowell Mtns are. They rattle your teeth!! The Desert Park trail on paper looks like it should be a relatively fast, easy spin to the base of Windgate. It's anything but that. Lots of medium sized rocks to keep your attention. The riding is slow and it works you over in spite of the gentle grade. I was already feeling whooped by the time we reached the Gateway split and we hadn't even begun the brunt of the Windgate climb. I knew I'd be walking a ton of it on this day. 

We slowly made our progress up the mountain and I finally took out my phone for a pic.

The trail was actually rideable here, not the steep, loose, extra chunky stuff from lower down the hill.

It was a lot of work to get up here, always is.

Looking back from where we came.

Mike is ready for some downhill.

The descent off the east side of Windgate was really fun, quite the contrast in trail styles from the approach on the west side. We reached the junction for Bell Pass and began climb #2 on the day.

Bell Pass was super smooth compared to Windgate.

Look, a riding pic!! Photo by Mike.

We both only walked a short bit near the junction with Prospector trail and up near the top, but Bell Pass was much more rideable than Windgate. There was a small tractor sitting off the side of the trail up there. We could see it had done some tread repair, adding drainages in a few spots too. Mike noted how much less deep gravel was on the trail as well.

Bell Pass in the books.

Again, looking back from where we came. McDowell Regional Park is down there on the right.

This is where we're going. Down, down, down.

It's fairly steep, but very rideable.

We came down the 'Steeper' side. Why not?

Still a long way to go!!

It's kinda funny because Bell Pass was so smooth up top on the steep stuff, then as the grade relents, the rocks increase. By the time we reached our turn on Paradise trail, we were beat to a pulp. Tired hands, arms, legs and you're going downhill!! Whoever named Paradise trail...well, it's not exactly that. Pedal grabbing rocks at every turn, no flow whatsoever. It definitely keeps you alert, else OTB!!

We popped out near the golf course for the final flat paved miles back to Mike's place. Man, what a ride. It had been years since I last rode that loop. As tough as it is, it's a satisfying ride. I may try it again with a bit more fitness so I can actually try to ride more of the Windgate climb.

Strava link. *Loop is ridden clockwise.