My Two Schillingsworth

Word through the grapevine was the latest Highline Restoration Initiative project was complete and ready to ride. This project was a series of projects being worked on by not one, but three professional trail crews. Flagline Trails, Proline Trails and Cuddy Mountain Trail Co. This was the missing link along the entirety of the Highline Trail. The project area was located roughly in the middle of the Highline trail, between the Tonto Fish Hatchery on the east and roughly to the intersection of FS144. This was the only section of the Highline that I had never been on as I heard stories about how difficult and unrideable it was.

There was a buzz among a few friends about it and Igor began rounding up all the interested parties. We even secured a shuttle driver to help out. The plan for the day would be to ride from the Tonto Fish Hatchery back to Pine via the Highline trail. The current track I had was 39 miles, but that was using the old trail out of the fish hatchery. I suspected the new and improved route would add a few miles to that total.

Igor was confident we could get another bike added on, if needed!!

Our group from Phoenix met up at a nearby casino en route for a carpool. We met everyone else at the Pine trailhead. We had a nice group, 11 riders, coming from all over: Phoenix area, Flagstaff, Show Low and a van lifer, Carey, who I've known for over a decade now.

Excited to ride some new terrain. Also hoping it was fairly singlespeed friendly!!

Thanks to Deb for helping out with shuttle logistics for this crew.

It didn't take long for the first hike-a-bike to occur. Photo by Carey.

Roll call!! Jeff was too quick for the first shot.

Bret.

Nancy.

Ian.

Andy, also on a singlespeed.

Rick.

Conrad.

David.

Igor.

Carey.

Out of the forest and into Sedona. Photo by Igor.

Large open, mulched area. Photo by Igor.

Settling into the singlespeed pace. Photo by Carey.

Smooth path through the churned up landscape. Photo by Igor.

The trail quickly morphed from a Prescott feel to the red rocks of Sedona.

Splitting the goal posts. Photo by Igor.

So far, the quality of the trail work was outstanding.

Since I had the old alignment loaded on my GPS, I kept getting 'off route' warnings. Good!! I was curious to see how much, if any, of the old alignment would still be in use.

Nancy approaches a mini White Line. Photo by Jeff.

Lots of out-of-the-saddle riding today. Photo by Jeff.

The trail bumps up a rock layer using this rock armored section.

Here's a better pic of Jeff.

It's fascinating how quickly the terrain changes here.

Theme of the day: Ride towards the towering rim... Photo by Igor.

...cross over a drainage...then shoot out away from the rim, often enjoying expansive views. Photo by Igor.

Finally, a re-grouping. I had fallen back off the pace a bit, but otherwise felt good. Let's face it, I'm just a slower rider, gears, singlespeed, doesn't matter and I'm ok with that.

Riding off to the views. Photo by Igor.

A freshly cleared area, we could hear the crews working down below.

At first glance, we thought this was an AZT gate until we remembered we weren't on the AZT portion yet. Nice work on the design.

Yeah. More of this, please.

Nancy is the small yellow dot up ahead.

Imagine riding under this in moonlight. Photo by Igor.

Plenty of buffed out new tread along the way. At one point we were almost a full mile away from the old alignment. Photo by Igor.

Entering a section of the West Fire burn scar. Photo by Igor.

One of many creek crossings on the day. I think every named creek was flowing.

Pace line. Photo by Carey.

Bret approves of Igor's riding selfie.

Lightning strike?? Photo by Igor.

For the most part, the new tread was in fantastic condition and rode really well. Photo by Igor.

The rocky sections were mostly smoothed out too.

New & old alignments merge at the end of FS31. Photo by Igor.

Nancy cruising through a Highline super gate.

Fun switchback section.

Nancy climbing out the other side.

Immense views on a clear day.

Somewhere in here we reached a gate at a saddle, a few miles before Washington Park. Jeff & Nancy had parked their car at the fish hatchery and opted to turn around here as it was mostly downhill to Washington Park had they kept going. Not a bad ride, getting to ride the new stuff twice!!

Conrad crossing Bonita Creek. Photo by Igor.

David splashing down!! Photo by Igor.

The soothing sounds of a waterfall. Photo by Igor.

This area can be tough to find the trail when the grass is tall. Not today. Photo by Igor.

Dude Creek, dude.

Really cool Sedona-esque ledgey section. Photo by Carey.

Andy mashing across the slickrock. Photo by Carey.

Ian's turn. Photo by Carey.

Short clip of the area by Carey.

So much red dirt up here.

Uh-oh, trail hazard. Photo by Igor.

Conrad & Rick to the rescue. All clear. Photo by Igor.

We were nearing Washington Park and the miles were starting to drag a bit for me. The climbing was work!! Partly due to the elevation, hovering a bit over 6000' and my singlespeed gearing was pushing me to my limit. I probably walked a bit more than I would have liked in here, but kept moving.

Ian arrives to the break area at Washington Park.

I finally arrive!! Photo by Carey.

Headwaters of the East Verde River are nearby. Igor selfie.

Great place for a snack break and to top off water.

Nice and cold too.

We now link up with the AZT to Pine. Here, we're at mile 22, with 22 to go. Looks like the new Fish Hatchery segment added 4 miles to the trail. Whoa!!

Leaving the trailhead. Photo by Carey.

Massive rock armored switchback. Impressive.

Beautiful forest riding in here.

It may appear we were looking for shade, but it was actually on the cool side all day. Low 60's with a good breeze. I'm glad I had my long sleeve wool base layer on. Photo by Igor.

Workin' it. Photo by Carey.

Moar Sedona slickrock.

This was the only real complaint on the day: sections of post-holed trail by the local Elk herds. I guess that's why we have suspension, right?

We had planned to regroup at the spewing Bray Spring pipe, it's been fixed, which I knew wasn't too far off, but I saw the guys stopped up ahead and someone futzing with their bike. Ahh, of course if would be Igor!! He's notorious for breaking all kinds of stuff. What was it this time?

Assessing the situation.

Broken crank bolt. Macgyver to the rescue. Ziptie two valve stems on either side to hold everything together. Would it last?

The good news? We were only about 4 1/2 miles away from the Geronimo trailhead and most of it was downhill. He noticed right away that any substantial force on the cranks and it wasn't going to hold. So he was reduced to coasting the downhills and walking the rest. The plan was to have Deb, our shuttle driver from the morning, come get him at Geronimo TH. By now, I had decided I was going to bail off the Highline there as well, but finish the ride via the dirt Control Rd. I knew what lie ahead, a 5 mile climb before the long payoff downhill, but I suspected I'd be walking a bunch of the climb and preferred to finish in daylight. Carey decided to join me so he could get in contact with Deb, hopefully before we reached the Pine TH where she was hanging out.

Towering hoodoos. Photo by Igor.

Sublime singletrack.

Oof. Looks steep!! Photo by Igor.

But first, a dip through this drainage. Photo by Igor.

The grade was no match for these guys!! Photo by Igor.

Geronimo trailhead.

Igor hung out, did some sightseeing while waiting to get picked up. Photo by Carey.

Carey and I headed out of Geronimo while the other guys continued on. On our way down to the Control Rd. a herd of 15 or so elk ran across the road. Cool!! Out on the Control Rd. we kept checking for a signal and on the third crest or so, Carey was able to reach Deb to fill her in. A short while later she came driving by and picked up Carey for navigation back to Geronimo as I continued on for the final 3+ miles.

Back on the AZT after a quick mile or so along AZ87.

Finished in daylight and the first one here thanks to the shortcut.

Five minutes later Carey, Igor and Deb arrived. It wasn't too long before we started hearing the hoots and hollers from the trail.

#loveAZT

Bret rolling in.

Rick.

Ian.

Conrad.

I had purposely wore my Russian River Brewing jersey for this ride. Rick had mentioned early in the ride that he had always wanted to try a Pliny the Elder. I told him: Today is your lucky day!! Incentive to finish!!

Pliny or Coors Light? Uhh....

No decision needed, from anyone.

David wrapping it up, everyone in before dark!!

We packed up and headed into town for a bite to eat. Our first choice was full, but we had just enough time to grab a table at That Brewery. Perfect ending to a great day on a bunch of new trail with a fun group. We still needed to get back to the hatchery for a vehicle swap, but that was fine. By the time we left it was already down in the upper 30's!! Brrrrr.

I can't say enough how well constructed this trail has become. Huge thanks to everyone involved in turning this into a reality, from the trail builders, volunteers, advocacy groups and the Tonto NF crew. There's only a little bit more work east of Horton Spring that needs to get wrapped and the entire Highline Restoration Initiative project is complete!!