AES: Prescott MX 44

 My original plan for this weekend was to hopefully meet up with a couple of friends who were bikepacking and riding through Prescott. As the day approached, I realized our schedules were looking to be a day off. So, at the last minute, put my name on the AES: Prescott Monstercross (MX) list. It was a new route for 2026, a 44 miler through the pines. I figured with being 20+ miles shorter than the previous editions it wouldn't be an all-day ride.

Last year I finally rode the AES route to completion and I wanted to see the new changes this year's rendition doled out. I really didn't study the route too much. Not sure if that was a wise decision or not.

Nice turnout for this one. Photo by Billy.

It was good to catch up with some friends in the few minutes I had before the start.

Rare photo for me: Still seeing other riders 3 1/2 miles into the day!! It wouldn't last long.

Climbing the Homestead, 305, trail was pretty fun. I was liking my pace so far.

Then the route started up Smith Ravive, 396. Oh boy, lotta walking for this guy. Maybe I should've but the 22t cog on instead of the 20t. Hmmm.

Off singletrack and onto Upper Spruce Mtn. Rd. I was really feeling it. Still a bit too steep and now hovering around 7000' in elevation. Oof.

Gotta admit, I wasn't really enjoying the route now. By the time I eventually reached the top near Spruce Lookout, I figured I had already walked almost 5 miles. Not only was it humbling, since I had been feeling pretty good on recent rides, but it was demoralizing. For a brief moment, I contemplated pulling the plug, but I was here to ride and I figured the riding would improve in short order.

Feeling the effects early on.

Hooray!! The top!!

My watch says it all. This is after holding a 6.3 mph average the first hour!! That's a boatload of climbing in barely over 11 miles.

View from the top.

The trail undulated for a bit before finally descending.

I think this was my first time riding on Groom Creek. I was enjoying the ride again.

These are the Prescott trails I remember.

Another road connection, this one was kinda long, but a lot of downhill. My prevailing thought was: I'm going to have to climb out of this at some point.

The route rejoined singletrack and I was immediately greeted with a huge, perfectly sculpted berm. Were we now on the Bean Peaks flow trails??

Indeed.

This trail, Cool Beans, was still under construction last time I was here. I was stoked to be riding it now.

After Bean Peaks, the route began a short side loop. I zigzagged through some fun singletrack then once again began a dirt road climb.

I came around a corner and saw a rider up ahead. I highly doubted they were a day rider and sure enough once I got close, It was Ryan, also doing the AES route. I hadn't seen another racer in over 4 hours. I'm confident I was in last place, sweeping the route. It was nice to have some company as we alternated between walking and riding up Wolverton Mtn. The hike-a-bike miles were adding up, as was the elevation gain for the day.

I was already thinking I wouldn't be riding this route again.

Back on singletrack, Ryan nears the top of Wolverton Mtn.

The ride down Wolverton was exactly what I needed.

We stopped for a snack break at White Spar CG. I was still good on water even though I started the ride with only 1.5L. I did have a couple bottles of electrolytes, small can of Pepsi and a Red Bull. By now we were back on familiar trails. I chugged my Pepsi and downed some calories for the final miles.

We left White Spar and began a mile climb on trail. A few turns later and I couldn't see Ryan any more, he had dropped back a bit. I was feeling good and actually riding everything. 

Water oasis in the forest.

Passing by Goldwater Lake.

I was beginning to see more and more hikers/runners. One fella asked me if I knew where the next aid station was. I had no idea what he was talking about, but after passing a few more hikers, I realized there was an Arivaipa event being held. I passed by the aid station in question when I crossed the Senator Hwy. Now on Ranch trail, it was about 9 miles to the finish from here with the final few being downhill.

Making my way along the final extended climb of the route on Ranch trail.

I eventually reached the connector trail to Badger, almost all downhill from here!!

I was feeling really good now, legs were firing, the trail was a blast. Wish I had this burst of energy earlier in the day.

Almost as soon as I started the final downhill, I came upon another rider. As I went past him, I realized it was Craig!! I hadn't seen him since early in the morning, maybe around mile 5. I got going and tried to stay ahead of him into the finish.

Dropping out of the trees over the final few miles.

I reached the finish at 5:10p, barely one minute later Craig rolled in. About 15 minutes later Ryan arrived and that was everyone. A rare non-DFL finish for me.

That was a tough route, took about as long as the bigger 67 miler, but having almost 7000' of gain will do that. I think I prefer having more miles of singletrack that is rideable - at least rideable by me - and a lot less dirt roads. Maybe next year we'll give riders the choice of routes. Something to consider.

A few of us went into town for dinner. Prescott is a happening place on a Saturday evening. Took us three tries to find a place to eat, ending up at Frank's Mexican Restaraunt - which was fantastic!!

Route:

Mt. Lemmon: Butterfly - Crystal Springs Loop

 There's been some recent chatter about possibly adding the Butterfly / Crystal Springs trails to the AZTR route. A bunch of trail work has been done through the corridor and I always like to put tires on anything I may add to the route. Igor was camping up on Mt. Lemmon this weekend and he knew the area well. We hatched a plan to ride the short side of Butterfly to Crystal Springs, then up the Control Rd. If we had time and felt good, we could also add on the Aspen Draw Loop.

About 8 years ago, Team Loco, rode Crystal Springs and the long side of Butterfly, and oh my, that was a slog to say the least. I had hopes that this ride would be much better.

I had to work a couple hours on Friday morning, then make the drive south. Tucson is horrible to drive across, nothing but surface streets and traffic lights, so it's slow going. I grabbed a breakfast burrito at Le Buzz for ride calories and made my way up the mountain to find Igor relaxed in his hammock at the Gordon Hirabayashi Campground.

We drove both vehicles up to the Bigelow trailhead, in case we opted to shuttle Aspen Draw. I've ridden the first part of this ride many times: General Hitchcock Hwy to the dirt road leading to Secret trail, then onto 1918.

Igor heading up the mile of pavement. His favorite kind of riding...not!!

That's more like it!! Dropping into Secret.

1918 is a bit more mellow, but a few tricky spots are in there.

The ATA is on top of things, fresh detour signs for the Marshall Gulch construction project.

Our adventure for the day begins here.

Igor taking off on a very buffed out Butterfly trail.

Well, this looks promising.

Then it was a series of janky rock moves. Probably could've ridden some, but just wasn't feeling it.

It was nice in between though, killer views as well.

More jank. Enough to make it a bit annoying for me. It was hard to get into a rhythm on the upper section of trail.

The bottom half of Butterfly rode pretty well. You could tell recent work was done on a series of switchbacks as you approached Crystal Springs trail.

Crystal Springs junction...all the way back down under 7000'.

This was more like what I remembered. Not heavily traveled, but fairly rideable.

Some cool routing with sprawling views.

Can you spot Igor??

Ahh, there's the Crystal Springs I remember. Oof.

Still going up, but at least a rideable grade.

Ferns taking over.

We reached the low point along the trail around 6600'. That's almost a 2000' descent from the top of Mt. Bigelow, where the AZTR route would be coming from.

Closing in on our lunch break spot.

Igor already relaxing in the shade.

Some flowing water too, enough to filter, if needed.

Old burn scar and the trail in the upper right. Our view for lunch.

Where's Waldo Part II?? He's in there.

The final stretch is really nice.

Crystal Springs done. Peace out...and up.

Overall, the trail wasn't too bad. A fair amount of walking for me on the singlespeed though. Enough steep pitches to make it work. Felt like it was constantly going up or down with a net loss in elevation by the time you reached the Control Rd. at 6800'.

Now for a three+ mile grind up the Control Rd.

It was tough going for me. Igor offered his geared bike and we made the swap for a bit. Thanks, dude!! On the way up, I decided I wouldn't ride the route to Mt. Bigelow, I was about done and it was already taking way longer than I thought it would. Shocker!! Igor settled into his faster pace and we'd meet back at the car.

I had to make a stop by the Oracle Ridge trailhead near the top.

Looking north towards Oracle and beyond. Always a spectacular place to soak it all in.

The Control Rd. climb ended up being around a 1200' gain over 3 1/4 miles.

Top of Lemmon and the ski resort. I doubt it opened at all this year.

I opted to take an alternate route through Summerhaven via Loma Linda Extension Rd.

It provided some cool views of town.

Actually felt like a mountain town through here.

Getting some elevation acclimation in.

Igor finishing his route, barely 5 minutes after I arrived.

I needed to get going, but I offered to drive Igor to the top for an Aspen Draw lap, he didn't hesitate at the offer. We staged his vehicle in town and drove to the top expecting wind. There was none!! It was noticeably cooler, maybe 60º, downright chilly!!

PeakFinder app.

PeakFinder app.

Fire lookout tower.

This was a fun, challenging, scenic backcountry ride. Great for a day ride. It's nice to see work getting done on trails like this, yet they still retain their character. With that said, I have no intention of adding this route to the current AZTR route up Mt. Lemmon. There's no point to it. It needlessly would add 7 miles, descend back down to 6600' elevation then climb back almost 2000' feet of gain for what? It's not taking pavement off the route. The Lemmon Pusch is hard enough and the route via Sunset trail makes sense to beeline riders to Summerhaven, which would remain directly on route.

It may be more of an incentive to southbound riders since they can add in the Aspen Draw loop, re-supply, then start this loop in the opposite direction we rode.

Route: