First off, there are actually some riding around the Seven Magic Mountains area heading toward the (I forgot the name) Lake below to the south. Mainly double tracks but you could easily make out a few game trails on either side to stay off the OHV roads.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
After feasting on what seemed like 28 lbs of traditional American and Filipino Christmas meals, we headed off to a slowly thawing out Sedona.
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I haven't driven on any roads or freeways with solid layers of ice on the roadways. Thank god for my brand new AT tires and ninja-like reflexes. I love impressing locals with unintentional drifts and kick outs with my 2WD Nissan Titan.
Speaking of which... Hit 222,222 original owner miles! Woot woot!
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First day! FUCK!!!! Trails were still thawing and draining. Still, a few out of towner fuck sticks still decided to ride in this muck after we finished our scouting on foot (even then I felt guilty leaving deep sliding foot marks all over the trails).
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Our stoke level remained high because it's too damn pretty in Sedona to let a day go to waste. So we dropped the bikes off our hotel and enjoyed Sedona on foot until we were pooped, freezing and in the dark.
Along the way, I asked my to stop for picture. She's like, of me? Yeah, and the sweet rock sections (always shredding in my mind).
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Hmmm, stair case, I mean my pretty and just as adventurous wife.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
I wish they allowed bikes here. 780mm wide bars might pose a challenge.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
We stomped halfway up.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Day 2. Much warmer and trails drained enough. 95% of the trails we rode were pretty compacted by then. Lots of tire tracks but zero visible damage. All green.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
In less than 10 mins, our jackets came off and sweated thereafter. It proved to be the best and warmest day of the trip.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
From snow on the north facing trails to bright and almost dry south facing ones. So freaking awesome!! It took a few rocky ledges and chutes before my wife started opening up on her brand new bike. It was gas gas from there.
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Pyramid trail is fun. Few techy lines to play with........
.........until you get too carried away on a natural hip jump and landing very hard sideways from over-jumping. Thankfully, it just knocked my preload cup loose on the rear hub. Thank you for the fail safe feature E13.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Sun's out, flabby guns out. Weather was perfect. Feeling Socal spring time by lunch time!
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Love love love natural stuff like gapping rock sections and ledges to huck off of. Home trails are fun and all but I think builders are putting way too much emphasis on grooming every freaking section like a giant pump trail system. I still prefer au natural and rocks.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Nope, not fun at all.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Brown pow
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Day 3 and last day.
Still not having fun.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Lines, lines, everywhere are lines. Racing makes you a better rider.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Elbows out and definitely gotten comfy on her new ride
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
In summer and dry conditions, slick rock is an oxymoron. Not this day.
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
Elbows out, stay centered, heels down and look way the fuck ahead. Gnarly steep rock chute be gone. She is a quick study.
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Went to Hangover trail head but when I saw no tire tracks heading to Munds, I decided that it may still have been too muck up for the locals to dare risk going to Hangover. So we skipped town through Jerome. Fun drive.
Little diversion to Death Valley...
From salt mining
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Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
to borax.
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Our annual pilgrimage to the lowest point in North America. I was hoping for a little bit more water level on the salt flats from the recent storms. I was hoping to recreate a 2010 family shot on the same spot with glassy water on the salt bed.
https://flic.kr/p/QHT9NV by
Orven Zaragoza, on Flickr
The day we left Vegas, I was able to squeeze one more ride in my new fave LV spot. There are so many playgrounds like this all throughout the trails. Bipolar Trail had some good sized drops too. I love it here as you're literally just above The Strip.
Arrived home in Temecula on New Year's day and I was already itching to shred.
It was raining but I know one home trail that holds up well even while and after the rain.
First bike I chose to ride into the new year is my downhill bike.
True to myself- I am always downhiller first and mountain biker second.
Happy New Year, fools!