Once you’ve ridden SoMo, you can’t get enough. The second day we treaded into unfamiliar territory for the first time on the south side to hit up a lesser known legend.

First a warm-up on Helipad





Nearing the top of Helipad with a view of Telegraph Pass notch.



Off the top of Helipad is a quick chunky trip down Goat, followed by a swoopy traverse of Desert Classic over to Telegraph. A hike up Telegraph earns you some sore shoulders. Even if you could eliminate the endless stream of hikers, attempting to ride down Telegraph would be some serious pucker factor. Lunch break at Telegraph Pass.



Up this section of National has some hike-a-bike



Great views



And more technical climbing as Evdog powers up a step



Great view of Phoenix downtown



Yes, more hike-a-bike



And a few short descents. Stang rides the stair steps, while Evdog opts out



But today’s highlight was Corona de Loma





Steep,



loose,



chunky switchbacks.



Great stuff. We called it a day after 14 miles.
Robo, Gman, and Kreechan opted for a quick night ride on the White Tanks competitive track. The last day would culminate everything ridden on SoMo.



Robo, Gman, and Kreechan opted for a quick night ride on the White Tanks competitive track. The last day would culminate everything ridden on SoMo.

Phoenix Chunktacular Goodness – Day 3

nice! you got me craving some chunk!

Day 2 was a blast, though the legs and hands were definitely sore after only one day of riding a mere 16 miles. The constant lifting the front wheel and jackhammering over obstacles takes its toll - but takes riding to a whole new level of fun.

Evdog climbs on his 85+lb "freeride" rig. He had brake troubles on his alternate ride so had to bring this one. He climbed damn well on it and made some surprising cleans heading up.




Sean almost to the Helipad.




National heading east had some tech sections with serious exposure. If the fall onto the rocks didn't get you, and the scraping against cacti didn't get you, and the sliding for 100 feet down didn't get you, and the 20 foot straight drop to the road didn't get you, surely the cars running your battered body over would.




Christian emerges on a short but super tech climb up Corona de Loma.




The Corona de Loma descent was unrelenting and unbelievable. We were all grinning like loons and cramping in our hands from the braking.




Good times. Note all the sentimental tenderhearts who wore red for Valentine's Day. Awwwww...

Forgot this one of Sean on the stairsteps. We hit this section on the first day and it felt like no problem. For some reason - probably exhaustion - we all hesitated more at the top on this day.

^^^ What the hell? That must be deluxe sequence mode -- very cool.

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A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway

You guys kick ass.

Now if you will excuse me I'm going to go shred the gnar at something closer to my skill level like BLT.

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Just in case you also thought Sean could not have come down those steps with only tree moves...

Some of my day 2 pics:
Just getting warmed up.

Enjoying the view from the helipad.

Fun downhill before we start climbing/HIB Telegraph.

I wasn't taking Kreechan's pic walking this rideable section.

SoMo's Rock House

On to National towards the towers.



What does Robo always holler out? "No dabs!"

Another great day of riding!

With those views I just couldn't focus on riding

Thanks for the Pics and TRs. You guys look like you were having a great time. I wish I wish I wish....

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

Ha-ha, you may have caught me on my first attempt fail. But I turned it around, tried it again and nailed it all the way up to the top with - no dabs!

75

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On day 2 I was thankful for some flat riding again to start off the day. Turned out it wouldn't have made much difference, once we got going up Telegraph it was almost all HAB.

The trails at the bottom on the south side of SoMo aren't very technical, but still fun. Shows there's something for everyone at this place!


GP_pilot climbs up the ridgeline


Beatiful day to be out riding


Looking down from the top. Not so much elevation, but it took a lot of effort!


team Santa cruz


Today we would take National trail back past Holbert


Taking a break


National is a tough trail in either direction. GP_pilot on a mellow section




Lots of HAB. Some were too hard to ride, some we were just getting too tired to try. Hold on, is that Robo, hiking again?




Of course, Rob had to make us all look bad by cleaning stuff like this


Massive cactus.


Stang makes his way up corona de loma


Looking back up the hill from the bottom


No pics on the way down, this trail was too much fun. That, and there weren't any obvious photo ops like there were on Holbert. This trail was chunky and loose, but not nearly as scary as Holbert, and had a lot more flow. Both are well worth it if you're here, and this one has lots of bonus singletrack at the bottom to warm up or cool down your legs.

looks like a fun one.

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