It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 3:02 pm

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:41 pm 
Offline
Active Participant
Active Participant
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:17 pm
Posts: 344
Location: 4S Ranch/Rancho Bernardo
Given: 126 thanks
Received: 223 thanks
Bike(s): Ibis Mojo SL (650b)
Favorite Trails: Thunder Mountain, MRT
A couple of weekends ago, Doug (Pacman), Jeremy, (Spec-Ed) and I headed out to AZ for some new dirt. The plan was to break up the driving by hitting Prescott on Friday, then continue on to Sedona to ride Saturday and Sunday. Sean (GP_Pilot) also joined us but missed out on all of the fun in the car by meeting us in Preskit.

We rolled out of SD at 4:00 AM Friday morning, and were in Preskit by 10:15. I had planned the ride for the day and chose to do the Lynx Lake Loop Trail. We started at the main trailhead off Walker Rd and the three of us did a quick recon trip out to the Lynx Creek Pueblo ruins while we waited for Sean to arrive. The ruins were marked by an info marker and were best viewed from a platform constructed just off the 301 trail.

Image

Image

They were really only a pile of rocks today, but apparently once marked the home of 20-30 Native Americans.

Image

The ruins were a little anticlimactic, and once Sean joined us we were on our way. We were following a map I found in Cosmic Ray’s MTB guide, which turned out to be a little out of date. For the first several miles of the southbound part of the loop we followed the 305 Trail as it meandered through pine and oak trees that lined the lake.

Image

Many of the trees were still in the process of changing colors, which added to the scenery.

Image

Image

Jeremy killed it all weekend on his hardtail 1X9:

Image

While Doug enjoyed the fruits of his new blingy Niner:

Image

Though the trail was near the lake, we only saw water once, and that was on a small detour.

Image

The trail was mildly technical with only a few rocky sections and moderate climbs. Sean did manage to find one feature that I think all of cleaned:

Image

Doug also cleaned this rocky portion:

Image

I enjoyed myself thoroughly:

Image

Image

Sean had no problem with the moderate climbs on the way out the 305 Trail. Mush be all of the extra sleep he got that morning:

Image

The 305 trail meandered for about 8 miles until we began the second part of the loop that started bringing us back toward the trailhead. At this point of the ride we found ourselves doing some significant route finding despite the assistance of Cosmic Ray’s and Dale Wiggins’ maps. In the past I think there were only a couple of main trails on the west side of Walker Rd, but over the years motos and hikers have created a significant number of offshoot trails and false turns that made it very hard to stay on our intended route. Thanks to Sean’s navigation skills and my boundless enthusiasm, we stayed positive and actually rode the route mostly as intended.

There were a couple of memorable moments of the second half of the loop, including a bonus trip up to a fascinating water tower:

Image

And a brief intermission to fix Doug’s torn sidewall:

Image

Once we firmly got our bearings we had an uneventful ride back to the trailhead. The ride ended up longer (16 miles, just over 4 hours) than I had anticipated, but was enjoyable overall. This is not what I would call a “destination ride,” however. It bore more than a passing resemblance to BLT, and if given the choice again I would probably have ridden a different trail in Preskit to kick off our trip. But we logged some fun miles and had a decent break-in ride for the weekend.

Post-ride dinner and refreshments were at the Prescott Brewing Company, where Sean and I enjoyed their amazing chocolate porter called “Achocolypse.” Tremendous.

Image

After dinner we headed up the freeway a bit toward Sedona, where we camped for the night. Day two of the AZ Weekend is coming in a different post.

*Several pictures in this report courtesy of Sean.

Everytrail link here: http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=878379

GTC link here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/56035765


Top
 Profile  
 
The following 12 users would like to thank quaestionis for his or her post:
bajamtnbkr, Brian, Canaan, Christ D., evdog, OldDogDan, PacMan, Ratigan, Red Hot Sloth, sierragoldens, slingshot, tfitz
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:50 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 10:18 pm
Posts: 5442
Given: 14906 thanks
Received: 5738 thanks
Bike(s): Marin Rift Zone 3; Budget SS
Favorite Trails: Cuyamaca; Fanita Ranch
Very nice TR. I see you're using the local pronounciation of Prescott. First SB8's and now Ardents -- damn, Doug is hard on sidewalls.

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:58 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:39 pm
Posts: 3407
Location: Ocean Beach
Given: 2423 thanks
Received: 7322 thanks
Bike(s): Revel Rail, Spur, Carver Ti,
Favorite Trails: Hmm........
Awesome pics James, thanks for posting!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 5:40 pm 
Offline
Moderately Obsessed
Moderately Obsessed

Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2008 8:19 pm
Posts: 1499
Location: Arizona
Given: 1013 thanks
Received: 1233 thanks
Favorite Trails: The one I'm riding today.
Canaan wrote:
Very nice TR. I see you're using the local pronounciation of Prescott. First SB8's and now Ardents -- damn, Doug is hard on sidewalls.


Actually, that was the first sidewall I've ever torn in 6+ years of riding. Sladnas is the one that had the big problem with the SB8's--I just happened to witness all that.

Great TR James!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 6:02 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 10:18 pm
Posts: 5442
Given: 14906 thanks
Received: 5738 thanks
Bike(s): Marin Rift Zone 3; Budget SS
Favorite Trails: Cuyamaca; Fanita Ranch
PacMan wrote:
Canaan wrote:
First SB8's and now Ardents -- damn, Doug is hard on sidewalls.


Actually, that was the first sidewall I've ever torn in 6+ years of riding. Sladnas is the one that had the big problem with the SB8's--I just happened to witness all that.


:oops:

_________________
A bicycle is a splendid thing.
~Ernest Hemingway


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:26 pm 
Offline
Moderately Obsessed
Moderately Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:09 pm
Posts: 1100
Location: Ramona
Given: 442 thanks
Received: 2590 thanks
Bike(s): RIP9, Nomad
Favorite Trails: Backcountry
By no fault of James, but this loop in Cosmic Ray's book was a fail. 301 trail is nice beginner/intermedate trail with flow and well worn, bearing resemblance to riding in the trees along BLT. Up and back would have been best. The other side of the road was less than noteable trails, especially with active the skid loading/lumber operations that completely wiped out a stretch of trail we were riding. Unfortunately Preskit didn't deliver the goods this time around.

Canaan wrote:
damn, Doug is hard on sidewalls.

Yes, and this was only Day 1.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:52 pm 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:47 am
Posts: 2182
Given: 6166 thanks
Received: 6399 thanks
Bike(s): mango. pivot. chumba
Favorite Trails: san jaun. arizona trails
I love Arizona trails thanks. I had the book when I did Prescott, but stopped by the local bike store to get the low down and got in some good rides including 396. Always check the locals.

_________________
We'll ride it till they pave it. -Clyde
ImageImage


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 12:20 am 
Offline
Obsessed
Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:12 am
Posts: 2071
Location: San Diego, CA
Given: 1644 thanks
Received: 1322 thanks
Bike(s): Knolly Endo, Canfield Jedi
Favorite Trails: DH Trails
All these trips are giving me trip-envy. Hopefully I'll get to jump on more in the new year.

_________________
~I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.
~Nothing from nothing is nothing.
~I'm allowed to be a pussy because I have one!


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 2:02 am 
Offline
Moderately Obsessed
Moderately Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:28 am
Posts: 1331
Location: Belgium.
Given: 4775 thanks
Received: 2577 thanks
Bike(s): Steel.
Favorite Trails: Porcupine Rim , Sedona .
Sweet pics dude , some parts i rode last May and the brewey was nice too :cheers:


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 9:05 am 
Offline
Moderately Obsessed
Moderately Obsessed
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:51 pm
Posts: 1600
Given: 666 thanks
Received: 1790 thanks
Favorite Trails: teh gnar
looks like fun.

_________________
strava:instagram:activejunky


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 10 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 8 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group