We are one fantastic week into our annual staff trip. Started in Moab on Friday the 9th riding the musical rocks trail among the Chili Trails selection off of Hells Revenge Jeep Trail. After a fanstastic run in Moab we drove south to Flagstaff and a night at the Monte Vista. Our first day in Sedona on Saturday was perfect; a meeting in the Huckaby parking lot with Kevin and Ross and a few Sedona locals and we set off for the Damifino saddle above the cowpies. Such a great climb with managable tech riding and spectacular exposure and views the entire way. We optioned out of Damifino and duck out left on the super exposed ”Hangover” Trail. One of the best rides anywhere if you get off on super flowy and semi steep singletrack in the most unlikely clif side setting you cannot imagine.
Sunday we met up with Joe Murray and Nod and wandered from our condo out into the dry creek area on a wonderful maze of singletrack that led us back to the condo some 5 ours later. A bit of a mini epic and with our snow bound fitness it left everyone a little wasted. But no rest for the weary; we were back after in on day three. Monday saw us wandering the town of sedona via the abundant singletrack trils that loop this amazing red rock paradise. We stopped for some Pizza Picazzo’s and found ourselves back in the hot tub by dark.
Tueday morning we drove south and stopped on a suggestion at Black Canyon City mid way between Sedona and Phoenix; now I pass on the suggestion. Stop there! It’s utterly fantastc riding and a whole 200 yards off of I-17. (Take the second exit heading south and imeduiatly turn west and then as the road bends south take the first left/west again and park to the right in a huge lot. Trail starts right there and goes some 30 ish miles off into pristine AZ desert, very cool place with well cut mild grade singletrack for miles and miles. After a swim in the river (yeah its warm here) we headed on to Phoenix.
Wednesday in Phoenix took us back to south mountain where we rode National and Mormon and West Morman and had a blast as ususal. Now Im wasted and taking today off. More to come, after a nap…