Late!

The nerve of some people. mikelsall is down in Phoenix, finishing up the TdT on the 17th, then spending the week with his family in the Valley. He was supposed to be up here on the 19th by 9am for a little visit. He didn't arrive until 10:30!! Something about Phoenix traffic.... who knows.

Anyway, I decide not to hold it against him and get ready for our planned ride. Zach had to work that day, but we thought Groom Creek to 305 would be a good route to take him on. Mike and I loaded up the bikes and headed up Senator Hwy to the. The plan was to ride all the way home and then drive back with another car to pick up the Element.

Groom Creek is the trail that climbs 1200 feet in 3 miles. General slope of 8% and occasional pitches over 20%. From the top we pick up fire road 52a and take that down Smith Ravine on 297. Cross Walker Road and pick up the 305.

Mike did great; I was hurting, hopefully due to the minor medical issues I've had lately. But he was patient so it worked. The climb is really something else. It's not just that you climb so much right off the bat, but it's combined with loose boulders/gravel, roots, and man-made erosion control stair steps that require alot of energy to get over. There are life-saving smooth-as-silk sections sprinkled in here and there, but they are sparse.

The payoff comes with the view at the top and then again when you start heading down 52a. 52 is certainly not my favorite section b/c it is a fireroad, but the break in climbing is welcomed and appreciated. At the big boulders we hung a right to pick up 297. 297 is generally heading down in elevation, but there are some good climbs along the way. The singletrack in this section is so lovely. It's also home to the most beautifully perfect manzanita I have ever laid eyes on.


We passed through the burned section and on to the 305. We passed the ruins section and cruised along the creek bed, finishing up on Old Black Canyon Hwy and on to our subdivision. There's a great, ridiculously steep jeep road that we can take back up to our house. It was a killer that day.


Once we got home, we hopped in the car to pick up the Element. Then I dropped Mike off at Zach's school so they could ride Zach's commute home. Mike really loved the crazy hills on that route.

Zach whipped up some of his famous burritos for dinner, then we hit Coyote Joes for a nice easy happy hour. Mike took off for Phoenix mid-morning on Tuesday and we saw him again on Friday.