schnauzers.ws

It’s getting warm without cloud cover as we head up the fire road to National Trail.

I am getting excited about riding a trail I hear so much about.  Trying my luck at some technical challenges on what I thought was a downhill.  I stop and watch some bikers bomb down Mormon Trail (I think).

We reach the trailhead and I am looking up.  Up?!?  Huh, what’s up with that? 

Now I remember who I’m riding with.  Gary aka "The Sadist Hill Climber".  OK. I head up and hit some of the technical sections, but Gary is doing a better job lifting the front end of his bike.  I do better going down because I just don’t have the strength to get the front wheel up high enough.  None-the-less, I am trying at least.  Here’s a look back after some sweaty climbing,

Then I come around a steep switch back with a step up.  Ok, I’m going to try it.  I get the front up but the back gets hung up and my foot goes down to hold my fall.  It goes right into the middle of a "man eating" cactus.  I look down and start pulling the needles from my ankle.  Within seconds it’s hurting like hell and my ankle is swelling up.  WTF?  I take one for the team, suck up the pain, and trod on.

Reaching the first ridge, I’m feeling good.  I’ve walked a few spots and ridden some things I never thought I would even try.  I am a little more daring today than usual.

Gary stops to assess what lies ahead.

Then he makes a nice technical step up.

If only I could have ridden it going in this direction.

More fun technical crap (that I walked up).

Then some climbing that I actually make.

The second ridge of National levels out a bit with some exposure, but very fast.

We then need to get down to the Desert Classic trail.  It seems Telegraph is the way down.  Down is an understatement.  Straight down 800′ in less than a mile with 1′ – 2′ high steps that would surely lead to my death.  I don’t have pictures because I was too busy using my bike to keep me from plumeting down.  Gary tells me that people ride this.  I want to see that (no dual crown or body armor allowed).

The Desert Classic trail is similar to McDowell Mountain.  Not much altitude gain or loss and mostly buff singletrack.

With about two miles to go, the heat is starting to get me and my water is running out.  I suck down an Energice which gives me just enough of a punch to finish the ride. 

Great fun, but I would love to try National going downhill.