STG

I pointed the car north, through Flagstaff, coming to rest at the stateline AZT trailhead.

1.2 miles from the northern terminus of the AZT is the wire pass trailhead. The wire pass trail:

The sensation of being trapped, outdoors, is an odd one. Outside is associated with wide open spaces and an escape from the little boxes we all live and work in. So walking through naturally sculpted passages, sometimes turning my shoulders, was pretty cool. Web pages said this was an ‘easy’ hike so I was surprised when I came on a rather large choke rock. I thought I could get back up it, but experience being limited, I wasn’t sure. The sun was dropping, but I was too intrigued to turn around.

I kept walking, finding a large amphitheater and some petroglyphs. I turned around and barely made it up the choke rock. I’m not sure how a person shorter would have done it alone. With two people it would be a cinch.

I went for a quick spin up the AZT and quickly hit snow.

I was glad I had planned the hike. I got up high enough to obtain my favorite sunset vermillion cliffs view. I have good memories of this place.

Driving across Arizona, I’m always brought back to my trips across the state. One, a long trip with a good friend. The other a solo mission and psuedo race. I still don’t understand them. I still analyze them. I’m still intrigued by them. I wonder what motivated me to even dream about riding the Arizona Trail. That they both became a reality is even more remarkable. When I’m old and dying, these are the things I will remember. Not lines of code I wrote, lectures I sat through, movies I watched, conversations I had, days I worked. I’ll remember how it felt to step off the edge of the south rim, bike on back, the darkness surrounding me. The focus and the strength in my mind.

The sun sets early in January. Desert Solitaire was in the car, so I pulled it out and read for a few hours. I tried reading Abbey before, but couldn’t stand it, despite many telling me I “should” read him. For whatever reason it just didn’t speak to me. Reading about riding bikes in national parks instead of cars was great, but nothing I didn’t already know. That he came to these conclusions back then is impressive. That more people can’t realize what should now be obvious is nothing but sad.

Another strong memory is of approaching the Grand Canyon, on bike. Lee and I followed quiet forest trails and service roads into the park. Having ridden 600+ miles across Arizona, having felt every foot of climbing this state’s brutal terrain inflicted upon us, we intuitively understood the mountains, understood the geography. I knew the lip of the canyon was coming. I knew it was going to be huge, but nothing could prepare me for my first glimpse of it. We would soon understand the canyon, reassembling our bikes and continuing north afterwards.

It was cold, so I’d occasionally walk up the first hill on the AZT to circulate some blood and look at the stars. The Arizona Strip is a lovely, lonely place. And if it weren’t for ‘the wave’, this road would be deserted. At night, in January, it is deserted.

I continued west in the morning, meeting Mike Curiak and Keith the Rock Monkey at Gooseberry. The snow shambilized me, but it was still muy bien. Watching Keith survey the terrain and quickly glide through lines is something else. The guy never ceases to impress me.

Eventually the GJ crew turned tail for sub zero temperatures, as I met up with my family, continuing to ride with my dad. In sum I did a pretty good tour de St. George:

Gooseberry, Green Valley, Bear Claw, Broken Mesa, Gould/JEM, Church Rocks, Paradise Canyon, Barrell Roll.

One thing is certain: Saint George has some great riding. I don’t think you can put in a trail that isn’t fun and moderately techy. I’m sort of jealous that Tucson doesn’t have the same kind of terrain. STG is probably more fun overall, for short rides. But it could just be the appeal of ‘new’ or far away riding.

The last ride, on new Barrell Roll Trail, was a cold one. 30 degs and 10 mph winds. My dad got a flat and my hands went numb helping him change it. I was glad to be heading back to the sunny skies of Tucson. It was great to spend some more time with my family.

I always feel privledged to make a road trip like this. Above is the ‘loop’ I did in the car. Up the east side and down the (lower elevation) west side. Good tunes were flowing in the auto-mo-bile, along with deep thoughts. Future generations may not have the luxury of hopping in the personal auto and flying 500 miles away. I’m still struck by how amazing and effortless it is. I never had an appreciation for crossing terrain and long distances until I set out on some very long bike trips. To see a mountain range and cross it minutes later, speeding along at 75, is just nuts. Maybe people will be driving around like we are now for longer than I think. But maybe not.

Great trip.