MC Techfest, day 3

Shuttle day!

We started with a quick “shuttle” up the Catalina Highway (we pedaled our bikes ~3000 feet up). We debated about going up to Green Mountain, but there were tiny patches of snow below 6000 ft. The north facing traverse on Greenie was unlikely to be much fun.

So we climbed ‘the scar’ on Bugs.

Ouch. I cleaned the scar, but only with a cheater breather beforehand.

The top of our shuttle ride. Mike hit record on the helmet cam, and it was time to head down. Rolling on the cam meant we kept it rolling on the trail. Not sure I’ve ever ridden Bugs / Prison so continuously. Twas fun for a different perspective.

We passed the (real) shuttle boys taking a breather at Molino Basin. On up over the saddle.

Quite a contrast from the steep-as-puke climbs on Bugs. Molino is mellow, though not completely rideable (for us anyway).

We blasted down the other side. I don’t ride this descent nearly enough (my usual access for Milagrosa is from the Redington side).

The stairs at the start of ‘grosa:

More continuous descending. I should have stopped more. Paint mixer, jack hammer, my weakening body wasn’t quite up to all the pounding. I was getting tired by the middle. Good thing I know all the lines by heart.

Ocotillo maze.

This is the last move on ‘triple trouble’ :

It’s a good one.

Thus ends three solid days of riding. Couldn’t have enjoyed it more, but a cold crept in the next morning, forcing me to bail on Day 4: Goat Camp. The rain bailed us out of Day 5: Oak Flat. Soon, soon.