As mentioned in my last blog post, I'm trying to prep for a hopefully long trip on the AZT in a few weeks. So day rides getting the mind and body ready for long efforts have been on the agenda. I will say, once you have done a handful of AES style rides or actually attempted an ultra, I don't know if you can really "lose" it. There are always various levels of fitness and the speed (or lack thereof) that come with that... but once you have pushed those physical, and more importantly... MENTAL) I think that sticks around for a really long time.
My goal for these long rides has been to really get used to keeping a slow and steady effort. Sometimes annoyingly slow. I know I am going to need to put out a long, steady stream of effort on the AZT, and I've really learned that I can do a lot more and feel so much better after many hours if I dial things back. I just can't afford to burn through matches in the first day or three. It won't end well.
It's been really enlightening listening to some podcasts or reading some ride reports of some amazing single speeders and how basically being forced to recover when on the flat terrain and maybe more so on the tough climbs by HABing keeps them fresher and riding stronger for longer. I've been trying to incorporate those thoughts and ideas into my riding. I guess we will see how that turns out.
On to the ride.
Nina and I headed up from Phoenix the night before - didn't want to deal with driving up in the AM. We both wanted early starts - she was going to get a long hike up Weatherford while I rode around Humphreys. She was going to finish way earlier than me so was going to head back into town and hang out. Anyway, we got up there late enough that we didn't really want to try to find a spot in a campground. We checked out the parking area at the Schultz Y and saw a couple other vehicles there and no signs stating no overnight parking. I locked my bike up to a tree and we just crashed out in her vehicle.
I slept OK and my new air mattress that I wanted to test out was very comfortable, but a bit noisy. No biggie. I was definitely brisk outside but we both got prepped for the day. The AZT was closed right here, which was fine. I really needed a steady climb to get warmed up. I would even bypass the AZT where it was open shortly after - I wanted the training of the road climb.
I was legit cold at the start and the temperature on my wahoo said 32 degrees. It felt like it. I should have been wearing something a bit warmer, but at the same time I knew the climb plus the exposure to the sun once I was on Waterline was right around the corner.
As mentioned before, I was trying to keep the effort fairly low and measured from both an RPE and HR standpoint. It was going to be a long-ish day. As I was climbing up the last bit after Schultz tank I heard helicopters flying around Elden and I got worried. I didn't see any smoke, but from what I could see it looked like the helis were carrying buckets underneath them. I wondered if there was a fire in the area and they were responding. Turns out they were just mulching the steep sloped of the museum fire scar in an effort to prevent flooding.
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| A little snack break at the gate that prevents vehicles from getting past. |
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| In the shade, but getting ready to break into the sun. Views to the east already getting bigger. |
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| Oh hi. |
The climb up waterline is very tame and very steady. It was perfect for what I was looking for. Views for days and I was finally feeling comfortable with the temps. Some gusts of wind came occasionally, but nothing crazy.
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| Big views due to the carnage of the Schultz fire years ago. I wonder what this looked like prior to that? |
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| Really neat rock fins jutting out of the mountainside. These seemed so random compared to the surrounding area. |
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| Cool tunnel. |
As I continued to make my way north, the vegetation increased quite a bit. Smaller trees and shrubs starting to make their presence seen among the trees burned in the past. Oh and some spectacular fall colors starting to display!
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| Fall colors! |
Eventually, the ride takes you through some really dense and "old" feeling forest. It feels like a different area altogether, and I found myself shouting out every so often because it feels like bears might like it in there. Side note: Nina saw a bear on Weatherford - about 20 - 30 yards from it. They both scared each other pretty good. Haha.
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| This place feels like it has stories to tell. |
The climb to the top was almost complete. Such a beautiful area! Now for the descent down to Lockett Meadow.
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| Just a blast. Plenty of traffic this morning, and I'm not a speedster anyway. Taking it all in... |
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| Junction at waterline road. |
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| Breathtaking! |
The ride down was a blast, it was good chatting with hikers coming up. I helped someone find their lost dog - didn't take long. It is a trip riding on a trail with roots. That's a rarity here in AZ and I had a couple of interesting moments on the way down navigating them.
I got to the bottom and had a snack. I was wanting to do a few more miles than the typical ATM route, so I just decided that I was going to go to the Sunset Crater Volcano visitor center. There is a theoretical 15 dollar fee to enter via bike, but I was hoping to that the person at the entry gate would let me get past for free to fill up at the water fountain that was like 100 yards away.
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| But first... a brake roasting teeth rattling descent from lockett meadow. Epic views to the north though. |
The kind gentleman at the gate let me by for free when I told him I just wanted water and I'd be heading right back out. Your mileage may vary...
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| Cool vantage point of the Inner Basin |
After a refill of water and a quick break, it was time to get back to the route. The blazing fast pavement that delivered me to the visitor center made me pay the price of admission on the way out. Not terrible, but a decent grind to get back to HWY 89 and back on route.
Then the bullshit starts. And that's FR 418. It lulls you in with a descent at the start, but then it's just grind after grind until you finally have a final fast descent down to the junction of the AZT. It's a high price to pay connecting waterline and the AZT on the west side of Humphreys... wish there was a better way, but with wilderness rules dictating where bikes can be, this is the only option.
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| There are some views though. |
The payoff is well worth it. The AZT singletrack that flanks the west side of Humphreys is divine. It's a bit of work heading this direction, with some decent climbing, but you almost forget at times due to the beauty.
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| Yes please. |
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| There was a bit of blowdown still remaining. I think maybe 5-6 trees over the entire stretch. |
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| Rad! |
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| After the aspens and ferns, you get into pines again... |
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| Only 189 to Utah, no big deal right? |
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| Snack break |
I stopped taking pictures after this. I was still feeling great. Nutrition plan was working and no issues whatsoever. The trail mostly trends downhill for the final bit, and it gets a little bit rocky but I was way better at navigating it than I was last time I was here. Maybe I'm a better rider, or there has been trail work. Or both. Who knows.
I finally wrapped up at the Schultz Y where I had started. I got in touch with Nina who was still in town. I told her I was done and that I was just going to start climbing up the pass again and I said to just stop at the next available spot when she passed me. She texted back and said OK I'll pick you up at the Schultz Pass lot. Haha. OK then. Time for some good extra credit climbing.
I made really good time up the road actually, and I felt strong and ready to ride. But at the same time, I was ready for some real food so I was also happy to call it a day.
