April 25, Sedona - Highline Trail

We couldn't skip Highline Trail, even though Francine is still sick, coughing and hacking constantly.  So, again she loaded up on Afrin, Sudafed, Dayquil and Cough Syrup.

We didn't want to drive over to Oak Creek Village to start, so we opted to start at Red Rock Crossing.  Kevin rode down Herkenham Trail to Old Post Trail, while Francine drove down the mini-van to the bottom of the canyon to the Crescent Moon Picnic Site Park, paid our obligatory $10 to park and made our way across Oak Creek at Red Rock Crossing.  Water was a little high, and we didn't want to get our socks and shoes wet at the start of the ride, so we walked across barefoot, carrying our bikes.

Instead of turning left and riding on Baldwin and Templeton trails to the Highline trail turnoff, we went right and rode towards Oak Creek Village on the Verde Valley School Road (pavement).  Started Slim Shady Trail at the Red Agave, where we stayed on our first trip to Sedona in 2010.  The place is super cute and looks like they have been doing some sprucing up.  We would probably try to stay there if we are unable to get our sweet condos thru RCI Exchange from Pat and Larry.

Climbed Slim Shady to Highline intersection where we went left.  Reached the top in about 3 miles, and started a super fun descent swooping and rolling over the red rock.  Once we hit the notch, which is the start of the double black rating on the trail, we started walking down.  Once thru the super steep stuff (painful loss of elevation), we were out at the Baldwin Trail.  Went left for that loop and back to the Red Rock Crossing, where we kept shoes on and waded across, to our start.

12.5 miles for Francine.  15.5 miles for Kevin.

Francine heading up Highline Trail

Super fun downhill section on tons of Slickrock

This would be the DoubleDiamond section. 
Lose a lot of elevation hiking down.  

Short-cutting across Oak Creek

April 24, Sedona Teacup Trail, Soldiers Pass Trail, Grand Central Trail

Kevin on Teacup Trail

Francine is still hacking and coughing all night, but, amazingly,  she again rallied for a ride today.  This was another short ride but super fun, and beautiful area.  One of the locals mentioned Teacup trail as a favorite, so we put it on our list.

Parked at the Teacup parking lot, and climbed Teacup trail to Jordan.  A bit of hiking in the beginning, but lots of smooth sections and a nice swoopy finish down to Soldier's Pass road.  We added another fun section of trail by heading out Soldier's Pass Rd. then coming back on Soldier's Pass trail.  We saw more hikers on our fun descent on the Soldier's Pass trail, but they were all super friendly.  Checked out the 7 pools.  Currently more like 5 puddles.  It has been pretty dry.

Continued out on Jordan Trail, retracing our steps from a previous day to Ant Trail.  Kevin climbed up and over Ant Hill, and Francine continued around Ant Hill on Ant Trail to the second intersection with Grand Central.  We descended Grand Central to Crusty trail and climbed back to the Adobe jack trailhead parking area.  The descent was good, but not as fun as Javelina, which we rode down last time.   At the Adobe Jack trailhead, Francine recuperated in the shade and Kevin rode streets back to our starting point.  Another great loop!

Kev on Teacup

Francine on Teacup

Francine at the end of Soldiers Pass Trail

Soldiers Pass Trail - at the 7 Pools

Francine on Grand Central Trail

Sedona, April 23, Oak, Mescal, Aerie, Dawa, OK trails

Francine on Mescal

 Today, we finally did our favorite Dry Creek loop.  We really wanted to get Tom and Scott out on this ride, but a week is not nearly enough time for all the trails Sedona has to offer.  We decided to skip Chuck Wagon trail, originally made by mountain bikers, now overcrowded with hikers.

We drove down Dry Creek Rd. turned left and immediately looked to park.  This seemed like a good low point on which to loop back.

Started on Oak trail, a bypass to get bikers off the road.  Climbed up Mescal trail and rode as it contoured Mescal Mountain.  At the end of Mescal we went left on Long Pass Trail to start on Aerie Trail.  Aerie was super smooth and fun, with banked corners up and out of the washes.  Once we started the climb up Doe Mountain, the rocks and technical aspect came back.  Rode that up and around Doe Mountain to the intersection of Cockscomb Trail and Western Civilation Trail.  Descended on Cockscomb Trail to Rupp trail.  Here Francine wanted to explore more non-system trails (not official trails on any maps).  North of Rupp trail, is a maze of fairly obvious trails the locals are riding.  We finally made our way to Dawa Trail.  Went Right and descended to AZ Cypress Trial (real sandy).  Rode by Anaconda trail (which we originally planned to ride up and over Garnet Hill on Anaconda), but decided we were heading to the mini-van.  Went left onto AZ Cypress Trail.  Took a left and climbed a little on OK trail.

Intersected with Dawa Trail again (sandy) and rode out to the paved road.  Went right for a little bit and ran into the mini-van.

11.85 miles.

Francine on Mescal Trail

Kev on Aerie Trail

Francine on the backside of Doe Mountain, on Aerie Trail

April 22, Sedona Girdner, non-system trails, Western Civilization

Cruising on Western Civilization trail

Pretty quiet around the condo.  We had a great time with the Davies and Sumners.   It's just Francine and I until friday.   Francine still hacking but we got out for a eleven mile ride from the condo.  1400 feet elevation gain/loss.  Getting warmer this week, but still not too hot.

Cruising on non-system trails south of Rupp Trail

Final climb home on Girdner

Started at the Cultural Center, about 1 minute ride from the condo, and rode out Girdner and turned left to descent on Western Frontier, taking a right to start climbing on Western Civilization.  Here we rode local, non-system trails, as indicated in yellow on the map, for a couple miles.  Rode those trails to the intersection with Rupp Trail.  Went left, and left onto Cockscomb.  And left again at an unmarked intersection onto Western Civilization trail for a couple miles, to the intersection with Western Frontier.  Western Civilization is an all-out cruise downhill swooping in and out of  the rises.  At Western Frontier, we retraced our steps on the stick portion of the lollipop loop.  11 miles.

April 20, Sedona, Az. Day 6

Afrin, Sudafed, Dayquil, Nyquil, Claritin, and Robitussin.  Francine and I are still fighting upper respiratory infections.  The dry air and dust blowing probably does not help our irritated throats.   We have our vicks humidifier running 24/7 in our room.  We are popping all the medications above and still sniffling and coughing.  However, we are still riding.  Each day we get out we are amazed at how good the trails are in Sedona.  The views are amazing, the trails are narrow, they vary from buttery smooth to challenging chunky rocks and ledges, cactus lean in and over the trail.   We typically have only bumped into a couple of other trail users.  By not riding the big name trails, we find ourselves alone in the national forest.   You could do incredibly long rides by linking together trails that really go everywhere.   Being in a slightly weakened state due to our colds and our less serious riding friends we have kept most of our rides in the 6 - 10 mile range.   That's some very high quality varied trail riding.  Today was another awesome ride.

Starting from Sedona Summit Condo, Skywalker, Old Post, (locals trail thru the wash), Old Post, Ridge Trail, Secret Slickrock, Ridge Trail.  Then pavement to car located at bottom of ride.  Around 7 miles.

Chillin' out in our condo backyard

April 19, Day 5 Sedona Adobe Jack and Javelina Trails

Francine on Ant Hill loop trail

We have Pat and Larry again, to thank for our access to our stay here at The Sedona Summit, thru their RCI Timeshare.  We booked a 2 bedroom for 2 weeks and a 1 bedroom for the first week, as we have Scott/Diane and Tom/Lori joining us.  Luckily, the resort was able to place our units right next to each other, which has been super convenient and fun.  Francine and Kevin are sick, so we were put into the 1 bedroom, and Scott/Di and Tom/Lori shared the 2 bedroom, which was actually a 1 bedroom and a studio lock off, so we all had separate spaces.

Francine has been sick the whole time, so Diane really stepped up, and has been prepping all our dinners.  Poor Di also got stuck with dishwasher duty all week as well, since we have been eating dinners in their unit.  Luckily, she has been a super trooper about it, and at least never needs to clean up the kitchen after dinner.

Tom and Lori left this morning bright and early to make their 3 day trek back to Seattle, as she has to test 4.5 year olds for early entry to Kindergarten for the school district.  She said of the hundred or so that they test, only 4-5 make it for early entry to Kindergarten.

We told Scott and Di they should be on their own today, so they drove up to Flagstaff, to find easy, green circle trails for Di.  The local bike shop recommended a route on the Mesa, unfortunately, it was super windy.  But, they got a short ride in and had fun.

Kevin told Francine to take a Sudafed, in addition to the dayquil and cough syrup already consumed, and get out for a short ride.  We parked at the Adobe Jack trailhead and climbed Adobe Jack to Jordan trail where we went left to view the sinkhole.

Adobe Jack trail

Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole

Then we headed east on Jordan trail to right onto Ant Hill and rode that .8mile loop, which was scenic and fun.  After re-joining Jordan continued right/east until Javelina trail.  Descended that fun, smooth curvy trail with a couple technical sections thrown in to give the Black Diamond rating.  At the bottom, we climbed Crusty to Coyote to Adobe Jack.  Here we went left onto Adobe Jack, and made our way to the car.  Super fun ride.  7.2 miles.

Kevin on Jordan Trail

Kev on Jordan Trail

Francine descending Javelina Trail

April 18, Day 4 Sedona

It was girl's ride day.   Lori was itching to check out the Bell Rock Pathway area.   Started in Oak Creek and headed North on the Pathway.   The boys kept it interesting by hitting parallel trails, Bell Rock Singletrack Bypass, and Phone.  Left Lori and Diane at Llama Bypass and did a quick lap up Llama bypass to Lama to descend on Little Horse.  While the girls headed home on the pathway we hit HT to the other side of the road and hit a couple classic trails like Easy Breezy and Slim Shady.   Coffee at Bike and Bean.

Lori on Bellrock Pathway

Scott on Slim Shady

Tom

April 17, Day 3

Tom keeping the rubber side down on Scorpion trail.

Lori and Tom were first out the door to do a hike on Chuckwagon to Devils Bridge.  Even for a Monday, they said the trail was quite crowded.  Tom got home just in time to get his bike gear ready for some shuttle laps with Scott and Kevin.

Slack shuttle day.  Francine was still reeling from the cold I gave her, but volunteered to be shuttle driver.  Dropped two laps by the high school with Scott and Tom.   Rode Scorpion first lap then Skywalker to Old Post trail.    For dinner, we gave Diane the night off and went to The Hudson based on most yelp reviews. 
Nice day

Tom and Scott

Group photo as we walk through Tlaquepaque,
before heading to the Hudson for dinner.  Missing Francine
who stayed at home to cough alone.

April 16, Sedona Day 2

Took Scott and Diane to the Bell Park pathway for some easy riding.  Ramped up the difficulty to blue square on the Llama trail.  Nice easy ride after yesterday.

Francine rolls down the trail

Checking out the alternate lines

Scott

Diane

Scott

Francine

Kev rolling steep rocks

Scott on the steep rocks

The views aren't too bad.  Diane, Francine & Scott.