AZ: Too Much Of a Good Thing

[Vitamin_D]

So the Phoenix area got a lot of rain this weekend. How much? How about over 2” in two days? Naturally we decided to ride during the hardest rain of day two.



It was awesome. Since our typical riding conditions are sunny and dry, we never pass up a chance to ride in different conditions.

About ¼ mile down this road is where we cross the usually dry river to get to the trails. Okay… Time for plan B.



Plan B: Ride up a different wash to get some trails on the “Peaks”.


Hmm… Time for Plan C and find a Jeep road that will bring us to a trail.

Success! Here we are on the first climb of some spectacular single track.


EVERYTHING is flowing.

[Vitamin_D]

For reference, this is what this section usually looks like. Nothing more than a splash to get the tires wet to make climbing up the other side a little more difficult.


And this is what it looked like yesterday.





“You need help with that?”

[Vitamin_D]

Normally just a trickle of green water.

[Vitamin_D]

Here we search for a place to cross. This is the shallowest portion we find.

[Vitamin_D]

Here is a short video to help illustrate what we were dealing with. VIDEO

[Vitamin_D]

We decide to turn around.


That’s a lot of orange…


The ground is too soft & the trail is too narrow for a side stand.


Although the ride was both short & filled with adversity we all still had a great time. Can’t wait for next weekend...

[Mullet Bullet]

Looks like a good day, actually makes me miss Arizona.

[EsconDeasy]

Was that Sycamore?

Edit: I just read your rain chart

[ARZ]

Awesome!!! Thanks so much for posting these!!! I always feel bad for not taking photos when I get to do rides like these. I know the word epic gets over used, but I think that does justice for how that river was flowing. Nice editing on the video.

Originally Posted by EsconDeasy

Was that Sycamore?

Edit: I just read your rain chart

I was the one trying to keep my balance in the video. That was a VERY small creek that almost never flows. Like Dave said, usually its just enough to get your tires wet and make climbing the rocks on the other side a bit more difficult.

[fuggy]

Wow, that area looks much WETTER than our ride in the WT mtns west of PHX. The sandy soil absorbed everything so quick, bikes stayed clean and the washes were not running (Sunday).

Andy Z, did you find out what happened to your motor on the 09?

[strappyman]

I don't feel so bad about NOT riding yesterday now. That's a LOT of water.

[ARZ]

Originally Posted by fuggy

Wow, that area looks much WETTER than our ride in the WT mtns west of PHX. The sandy soil absorbed everything so quick, bikes stayed clean and the washes were not running (Sunday).

Andy Z, did you find out what happened to your motor on the 09?

It was the 10, and NO.

Im riding the 09 450 now.

After our ride, I wanted to see what the river looked like, and I almost swamped the bike coming back. In this video, at the spot where they splash across the stream, the water was almost seat height, and returning I was going against the flow and it stopped the bike DEAD! http://vimeo.com/21325422#t=119

[hilslamer]

Originally Posted by mullet bullet

looks like a good day, actually makes me miss arizona.

+1

[Graveler]

Moss will be growing next

[DurtKlod]

Great stuff. Good thing the temps were kinda mild yesterday as you guys were probably soaked!