May 2025 Arizona and Colorado Wanderings

[ttora4runner]

Spent the better part of April and May getting ready for my first and probably last mountain bike race - The Gunnison Growler.

At the beginning of May I headed up to Dead Horse State Park just north of Phoenix to ride a trail system I've been wanting to ride for awhile and figured with the upcoming race it be a good opportunity to. Had the trail to myself this morning.



















Prior to race at the end of the I spent whatever time I could biking additional trails that I could and get some training in which wasn't lot given my work schedule and the available of trails I had around me in Surprise, Az.

I've been wanting to race the Gunnison Growler the past couple of years but I normally took that time to spend with my family in Arizona since I've been living in Colorado but with living in Arizona at the time I was able to work the race in with my work schedule and a jobsite visit (construction management) and hit up the race on my way back to Arizona. I was able to talk one of Project Managers I work with into racing as well so I at least had someone to share the pain with. Haha.

Heading back to Colorado Springs


Gunnison Growler - 32 miles of fun or pain depending how you look at it.

Start of the race.


On the trail.


At the end of the race.


Back in town where the race started.


Somewhere along the trail the seal on my front fork decided it had, had enough and gave up. I think I was the only one riding a hard trail in the group and with the least amount of gears.


At the end of the day I finished towards the end of my class finishing the 32 miles in 4 hours and 53 minutes. That's the quickest I've done that sort of mileage and I figured I would've been probably been about 20-25 minutes quicker had I not stop to rest or do a hike a bike towards the end of the trail since my legs where spent (I'm not surprised since I've ridden the trail a few times in the past and that last section is the most technical and is uphill). Those at the top of the class finished about 2 hours sooner and looking at the time gap between the top racers I just thought the times where crazy and those riders where right on top of each other. Having a mountain bike race under my belt now while it was fun and a bit or rush I don't think I'll do another race anytime soon. I much prefer taking my time and enjoying my surroundings than be pushed though a trail. At some point I may try another race but for now I'm good.

 

[ttora4runner]

With my work visit and the Growler completed it was time to head back to Arizona but not before meeting up with my folks and brother to check out Canyon de Chelly in NE Arizona.

Along the way back I stopped at the rail museum in Ridgeway, Colorado. I've been in the area a number of times over the years but never took the opportunity to check it out.





























Having been in Arizona for the past year these views put a smile on my face.

 

[ttora4runner]

Canyon de Chelly - highlights (I take way too many photos). Been on my list of places to visit for quite sometime so coming back from the race made for the ideal situation to visit and to spend time with a part of my family. We opted to do the rim drive and not take the tour down in the bottom of the canyon, which still offers some great viewis.

















Ruins in the alcoves - always amazing where they built at.










My final trip in May was to Mt Peely just NE of the Phoenix area, I opted for a later afternoon/evening hike once the temperatures started to cool down some - only one on the trail during this time.

 

[ttora4runner]

The road back.










Radio towers off the in distance - a few months prior I had biked up to the towers to get some training in for the race. The ride uphill stunk since but the ride down the FS road was great - outside of not having the right gloves (normal gloves had gotten wet) and picking up a d-ring shackle that fell off someones vehicle at some point (in good condition so I just kept it).


On the trail and looking at the road to the trail head.








The trail to summit to Mt Peely doesn't get alot of visitors it seems so the trail is slightly over grown and you have to keep an eye out for the rock cairns to find your way to the summit. I wouldn't want to try and find the trail in dark.









The road back - you can just see the top of my truck at the bottom of the photo.


At the end of the day, it was a great hike and about 20 degrees cooler than it was in Phoenix.

On to the next adventure.