OTHER Trip Report 04/21/2021

Report Type	Full
Peak(s)	AZT/Mojave desert
Date Posted	04/21/2021
Date Climbed	12/10/2020
Author	oldschool

Arizona Trail and Mojave adventure ride
My seasonal job ended again the last day of Nov 2020 and I had my plans laid out for my 3 months off. i'm always excited for my time off to explore, ride, hike, and have new experiences. I headed to AZ (Phoenix area) on Dec 8th I think it was and jumped right on the Arizona Trail (AZT). I did 300 miles in a go in Jan of 2018 and I was headed out to do another 300 miles. My plan was to head north to south this time, from Flagstaff to Picketpost TH just east of Mesa, AZ. Picketpost is where I left off in 2018 after hiking 300 miles from the Mexico border to Picketpost TH. My Dad drove me up to Flag and off I went. Good weather, chilly nights, but all good. After getting to the lower elevations off the Mogollon Rim the weather was fantastic. I got to the Sunflower TH and had to jump off trail due to heavy fire damage in the remaining sections. The Woodbury fire burned 123,000 acres in 2020 and caused terrible fouling of the springs and water sources. I came up about 75 miles short of my 300 mile goal. I'll go back next winter and kill that mileage off. After jumping off trail I loaded up my KLR650 dual sport adventure bike and headed for Harquahala Peak, Swanasea Mine by Parker, AZ, Camino del Diablo Rd by Ajo and Yuma, AZ, Oatman, AZ, Sheep Bridge, AZ, and many other desert riding destinations.I even took some time to go to Palm Springs. I returned to the Phx area for Xmas and had dinner with my folks. After Xmas I loaded up my KLX250S dirt bike onto my truck and headed for the Mojave Desert to ride the Mojave Road (Old Government Rd). What an amazing place to ride and explore! I rode the Mojave Rd twice, from east to west then back west to east. I covered 250 desert miles of deep sand and hard packed desert soils. Amazing riding. If in the area don't miss Goffs, CA. They have an outdoor museum that blew me away. Goffs is on the old Route 66. just north of Interstate 40. After the Mojave I rode the bike through the first 2 sections of the AZBDR (Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route) It is a dirt and sometimes pavement route through AZ for dual sport and adventure bikes, Colorado has one too...the COBDR. Such fun riding. Then I headed for Chiricahau mtn's and Chiricahua National Monument. The old town of Portal, AZ was beautiful and very small. After that I was off to the Dragoon mtn's, Cochise Stronghold, and more fantastic riding and camping. After these rides it was back to Phx to switch to my street bike and head out to the Tohono O'Odhom Nation and ride through that very desolate area. I ended that ride in Nogales and headed back to Phx again. Lots of miles hiking and riding.....my favorite combination of passions. I know these aren't 14er's or even 13er's but I do feel such a part of this online community that I continue to post my adventures from each winter. Mike Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Arizona Trail and Mojave adventure ride

My seasonal job ended again the last day of Nov 2020 and I had my plans laid out for my 3 months off. i'm always excited for my time off to explore, ride, hike, and have new experiences.

I headed to AZ (Phoenix area) on Dec 8th I think it was and jumped right on the Arizona Trail (AZT). I did 300 miles in a go in Jan of 2018 and I was headed out to do another 300 miles. My plan was to head north to south this time, from Flagstaff to Picketpost TH just east of Mesa, AZ. Picketpost is where I left off in 2018 after hiking 300 miles from the Mexico border to Picketpost TH. My Dad drove me up to Flag and off I went. Good weather, chilly nights, but all good. After getting to the lower elevations off the Mogollon Rim the weather was fantastic. I got to the Sunflower TH and had to jump off trail due to heavy fire damage in the remaining sections. The Woodbury fire burned 123,000 acres in 2020 and caused terrible fouling of the springs and water sources. I came up about 75 miles short of my 300 mile goal. I'll go back next winter and kill that mileage off.

After jumping off trail I loaded up my KLR650 dual sport adventure bike and headed for Harquahala Peak, Swanasea Mine by Parker, AZ, Camino del Diablo Rd by Ajo and Yuma, AZ, Oatman, AZ, Sheep Bridge, AZ, and many other desert riding destinations.I even took some time to go to Palm Springs. I returned to the Phx area for Xmas and had dinner with my folks. After Xmas I loaded up my KLX250S dirt bike onto my truck and headed for the Mojave Desert to ride the Mojave Road (Old Government Rd). What an amazing place to ride and explore! I rode the Mojave Rd twice, from east to west then back west to east. I covered 250 desert miles of deep sand and hard packed desert soils. Amazing riding. If in the area don't miss Goffs, CA. They have an outdoor museum that blew me away. Goffs is on the old Route 66. just north of Interstate 40.

After the Mojave I rode the bike through the first 2 sections of the AZBDR (Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route) It is a dirt and sometimes pavement route through AZ for dual sport and adventure bikes, Colorado has one too...the COBDR. Such fun riding. Then I headed for Chiricahau mtn's and Chiricahua National Monument. The old town of Portal, AZ was beautiful and very small. After that I was off to the Dragoon mtn's, Cochise Stronghold, and more fantastic riding and camping. After these rides it was back to Phx to switch to my street bike and head out to the Tohono O'Odhom Nation and ride through that very desolate area. I ended that ride in Nogales and headed back to Phx again.

Lots of miles hiking and riding.....my favorite combination of passions. I know these aren't 14er's or even 13er's but I do feel such a part of this online community that I continue to post my adventures from each winter.

Mike

Thumbnails for uploaded photos (click to open slideshow):

Comments or Questions

climbnowworklater	Awesome post! 4/21/2021 7:14pm I have a long history with Phoenix so I'm glad you posted this. Great photos. The dessert in spring is an amazing place. Although getting warm I'd suspect. Did you hike near mazatzal peak? I thought the AZT went below it but that could be where the fires happened?
oldschool	went right thru Mazatzal 4/21/2021 7:23pm Yeah..I hiked right below it. Guess I didn't post any pictures of it. I did this trip from Dec of 2020 to Feb of 2021. Temps in AZ are perfect in the winter.
climbnowworklater	Neat area. 4/21/2021 7:45pm I recall that mazatzal area is rough too. At least it was back in '99. Haha. I was born in Phoenix in '74. Explored all over that state. Guided the Grand Canyon. Rock climbed. Canyoneered. Kayaked. AZ has so much to offer. If you go back and want a few ideas, let me know. Glad to help.
Will_E	Cool pics 4/22/2021 6:51am Cool pics
TomPierce	Great report 4/22/2021 9:58am I love your desert reports, great stuff. Your off the beaten path reports are fun to read, and frankly are a nice diversion from the routine alpine reports we get here. Keep it up! -Tom
oldschool	Thx Tom 4/22/2021 12:27pm I've created a wonderful relationship with the desert. It's lush with life and adventure. My winters have been a time of true exploration. It's been natural drift from the rock to the mtn's to the desert..... Be well Tom and thx for reading. Mike

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