The area around the IMBA "epic" ride is all open to motorized use, and there are thousands of acres to explore. You need to say on the gravel roads (no singletrack for motos, just MTB), but there are a few places to test yourself. I loaded the bike into the truck for this trip, as the distance to the staging area is about 50km and there are no gas stations nearby. Had to save all that gas for the trails.
Loading ramps at the staging area.
Very nice
I knew of the existence of these loading ramps before going, so didn't need to bring my aluminum one. Loading/unloading the bike is super simple, just back up to the ramp appropriate for the height of your vehicle.
Luxury
Let's ride. There is a helpful map at the staging area - same map located at two other places in the area.
Can't beat a good map
I map out a route and head off. The start is through a loose, sandy wash. It's no match for the XR though. After a couple of turns, I head up a steep road and reach a viewpoint.
Rolling hills looking East.
Great for moto, maybe not so great for mountain biking.
I backtrack a few hundred meters to a road going West and up what looks like a bigger mountain. Steep & chunky road, but not very technical. In about 3km I reach a nice scenic saddle.
Looking West.
A plume of smoke from a moving vehicle breaks up the barren landscape.
One road switchbacks West down the far side of the saddle. Another (much rougher) road to my left ascends yet again. I work my way up the road with the back wheel kicking all the way. It's steep and loose. Wouldn't have it any other way. The road dead-ends in a couple of kms at a clearing. The mountain continues up a couple hundred feed or so, but climbing shoes and a rope are necessary to reach the summit. I scramble up a to a narrow saddle to snap a pic.
Previous saddle in the background left centre
Collection of shells at the clearing.
There were dozens.
I retrace my steps and head South. The road here is good, no problem for a bike. I then miss my turn and end up on the main highway. No big deal. I zip along the pavement for a few kms, then duck back in with no harm done. Another 10k of gravel and I arrive at the trail to one of my destinations for the day -
Kentucky Camp. From here it's non-motorized access only. The KC site is only a 1/4 mile walk though.
The camp was built in 1904 as the headquarters of the Santa Rita Water & Mining company. Four of the original buildings remain standing today. One of these is open to the public, one is a B&
B (I'll explain this one later), one is used for storage closed, and the final building is closed to everyone due to unstable flooring. It may eventually be repaired and open to the public. All buildings are
adobe construction.
Remnants of one of the original buildings
Inside the main headquarters building.
The interior has been restored.
Looks like a bordering house?
It was.
An old sluice box for panning gold
Outside view of the main building
The B&B
...and why the second 'B' above is crossed out
Remainder of an old truck
vintage mining equipment
The closed building
I eat lunch, then head back to the bike. Still plenty of time left in the day, and at least 2/3 of a tank of gas. I rip down some roads I haven't been on yet and actually find some techy 4x4 bits. Then out of nowhere, the bike loses power. The engine is still running though, so I have gas. Twist the throttle a few times and nothing happens. I shut off the engine and contemplate how I'm going to get out of this one.
Can you tell what went wrong?
Hint: my red-gloved finger is holding up a piece of it.
Broken throttle cable. I don't carry a spare, so this was a concern. What a break (no pun intended) that this didn't happen a day earlier. At least it was only 10km back to the truck. I had time to walk back if absolutely necessary.
Fired up the engine again and began to idle back to the truck. I was able to work the carburetor with a wrench, but it would slip off when I hit the slightest bump. Better not be any big hills...
Spoke too soon
May not look impressive, but there was no way I was getting up this without some throttle. Even upping the idle speed to the max wasn't going to work - I know, I tried. The road was rocky as well, loads of bumps.
After two failed attempts, I was determined to make it on the third. I held the wrench firm on the carb, and bulldogged my way up the slope. It was a battle every second to keep the wrench in place with one hand, and steer with the other. In the end, I triumphed. There was one more hill to overcome on the return, but not nearly as steep or bumpy as above. I was able to ascend it with the same technique. The remainder was at high idle as I limped home to the truck.
Good thing I was going back to civilization soon. No more moto until I get this fixed.
On the way back to the campsite, I stop for to check my email, and order a new throttle cable into Phoenix. I needed to be there in five days, so that would work out fine. I couldn't find one in Tucson, or I'd have picked it up on the way through.
What else am I going to break on this trip? Stay tuned. It gets worse.
