Just a quick post to announce that I’m back on the road, making my way west once more…
I’ve stopped in Flagstaff, home to some of my favourite trails in the States, to meet up with ‘Minimalist Master‘ Gary Blakley and tackle a ride that’s long been on my hit list…
The Coconino Loop is a 250 mile bikepacking journey linking Flagstaff with Sedona, Cottonwood and Williams, via the mighty wall of Mingus Mountain. With over 20 000 feet of climbing, the terrain is unrelenting as it is varied: snowy mountains, shaded pondera forest, baking desert, dusty red rock… the lot. Almost half of the ride follows singletrack trails; the rest traces roughly hewn jeep tracks and gravel county roads. Of course, no bikepacking adventure worth its salt is complete without a few gruelling hike ‘n bikes thrown in too. Curses and all.
I’m resting my sore butt and sifting through pics for a full report soon. Here’s a few for starters…
Headin’ west on the South West Chief.
Travel Light. Have more fun…
The Arizona Trail. Unending miles of Great Stuff.
Just tarps or sleeping out under the stars on this trip.
Good to be shiver-free camping again…
Overlooking red rock Sedona at Schnebly Hill. Perfect for feet dangling.
Broken Arrow trail. Keeps you on your toes.
The desert blooms.
You say. We follow.
San Francisco Peak. Arizona…
Sweet Flagstaffian singletrack…
More pics and words here…
Ahhh… such a contrast to HOT humid Chiang Mai. Beautiful photos with the usual inspiring words… THANKS Cass… keep em coming… X
When did you come up with the great name? At the top of the towers hike-a-bike I was thinking of something maybe not so nice.
Thanks for your part in the great adventure!!!
met you in sacto…my cousin matt rode with you…wishicoulda…just got off 21 days of grand canyon river and stopped in flagg. just missed you. damn
Too bad, would have been great to see you Jane. There’s some great trails round here!
Oh how I miss the Coconino….
Beautiful as always, Cass!
Scott
That looks so like a very pretty area!
So much variety in Arizona. More pics soon (ish)…
Yes, yes yes. Love the pictures.
Ohh back in Flagstaff! Great pictures. I’m quite jealous! I miss Flag so much…I like the pictures of Sedona too. I biked a small part of the Broken Arrow trail years ago. I got caught in rain and hail and came back home with myself and a bike covered in mud. Ah, memories. 🙂
yeah, back in your stomping ground! writing this from macy’s (-;
great weather, warm, dry, sunny… jealous?
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