Monday 11/8
Okay, big bike ride today. Aravaipi Canyon is a permit only slick rock type hike. No trail, just follow the streambed thru the water. Little over twelve miles from trailhead to trailhead. But it is 13-14 miles up the canyon to the trailhead. I don’t have a permit so I’ll i need to play it by ear once there.
I cross the Aravapi river 5-6 times on my up the canyon. I don’t think the drive hub on Blaze is waterproof so i been lifting the back wheel up and walking across the deep ones. Thirteen miles of dirt canyon road is hard on the bum! Saw lots of javelina, Goulds turkeys, cocomonda and a few birds of prey.
Once i reached the trailhead i could see that the Aravaipi was out of the question but the road continued up Turkey Crossing. Rode another couple of miles up to a Cliff Dwelling. Nice! The ride home was long and bumpy. I was down to one bar for the last five miles. The question becomes’ is it better to go slower and use less power or faster and use more power. My bum was sore so fast and more power won out! This is a place i want to come back better prepared to do the canyon.
It was a long day. Almost 28 miles total dirt bike riding plus a bit of hiking. I’m tired. Tomorrow back to Riverview.