Ride Report Sedona: Chuck Wagon - Mescal - Aerie - Cockscomb

What do you do hen you have a week off for Thanksgiving? Lay around on the couch? Ride the same boring dusty OC fire roads? Or . . .

Annual road trip to Sedona!!!!!

First day, took some Sedona n00bs on one of my favorite trails in the area. The only thing better then Sedona? Sedona for the first time. And what better way to lose your Sedona virginity than Mescal - Aerie?


Finishing up the chunk on Chuck Wagon takes a little getting use to if you have only be riding the Fully Loop and OC Parks trails.




How is that climbing at 4,000 feet? Air is a little thin and those rocks . . . Nothing like a little Sedona chunk to kick your butt.


The start of Mescal. Built for mountain bikers, by mountain bikers. Two options . . . Extreme or Difficult. Needed a third option, "HAB Crew."


Amber (avmonter) trying not to look over the side.




Look at those smiles. Sedona some how makes them bigger.






Taking a bit of a break from the climbing on Aerie. Look at that view. Is this a MTB ride of MTB magazine cover shoot?






Panorama view of each side of the Aerie climb.











Not a bad in the saddle. Started with a little fueling at the Cofee Pot and finished with some fueling at the new Shallot's Cafe. Good times riding Sedona with peeps this time instead of solo. And great to see noobs get the stoke for real MTBing.

 

Awesome pics! I was supposed to be in Sedona, but it was decided that we really didn't have the money for a week in Sedona. Bummer!

 

man that looks fun, i would have taken the kids there if we had more time off school... thanks for posting

 

Great Images, looks to be tons of fun..

 

Awesome pics, looks like an amazing time!

 

Great photos and RR. I've only been there before I started riding. Someday.....

 

Absolutely beautiful!!!!!!!!

Can't imagine the expressions on your guest's faces (bigger and better view around every corner). The fact they were riding new dirt must have made their memories all the more special. Well done!



I am officially...... Jealous!

 

The technical aspect made Latina Loca pucker a bit. In her best Wizard of Oz impersonation, "We aren't on the Fully Loop anymore."

 

As always great ride report, good to see all had a wonderful time. One of these days I too would like to get out there.

 

Difficult or Extreme...

A few weekends ago, I made the drive to Phoenix for the Cards Eagles game. That put me too close to Sedona to not take my bike. Saturday I rode both Mescal Mountain trail segments; each was extremely difficult! This loop linking Aerie, Chuckwagon and Mescal Trails may be my Sedona fav with a little bit of all the Sedona flavors. The Mescal Trail segment highlighted in blue on the map is where the pic below and the pics on this link were taken. Sunday morning before the game, I rode a southern section of the BCT (Black Canyon Trail) just north of Phoenix from the Emery Hendereson Trailhead. Fun trail with lots of incredible desert scenery and frequent bone-chattering rock gardens. Due to recent rains, the AZ desert was as green as I've ever seen this late in the year. Check out the Sunday pics here.