I finally found a few hours to get out and explore. My favorite thing about riding. I have the west side of packsaddle road in the Goldfields mapped out. Now it was time to ride east of Packsaddle and make the connection to Jacob’s Crosscut trail at the base of the Supes.
Chollaball and I rode from Lost Goldmine to the Shed a couple of weeks ago
to find the connection. I wanted to scout the trails east of Packsaddle
so I know what we are in for when we ride the East Mesa Epic. Hawes to
Peralta. From Packsaddle down to the 88 is beautiful fast horse trail.
Wide in spots, narrow in others. There is a real backcountry feel out
there. I was surprised to find a plethora of spurs, which will make for
another exploration ride.
It had been a while since I hit up the Goldfields trails. From the
looks of it, a pack of horses had just hoofed their way up Blueridge
and Orohai. The trail was trampled and loose but easy to follow. So
easy I missed my turn on Spider Bite, which shot invisibly off the
horse tracks. I had to backtrack my way and make the turn off my GPS.
Once on Spider Bite (named so, because I got bit by a spider on it last
year) the trail was reminiscent of my first rides in the Goldfields.
Adventurous, rough and primitive.
The horses lead me through to the First Waster road and I opted to
explore a track into Jacobs Crosscut instead of ride the dirt road to
the TH. It made for some great scenic riding. I met a couple along the
way that were tending to their chocolate lab with a gnarly chollaball
pinned to her paw. I got to play vet as I whipped out the Leatherman
and carefully removed the ball and the straggler spines.
Jacobs north of Siphon Draw is full of some good flow. It’s a fast ride (if there are not too many people on it, which may be very soon due to pending closure). You can’t beat the views of the Superstition mountains towering above.
The East Mesa Epic is going to happen soon. Time to piece together all the GPS and build the final route with minimal and extended mileage options. I’m hoping for fifty plus, but I’d like to make it at least 64. One mile further than my longest epic ride yet.
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