AZ: Too Much Of a Good Thing

So the Phoenix area got a lot of rain this weekend. How much? How about over 2&#8221; in two days? Naturally we decided to ride during the hardest rain of day two. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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It was awesome. Since our typical riding conditions are sunny and dry, we never pass up a chance to ride in different conditions.<o></o>
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About ¼ mile down this road is where we cross the usually dry river to get to the trails. Okay&#8230; Time for plan B.<o></o>
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Plan B: Ride up a different wash to get some trails on the &#8220;Peaks&#8221;.<o></o>
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Hmm&#8230; Time for Plan C and find a Jeep road that will bring us to a trail.<o></o>
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Success! Here we are on the first climb of some spectacular single track.<o></o>
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EVERYTHING is flowing. <o></o>
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For reference, this is what this section usually looks like. Nothing more than a splash to get the tires wet to make climbing up the other side a little more difficult.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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And this is what it looked like yesterday.<o></o>
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“You need help with that?”<o></o>
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Normally just a trickle of green water.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Here we search for a place to cross. This is the shallowest portion we find.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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Here is a short video to help illustrate what we were dealing with. VIDEO<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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We decide to turn around.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>
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That’s a lot of orange…<o></o>
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The ground is too soft & the trail is too narrow for a side stand.<o></o>
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Although the ride was both short & filled with adversity we all still had a great time. Can’t wait for next weekend...<o></o>
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Looks like a good day, actually makes me miss Arizona.

Was that Sycamore?

Edit: I just read your rain chart

Awesome!!! Thanks so much for posting these!!! I always feel bad for not taking photos when I get to do rides like these. I know the word epic gets over used, but I think that does justice for how that river was flowing. Nice editing on the video.

I was the one trying to keep my balance in the video. That was a VERY small creek that almost never flows. Like Dave said, usually its just enough to get your tires wet and make climbing the rocks on the other side a bit more difficult.

Wow, that area looks much WETTER than our ride in the WT mtns west of PHX. The sandy soil absorbed everything so quick, bikes stayed clean and the washes were not running (Sunday).

Andy Z, did you find out what happened to your motor on the 09?

I don't feel so bad about NOT riding yesterday now. That's a LOT of water.

It was the 10, and NO.

Im riding the 09 450 now.

After our ride, I wanted to see what the river looked like, and I almost swamped the bike coming back. In this video, at the spot where they splash across the stream, the water was almost seat height, and returning I was going against the flow and it stopped the bike DEAD! http://vimeo.com/21325422#t=119

+1

Moss will be growing next

Great stuff. Good thing the temps were kinda mild yesterday as you guys were probably soaked!

Awesome RR! We were soooo close to riding out there Sun, but wuss'ed out. Thanks for showing us what we missed.

Great video.

Too much of a good thing was a good title! Non-zonies may not realize what a big deal that much water is to us desert rats!
Well done, thanks.

great video work!

Awesome stuff!!! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the post. Nice to see folks able to ride this time of year.
This is what our water looks like these days