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| Mtn Biking | 14.40 Miles |
770 AEG |
| | Mtn Biking | 14.40 Miles | 2 Hrs 49 Mns | | 5.11 mph |
| 770 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I have not done an away hike or bike either of the last two weeks. For … reasons. Worse yet, my already borderline eating habits have gotten worse, due to the lack of time at home. I feel like a pig. Though it’s been over a month since I hiked, today was a planned bike ride, so that’s what I did.
FR 237 looked like it would be mostly flat, with a couple of short, small climbs — excepting the final ½ mile, which I planned to hike to a knob that on sat view looked like it would have great Chevelon Canyon views.
After negotiating one-lane construction on AZ-260, my wife and I arrived at the Larson Ridge Trailhead just after 8:00 a.m. I started biking at 8:30 a.m. (It takes awhile for me to get ready.)
I was surprised there was a white-on-green mile marker "1", under the powerlines, on the east side of FR 237. As I had only been riding for ¾ mile, I knew he distance was measure from AZ-260, not the trailhead. I also spotted mile markers 2 and 3, but nothing beyond that. 
As I wanted uninterrupted footage for my biking video https://vimeo.com/726478641, I did not divert down any side roads, nor did I explore off trail.
There's some very good vehicle camping spots along FR 237, but not a lot of campers. (Not in mid-week, anyway.) Just two vehicles passed me on Larson Ridge. The only pedestrian was a lady with a leashed, but overly energetic, dog. 
About 6½ miles down Larson Ridge, on top of Hill 7398, I was not sure whether FR 237 continued straight or split left. I went left, but that seemed to be another camping spot, so turned around, then went straight, passing by some blocking boulders and a fallen tree. Just past where mile marker 7 should have been, trying to lift over a rock, I dabbed.
I was close to where I planned to drop my bike anyway, so I hid it behind some bushes, then continued on foot. Good thing too, as the descent was not only steep, but rocky, with several step-ups there's no way I could have negotiated up hill on a bike. I'd genuinely like to see a strong rider do it.
I made it from Larson Ridge Trailhead to the north end of FR 237 in about 45 minutes, total biking & walking. I spent 30 minutes exploring and enjoying the views of Chevelon Canyon. My return trip took two hours, because I took a lunch break and shot 134 photos along the way.
It's not an exciting trip -- especially if you are hiking or like flower hunting -- but it has a great payoff.  |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Palmer’s penstemon, aromatic false pennyroyal, red and yellow pea, yellow evening primrose, western yarrow, pineywoods geranium, showy goldeneye, spreading fleabane and, at final knob, Arizona thistle and scarlet penstemon. Nice patch of lupine on Hill 7433!
p.s. Spotted what looked like a mint species on an unreachable outcropping just off the OP. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
I noticed how well built the cabin/tent was.
!
