Auby's Blog: #AZT with a little Ballin

Starting somewhere close to Superior, Arizona the Picket Post Trail Head marks the end or beginning of the Arizona Trail section known as Alamo Canyon http://www.aztrail.org/passages/pass_17.html.  I have had the Arizona Trail on my scope of interest for along time now.  Mountain biking/bikepacking on the AZ trail intrigues me; and I find my self compelled(not by God) to validate this venture.  I went out on a day trip on the bike hitting the Alamo Canyon section to test the waters.  I had read earlier about overgrowth on the trail with cholla and cat claw.  Going south on this section provides about 1400 feet in elevation gain within the first 10 miles.  The trail was very technical in the beginning as it shares usage with the Picket Post Mountain summit trail.  To my surprise the Aloma Canyon section was well maintained, and seemed to flow better after about a couple of miles.  The picture above was taken at about 3000 feet and gives good perspective of Picket Post Mountain which at its summit is 4,300 feet.  The fist 5 miles kicked me in the pants, and I just didn't feel like getting to far into this beast.  Which brings me to another point as I have been training for the past four months at the gym and on the bike.  Being in shape provides me the opportunity to hit the basketball court from time to time.  I have been involved with a minor C-league basketball operation often referred to as Sunday Hoops.  Amazingly this league has been in operation for 17 years.  This league is comprised of "older" once athletic Al Bundees.  Once in a great while when the stars are lined up and the exercise regimen has been adhered to; some playas actually perform well.