Hey all you Trail 100 riders...

What's your favorite section of the trail? Do you have any other "side" trails that you enjoy? Here are mine (in no particular order)...

1) Section of T100 just south of Shea (technical rocky stuff) and then the hills just north of the 51
2) Going down the Trail 220 loop as it drops down from the saddle east of the Dreamy Draw park (keep your butt back!)
3) Trail 100b loop that splits off the T100 on the east side of Cave Creek road. This loop winds on the eastern slope of 2 hills (whereas the T100 is on the west). If you ride this section going westbound, the drop into Cave Creek road is easily the funnest downhill section of the entire area.
4) All of Trail 1a
5) Unnumbered trail that splits off the T100 at the top of the saddle east of Dreamy Draw park and runs to the north of the T100. We call this the 'zipper'. It's a very fast, fun downhill section.


Thx...Doug

New faves include:

- 8/8a
- 220
- 1a then the drop in from it that heads almost due north to 32nd st up and over another hill
- Last mile of T100 heading E towards Tatum parking postage stamp.

Here's what I like...

* I always love doing the 1a loop.
* I love the upward singletrack on 1a that goes up and over the hill into secluded valleys.
* An out-and-back night ride from Tatum to along the east side of 51.
* I get out past DD when needing a more epic ride...this is always fun too.
* After climbing out of that DD descent trail when you are overlooking the 40th Ramada, there is a singletrack that will cuts right off the main trail and will rejoin T-100 later on. On this singletrack you will come to a Deep N' Steep wash that allows you to maintain your speed and then shoot out at the top. If the stairstep near the top doesn't get you. My friend affectionately calls this wash "FrankenRock!"
* Man, it's all good!

To be honest, what I love about t100 its variety. Really, the only planning I do is deciding where to park (DD or 7th St). In fact, I'm not even sure I can name any trail there other than 100. I really like the stuff SW of 100, with the fun climb that takes you to the Saddle that overlooks Piewaste Peak Park. I

Most of my favorite segments have been mentioned already.

I like that "FrankenRock" spot, too, except that I inelegantly referred to it as the "lateral rut thing in the wash by the tree". Crossing the quartz outcrops east of that is neat, too. My old quickie evening loop was to park at 40th Street south of Shea, go south across the valley bottom to T100, west up to the top of the hill that ascends from DD Park, and then take in the view. Sometimes I'd detour to 8 and its spurs (north of the divide) before coming back to climb T100. After hanging out at the top of the hill listening to coyotes and great-horned owls a bit, I'd go east back down T100 the way I came up (or northeast through some unnamed trails), hooking left (north) at the bottom of the hill, through the twisties and singletrack and back to the car. Still enough light? Repeat. Called it all the "Butte Loop". Keep in mind the last time I rode that loop regularly was when the 40th street trailhead was unpaved. I was out of state for 5 years and am in Tucson now.

I also enjoyed the "figure 8" trails that bypass T100 in the two peaks east of Cave Creek. Is the gate still there across the gravel road? I recall it was just low enough for me to bike limbo under - sometimes. Another tiny little favorite spot is what I guess is called the "high loop" on T100 between 7th Street/the stables and Cave Creek road. There's a small exposure of the igneous sort of slickrock there. One last fave would be the singletrack that runs south from the Central Avenue entrance and hooks back up with T-100 about a half-mile south. I used to like to park at Central, crank up Shaw Butte a hundred yards or so, then access the trail on the left. Its short, but a bit tighter and twistier than most of T100's west end. Jumping right onto a short but steep climb straight out of the car was a bummer, though.

I remember all of this like it was yesterday, even though its been 5.5 years since I've been able to call T100 my home trail. Thanks for posting the question, because now you've got me wanting to head back up there and ride.

Trying not to be a poser,
AZB

Ok, I am very familiar with the T100 area, but I am horrible at names. I am the same way with streets. I could live at a place for five years and never be able to give someone directions because I don't know the street names. Here are some of my favorite rides.

The Switchbacks - travel up T100 east from DD about half way. Head left (north) east all the way to the large house, bear right, east again, and head over the switchbacks to the other side of the hill range.

The Black Diamond Trail - from the top of the big first climb east from DD, head north west up a slight incline to another hill top. Trail going back down west is labeled with black diamond, watch your speed.

The House at the Top of the Hill - Trail 8 I think. Rather than up and back, I like making a loop by heading up to the house on the wide very loose and rocky trail that goes up east, then turns south towards the house, then heading right just after the house to the top and then right again down. Heading down to the last wash is some of the best stuff here, particularly because you are so tucked in a little valley that you are completely isolated from the city, very pretty here. Head right out of the wash, up a short steep hill with a left turn and rip back down trail 8 at top speed to Trail 100.

my favorite part of T100 is the east end. T100 itself is pretty good from Tatum to DD, but i also love the variety of side trails. if i am in a climbing mood it has that, and if i just want an easy ride that is there too. most of what i ride are trails that are nameless but great fun. i especially like a section off one nameless trail that leads to another and ends up with a switchback climb to a saddle near 220. i like to turn around(i am not a black diamond rider)and bomb the descent, some nice whoops in there. i always end up with a big grin. :p

good topic.

Rita

Hey all you Trail 100 riders...

What's your favorite section of the trail? Do you have any other "side" trails that you enjoy?

Thx...Doug
...I really do not like T100!! When I was writing up the AZSF04 information sheet this weekend and was including all the Phoenix area rides for all to enjoy on non-fling days, one of my fellow organizers had to remind me about T100. I guess I have blocked this whole trail system from my memory! My yearly dose of T100 is the Flight of the Pigs on the day after Thanksgiving, and that's usually quite enough. The trail is overworn, beaten by horse traffic, filled with nasty hikers, and the west end smells of horse crap. Yea, I've ridden the "fun" trails around Dreamy Draw. I've done hike-a-bikes on the trails where horses don't go, but the whole area is just not my favorite. With so much great riding in Phoenix area, I guess we are all allowed to have our favorites, as well as our least-favorities.

Ok, I am very familiar with the T100 area, but I am horrible at names. I am the same way with streets. I could live at a place for five years and never be able to give someone directions because I don't know the street names. Here are some of my favorite rides.

The Switchbacks - travel up T100 east from DD about half way. Head left (north) east all the way to the large house, bear right, east again, and head over the switchbacks to the other side of the hill range.

The Black Diamond Trail - from the top of the big first climb east from DD, head north west up a slight incline to another hill top. Trail going back down west is labeled with black diamond, watch your speed.

The House at the Top of the Hill - Trail 8 I think. Rather than up and back, I like making a loop by heading up to the house on the wide very loose and rocky trail that goes up east, then turns south towards the house, then heading right just after the house to the top and then right again down. Heading down to the last wash is some of the best stuff here, particularly because you are so tucked in a little valley that you are completely isolated from the city, very pretty here. Head right out of the wash, up a short steep hill with a left turn and rip back down trail 8 at top speed to Trail 100.
Hmmm...the "Black Diamond trail" you refer to is the 220 loop. This is on my list as well.

I'm not sure about the other two. The "Switchbacks" as you describe the location doesn't make sense. North and east of the DD are some low-lying neighborhoods...no houses up on a hill. Now there are plenty of houses on a hill if you go south and east OR if you go west of DD...

I think your "House At the Top of the Hill" loop is the 8.

Thx...Doug

...I really do not like T100!! When I was writing up the AZSF04 information sheet this weekend and was including all the Phoenix area rides for all to enjoy on non-fling days, one of my fellow organizers had to remind me about T100. I guess I have blocked this whole trail system from my memory! My yearly dose of T100 is the Flight of the Pigs on the day after Thanksgiving, and that's usually quite enough. The trail is overworn, beaten by horse traffic, filled with nasty hikers, and the west end smells of horse crap. Yea, I've ridden the "fun" trails around Dreamy Draw. I've done hike-a-bikes on the trails where horses don't go, but the whole area is just not my favorite. With so much great riding in Phoenix area, I guess we are all allowed to have our favorites, as well as our least-favorities.

I love hearing the SoMo describing the T100 as "crowded". I ride SoMo myself on occasion and have never seen such crowds in my life as I do on the Desert Classic, Mormon, and National trails. The T100 on a busy afternoon has about half the foot traffic as the Desert Classic trail IMHO. And I find the SoMo hikers to be quite rude as they, for the most part, aren't "locals". The T100 hiker crowd is a mix -- you can tell the locals because they hear you coming from a mile away and step aside before you reach them. The "non-locals" walk 2 or 3 abreast, talk loudly, and don't move when you say "excuse me". And then they give you mean looks.

But you are correct about the horses -- I hate the smelly animals. I know they were here first, but they are so slow and destructive to the trails...let alone crapping and pissing all over the trails just for me to ride in. Stupid beasts.

Oh well. It's all good. Where else in the USA can you live in a metropolos and still have access to mother nature out your back door?

Thx...Doug

I've had more problems withe the two legged critters than the four legged ones (unless you count my friend getting bit by a dog). My fav sections are the little downhill going east that takes you under cave creek, widow maker, 304? that pops you into Squaw Peak park, 1a and some other stuff i don't want to tell you about ;-)

i had ridden T100 for years before riding at somo. at somo i was struck with how rude and unfriendly everyone was, including other mtbers. on T100 people are friendly, at least they say 'hi' and most hikers yield trail when i ask, 'may i pass?' the horse crap sucks but the dog crap is worse on T100. too many loose dogs IMO. i think T100 itself is busier than somo(during the week)which is why i like the side trails.

Rita

As a anit-SoMo snob, I take offense to these statements :-)

Actually, I was getting a bit bored with T100, until I got a wild hare (my pet rabbit), and ventured off the beaten path. I think it compares to SoMo in technical trails (at least the SoMo trails I've ridden, which is pretty limited to DC, Mormon, Nat., and Javalina). However, I have to preface this that I've ridden SoMo maybe 20 times. It's just too far for me (Westsider here), so I only ride on weekends. Geez, talk about crowds. However, I have a blast every time I go.

As for overwarn trails, really depends on which trails you ride.

As for Spring Fling, I'm not sure I'd pick T100 either. You expect to find bikers at SoMo. T100 is still primarily a hiker/equesterian area, with small groups of bikers thrown in (except at night, when we take over).

Hey all you Trail 100 riders...

What's your favorite section of the trail?


Ooh! My favorite part is this hill, way over on the west end of things kind of close to Shaw Butte, where back in high school this girl and I would climb to the top and have sex. Definitely my favorite part of T100. A little off-trail, though.

(Yes, I'm admitting to off-trail activity...so sue me).

p.

(p.s. I like the 220 trail).

Is this why you walk with a hitch?

I think he means the new house that was built on the preserve line (with the large backyard with a gate that leads to the trail). Once you hit that house, head South, and then begin the short switchback climb. From DD, once you hit the bike part, head North and take your first left to the wide, rocky trail (with the short, steepish, loose climb). I believe this is just NW of the trail with the black diamond.

I think he means the new house that was built on the preserve line (with the large backyard with a gate that leads to the trail). Once you hit that house, head South, and then begin the short switchback climb. From DD, once you hit the bike part, head North and take your first left to the wide, rocky trail (with the short, steepish, loose climb). I believe this is just NW of the trail with the black diamond.
Yes, thats it. Not much, but the switchbacks are a fun little section that I much prefer to than taking T100 over the top because it is much less crowded and more technical. Although, they just smoothed out part of the trail. That is twice now that I actually saw them working on the trails. Both times, they said to me, I hope this (meaning smoothing it out) makes it better for you. I did not want to rain on their parade and inform that that they were smoothing out the more fun sections.

The House on the Tpo of the Hill is Trail 8.

Another favorite part of the trail system is what I call the swamp. From DD parking lot going west, bear right right away at the fork/wood fence just after the parking lot and take the third trail that follows a wash, takes you over a large tree trunk/log, through a horse tunnel, and east to either the bike path or to trails going east and towards the switchback discussed above. This is not the marked T100 trail with the tunnel, but just after it if heading west out of the lot.

I
But you are correct about the horses -- I hate the smelly animals. I know they were here first, but they are so slow and destructive to the trails...let alone crapping and pissing all over the trails just for me to ride in. Stupid beasts.
I hate the horsecrap too. Why is it that with dog owners (at least in parks, ect. ), by law have to clean up the crap, but with horses, it is ok that your animal lays a giant size dump in the middle of the trail and nothing needs to be done? It simply does not make sense. Horse owners should have to clean up. Giant size mounds of crap are the worst thing out on the trails, and horse owners need to be accountable.

Ooh! My favorite part is this hill, way over on the west end of things kind of close to Shaw Butte, where back in high school this girl and I would climb to the top and have sex. Definitely my favorite part of T100. A little off-trail, though.

(Yes, I'm admitting to off-trail activity...so sue me).

p.

(p.s. I like the 220 trail).

Perhaps that is why I like South Mountain so much.....

Why so much hoohah about the old horse puckeys? Out of all the common animal wastes, dog sh*t, pig sh*t, cow sh*t, it's probably the most benign. After all, they don't seem to do much in the way of digestion before that rich diet of oats and hay comes straight out the other end.

I'd much rather run over a pile of the old horse caca than some stinky dog poo...

Perhaps that is why I like South Mountain so much.....

Are you saying SoMo has better nookie locations? Do tell! :eek:

Yeah, North Mountain was a regular swinger's club in the mid-80s. Heck, it probably still is. Those crazy kids.

p.

Ooh! My favorite part is this hill, way over on the west end of things kind of close to Shaw Butte, where back in high school this girl and I would climb to the top and have sex. Definitely my favorite part of T100. A little off-trail, though.

OMG - this the funniest thing I've read all day. Sex on the T100....that's great.

Now the question of the day is this: would SHE say that the T100 is HER favorite trail?? :)

Thx...Doug

OMG - this the funniest thing I've read all day. Sex on the T100....that's great.

Now the question of the day is this: would SHE say that the T100 is HER favorite trail?? :)

Thx...Doug

I've heard stories of a spot near DD called Gay Guy Gulch - have yet to interrupt any rumpy-pumpy yet tho

I've heard stories of a spot near DD called Gay Guy Gulch - have yet to interrupt any rumpy-pumpy yet tho

...sodomy gulch...and don't be too disappointed. I think the action has moved to the DD parking lot at night...

I've heard stories of a spot near DD called Gay Guy Gulch - have yet to interrupt any rumpy-pumpy yet tho
I know it because I have ridden by it often and picked up vibes and seen people that don't fit the T100 hiker profile. I have not seen anything lately, but in the past, virtually anytime I rode that way, I would encounter something that set off my alarms.

Fitting the T100 hiker profile...

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT - Regardless if you are seeking or seeking to avoid, here are a few things not on the typical T-100 hiker/biker profile:

* Trail users with clothing containing any sequin or feather accessories.
* Trail users who say they are 'just hanging out' . Usually next to thick bushes.
* Rainbow stickers on back of Camelbak, seat. Includes any body tattoos or rainbows.
* Using babyoil used instead of sunblock.

Please report any suspicious behaviour to your local police department (or not).
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