This has been quite an entertaining thread and it seems Cali has the edge over AZ for trailside fornication!!
I've had a few odd, eyebrow lifters over the years.
I was riding at Papago Park one spring, now Papago is a small, busy park practically right in the middle of the city - next to the Zoo, and there was a calendar photo shoot going on. That wasn't so weird as it was awesome, but there was a couple on the backside of the butte who seemed to be taking the shoot to another level. I missed the full show on that, but got the general idea!!
This next one was the incident that prompted me to start my blog, I just had to begin documenting my rides!! It was late May and I went for a spin out on the AZT at Picketpost for and out-n-back to where the trail construction stopped. This was back before the AZT was completed in 2011. I made it to the end, turned around and when I could see Picketpost Mtn. there was a large haze near the bottom. As I got closer I could tell something was burning. I just figured it was a local rancher who let things get a bit out of control. Tempertures were now hovering in the low to mid 90's, my water was low and not quite boiling. I was still a few miles out, mostly downhill, and I could now see that it wasn't a controlled burn. The desert was on FIRE!! I had to get out of there. I rode through some thick smoke near the trailhead, saw flames over 6' high encroaching the trail corridor. It was a bit unnerving. I made it to the car only to see a wall of flames bearing down on the parking lot and my front bumper sitting in tall, dead grass. I loaded up quick, moved to the middle of the parking lot and waited for the smoke to clear enough to see. When I drove out the local authorities had shut down US60 at the trailhead turnoff. I think I surprised them when I drove up behind them!! I mentioned that there was another vehicle parked in the lot, but I didn't see another trail user. I'm glad I made it out unscathed and didn't have to backtrack on the trail in those conditions. Yikes!! The fire ended up burning for a few days and one of the signs is still marred to this day as a reminder each time I go out there.
One other worth mentioning was during my AZTR750 race. I had just camped south of the Grandview Lookout tower near the South Rim of the Canyon on day 9 or whatever. To that point, the weather had been great, but a system was moving in. As I got going that morning it began to snow. I picked up the pace because that soil becomes sticky peanut butter death mud when wet. I had all my layers on as the temps were hovering around 40. I was a few miles east of the gateway town of Tusayan when I could see someone up ahead walking. Keep in mind, there is nothing out this way, just some forest roads and the AZT through the forest of the Coconino Rim. As I got closer I could see it was a young man, maybe in his mid-20's. He's hiking with a shirt slung over his shoulder, wearing basketball shorts and walking barefoot. Freaking barefoot in 40 degrees weather in the snow!! He's not carrying anything elso, no water, no food, nada. He had a sizeable beard and otherwise looked normal. As I rode by, not believing what I was seeing, he says 'How's it going?' Huh? I should be asking you the same question!! I wish I would've snapped a pic of this dude. I've had some come to Jesus moments while out on rides, but this was as close to actually seeing him as I ever thought I'd get. I just rode on, since he seemed content.
Roflmao) either way we were scared out of our gourds!
How does that make you feel Mr. imtbtrails?
