Silver_Slug and I decided to make a run at the McDowell Towers on Saturday morning from the Fountain Hills side. We had to bail at the saddle (time constraints) but it still was a serious lesson in climbing. The pics don't do the steepness justice... I'd figure some sections were 22% or better.
titusbro
Almost made it... FH Towers
Silver_Slug and I decided to make a run at the McDowell Towers on Saturday morning from the Fountain Hills side. We had to bail at the saddle (time constraints) but it still was a serious lesson in climbing. The pics don't do the steepness justice... I'd figure some sections were 22% or better.
Attachments
Very cool. Knowing McDowell Mtn. Park and Lost Dog/Sunrise very well, I have no familiarity at all with how to get up there, though I know where it is from seeing it from MMP. Two questions:
1. How do you get to/access the road/trail that goes up to the top of Thompson Peak (which is where you were going)?
2. Can you get there from MMP/Pemberton?
I'd like to try it.
Walt
1. How do you get to/access the road/trail that goes up to the top of Thompson Peak (which is where you were going)?
2. Can you get there from MMP/Pemberton?
I'd like to try it.
Walt
Nice pics. I know from experience this is one of the tougher climbs around. It is steeper than Sunrise trail. You guys should post up here when you go, I live in FH and always like to ride with others. Although with my SS that trail would probably give me a heart attack.
...known as the Dixie Mine Road/Trail...
There are 3 ways to get to the Dixie Mine road: (1) Take the Dixie Mine Trail (legal access is currently closed due to construction) north to the road and then head up; (2) Park on lower north Aspen drive (north of Golden Eagle Blvd) and take the "secret trail" into MMP; and (3) Park at the west end of Grassland drive and ride over the earth dam to the gated entrance to MMP.
I'm not sure but I'm guessing that it's about 6-8 miles to the very top. The first half is a gradual climb and a good warm-up with the second half of the climb producing the hardest effort. Silver_Slug and I have vowed to make it to the top this fall/winter and you're welcome to join us on our next attempt. Oh, and bring gears... lots of them because you really can't imagine how steep it is until you're looking up and cursing the hill.
As far as getting there from Pemberton, I don't know of any legal method. There used to be an old horse trail going northeast over the hill near the actual mine but they closed that trail several years ago.
Walt,waltaz said:
There are 3 ways to get to the Dixie Mine road: (1) Take the Dixie Mine Trail (legal access is currently closed due to construction) north to the road and then head up; (2) Park on lower north Aspen drive (north of Golden Eagle Blvd) and take the "secret trail" into MMP; and (3) Park at the west end of Grassland drive and ride over the earth dam to the gated entrance to MMP.
I'm not sure but I'm guessing that it's about 6-8 miles to the very top. The first half is a gradual climb and a good warm-up with the second half of the climb producing the hardest effort. Silver_Slug and I have vowed to make it to the top this fall/winter and you're welcome to join us on our next attempt. Oh, and bring gears... lots of them because you really can't imagine how steep it is until you're looking up and cursing the hill.
As far as getting there from Pemberton, I don't know of any legal method. There used to be an old horse trail going northeast over the hill near the actual mine but they closed that trail several years ago.
Yeah....what were we thinking?????
I know the mornings are getting nice and all, but we picked a doozy of a killer climb to try Saturday morning.
I remember thinking as we started up the dirt road....This isn't so bad...those towers aren't too far off. We can push our bikes up the rest of the way if we have to.
Then after the 1st little bitty climb (still on the dirt road by that mine) I remember thinking... Well, I'm still going to the top....it's just going to take me a bit longer than I originally thought.
When we finally hit the concrete section I was thinking...How the Hel! did they get cement all the way up here? Let's go up to the 1st saddle and re-evaluate our plan.
Half way up the 2nd concrete section I remember thinking ...Mother !@*KI##!! I'm not going to even make it to the 1st saddle!!!
When we finally reached the first saddle, I thought....OK that's a pretty nice view.......hey...is that cilantro in my throw up?
I pretty much came to the realization when we reached the 2nd saddle...that those towers were still another hour of climbing away....but we will conquer those bastages ...on the next visit!
The ride back down was a little scary as well. I remember thinking ....man I hope I don't have a catastrophic failure with these disc brakes! Overall, the ride was very painful, but in a weird way...a heck of a good time. I will post the pics that I took tonight or tomorrow when I pull them off my camera.
If you are a climber and want to check out your buffness....you need to give this climb a shot!
-Silverslug
I know the mornings are getting nice and all, but we picked a doozy of a killer climb to try Saturday morning.
I remember thinking as we started up the dirt road....This isn't so bad...those towers aren't too far off. We can push our bikes up the rest of the way if we have to.
Then after the 1st little bitty climb (still on the dirt road by that mine) I remember thinking... Well, I'm still going to the top....it's just going to take me a bit longer than I originally thought.
When we finally hit the concrete section I was thinking...How the Hel! did they get cement all the way up here? Let's go up to the 1st saddle and re-evaluate our plan.
Half way up the 2nd concrete section I remember thinking ...Mother !@*KI##!! I'm not going to even make it to the 1st saddle!!!
When we finally reached the first saddle, I thought....OK that's a pretty nice view.......hey...is that cilantro in my throw up?
I pretty much came to the realization when we reached the 2nd saddle...that those towers were still another hour of climbing away....but we will conquer those bastages ...on the next visit!
The ride back down was a little scary as well. I remember thinking ....man I hope I don't have a catastrophic failure with these disc brakes! Overall, the ride was very painful, but in a weird way...a heck of a good time. I will post the pics that I took tonight or tomorrow when I pull them off my camera.
If you are a climber and want to check out your buffness....you need to give this climb a shot!
-Silverslug
nice lung burner, eh?
Nice pictures, nice weather, good climb!
Post up next time you guys tackle Thompson -- I'll go out with ya's. I last did it about eight months ago when I needed to burnish and heat-cycle some new Juicy 7's. Nothing like the smell of smokin' pads. Altimeter watch showed like 4110' at the top. Usually park at the cul-de-sac (Grassland). Used to get there from 145th way, but Eagles Nest construction is blocking access from the Scottsdale side.
Of course, the out-of-shape rider that I am, I was pushing most of the concrete section and coughing/nauseated/cursing. You guys are pretty strong for pedaling on that part - I am usually stopped there every 20 feet with my head resting on the handlebars.
Nice pictures, nice weather, good climb!
Post up next time you guys tackle Thompson -- I'll go out with ya's. I last did it about eight months ago when I needed to burnish and heat-cycle some new Juicy 7's. Nothing like the smell of smokin' pads. Altimeter watch showed like 4110' at the top. Usually park at the cul-de-sac (Grassland). Used to get there from 145th way, but Eagles Nest construction is blocking access from the Scottsdale side.
Of course, the out-of-shape rider that I am, I was pushing most of the concrete section and coughing/nauseated/cursing. You guys are pretty strong for pedaling on that part - I am usually stopped there every 20 feet with my head resting on the handlebars.
How 'bout Saturday, 10/1????
Chief and I were planning on going out again, but I can't do it this weekend as I am out of town. If we get enough interested, I recommend splitting up into A and B groups.waltaz said:
Love the idea of a forum-wide hill climb competition. May I also suggest Mount Ord? It's long, steep, and wonderfully cool at the top.
p.
p.
As moderator I think it's up to you to organize this thing and tell us where mt ord isPaul B said:
Event, sorry.
It's just north of Sunflower. Two roads to start, one gives you an extra 800' or so of climbing. I've gone up FR626 several times and it's a good, long slog.
Mt. Ord is the closest, coolest peak to the Valley (and of course this simply reinforces the idea that this is a Valley board, which it isn't. Really!).
p.
It's just north of Sunflower. Two roads to start, one gives you an extra 800' or so of climbing. I've gone up FR626 several times and it's a good, long slog.
Mt. Ord is the closest, coolest peak to the Valley (and of course this simply reinforces the idea that this is a Valley board, which it isn't. Really!).
p.
Depends on the gear you pick, doesn't it? I could probably climb Mt. Ord in a 32:20 or so if I were in climbing shape.waltaz said:
p.
Sundays work best for me in the fall, my daughter plays soccer on Saturday mornings.
waltaz said:
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