I’ve decided to start featuring trails on this blog — not in a “this trail is 10.2 miles long and here is how to get there” kinda way, because that’s boring and let’s be real, I wasn’t paying attention to how we got there anyway. (Don’t worry, I will embed a Strava map for your logistical needs — as long as everyone promises not to make fun of my rabbit-like heart rate and 2.2mph speeds on the climbs. No need to be mean, we’re all friends here.) The idea of this is more of a “here is an awesome/gorgeous amazing place to rip trail that you may not have heard of before and hopefully this inspires you to SHRED” kinda thing. Hence, shred-spo. Like fitspo, only with pictures of beautiful single track instead of creepily tan people with creepily defined abs. I think we can all agree that this is an improvement.

I want to feature trails that are a little bit less known — like, I’ve been to Phoenix three times now and I’ve ridden Mormon/National every single time, and don’t get me wrong, it’s an AWESOME trail, but still, it’s the first thing anyone will tell you to ride. This is the first time I made it out to Hawes, and while it’s a small trail system, it’s beautiful, uncrowded and little bit cooler than downtown Phoenix (major plus).

And this area in spring? Well, it’s pretty damn close to perfect. Yellow palo verde, pink prickly pear flowers, elusive saguaro blooms, blue skies and shockingly cool (by Phoenix standards) breezes. The climbs are short, the descents are ripping, the local flora is particularly carnivorous — this is Arizona at it’s very best. We even caught our final descent, Mine Shaft Trail, at sunset. It was sublime.

Macky railing the first corner on Mine Shaft DH.

Our local friend/guide-for-the-day, Geoff, showed us all the rad trails (and views).

This last descent starts from the high point, the entrance to an abandoned mine shaft, and takes you back down to the road. It’s short, but it’s oh so very sweet. Fast straight sections, techy corners, fun little rocky bits to boost over, plenty of barrel cactuses to pass with alarmingly small margins. (Tips for riding in Arizona: always brings tweezers, never lean too far in on the corners because chances are 90 to 1 that there will be something prickly there.) Frankly, it’s just a really fun piece of trail. It’s the kind of trail that was super fun to rail blind, and that would probably still be super fun the 100th time you’ve ridden it. That’s special. You don’t get that everyday.

And when you’re finished you can go to Señor Taco and eat a burrito the size of a small dog. Or maybe a toaster oven. Or a toddler on growth hormones. None of these metaphors can really do this thing justice, so here is a picture:

(Yes, he did finish it.)

And here’s the Strava deets, in case you’re in the area. Best to focus on my QOM and not worry about whether or not the calories expended are more or less than those enclosed in the above burrito. Yeah, best not to worry about that…