9 The McDowell 60

When:
December 15, 2012 7:30am in Phoenix, Arizona.

Where:
We will be starting at Basha’s parking lot at Bell Rd and Thompson Peak Parkway in NE Scottsdale at 7:30am. The ride is a Double Bypass plus with 2 big climbs/bypasses, (Sunrise and Toms Thumb), it is in the neighborhood of 55 miles with ~9k feet of climbing.

GPX file is available here:
Working on some changes to the course for 2012. Will have GPX up when complete.

Route is as follows:
Bashas to Gateway Loop.
Gateway Loop to Paradise.
Paradise Trail to Quartz.
Quartz to Lost Dog.
Lost Dog to Ringtail.
Ringtail to Sunrise.
Connect to Sonoran. There are two options for the connection to Sonoran.
  1. Go up 145th through Hidden Hills. They don’t want you doing that so you risk any consequences if you decide to go that way.
  2. Take the horse path under 145th to the old dirt road and up into a different neighborhood to Eagle Ridge Drive.
Sonoran to Dixie Mine.
Dixie Mine to Thompson Peak Rd.
Thompson Peak Road (west) to Prospector.
Prospector to Bell Pass.
Bell Pass (north) to Windgate.
Windgate (east) to Windmill.
Windmill to Coachwhip (the south fork).
Coachwhip to Dixie Mine.
Dixie Mine to Pemberton.
Pemberton (ccw) to Comp Track connecting via a gated utility road.
Long Loop to parking lot. – Water available in Comp Track parking lot
From Comp Track parking lot go north across McDowell Mountain Park Road to the Four Peaks Staging Area.
New trail starts in the northwest corner of Four Peaks Stagin Area.
Take new trail to Scenic.
Turn right (east) on Scenic and climb.
Scenic to Pemberton.
Pemberton (south) to Tortoise. You’ll pass through a trailhead.
Tortoise to McDowell Mountain Park Drive – Water, snacks, plush toys avaiable at Nature center.
Right on McDowell Mountain Park drive, immediate left on Toms Thumb Dr.
~100 feet on Thoms Thumb Dr and then right on Wagner Trail
Wagner to Granite.
Granite (west) to new trail.
New trail (west) to Pemberton.
Pemberton (south) to Rock Knob.
Rock Knob (west) to park exit.
Proceed west on new trail to Toms Thumb trail.
Toms Thumb trail up and over toward Windgate. Do not take East End.
Do NOT go all the way to Windgate.
Take connector trail from Toms Thumb trail to Desert Park.
Desert Park to Horseshoe.
Horseshoe to Gateway Loop.
Gateway Loop to Bashas.

Maps:
Map of east side of McDowell here: East Side Map
Map of west side of McDowell here: West Side Map

Course map courtesy of TopoFusion

(click for larger version)

Bring some food, beverages and folding chairs for a post-ride gathering in the parking lot (the start/finish).

If you plan on attending, please sign up using this form:

The comments section below will be used for questions and comments regarding the race. Please use the above form to sign up for a race. Thanks!