I set my alarm the night before for 5:30 am with the goal of rolling out by 6 under star-studded spring skies to complete a nearly 90 mile day and finish.  Camp was quiet when I pedaled onto the state highway shoulder.  No cars carried by.  The air was crisp but didn't dip below freezing.  I watched the stars blink out into the coming blue of day just as the road ended right at Ironwood Forest National Monument.  I was particularly excited about today's riding having never explored this National Monument that's been on my radar for years.  The SAUER's path looked to take a bisecting direction across the entire Park, and I planned to enjoy every inch of it.  I parked my bike in front of the Monument's entrance sign just as the sulfur orange glow of sunrise dramatically began searing the horizon.  It was absolutely beautiful. 

Josh and I rose early to greet the Sun. We had miles of slow-going rocky doubletrack ahead before getting to Three Points and the next resupply. Plus, Josh had to quit the route today because he had to return to work tomorrow and couldn't reasonably finish the remaining miles before then. His goal was to get to Three Points, load up on lunch with me, and then ride back to Tucson via the highway while I headed on alone to complete the ride. Thus, we agreed to enjoy the morning because there were still plenty of miles of riding together along the San Sierritas ahead. The packing of camp that followed was met with hints of the heat of the day to come. We appreciated this spot way out in the middle of nowhere and the fact that the morning's riding was immediately on wide graded dirt road. No sooner had we started riding than a herd of wild horses neighed and brayed their way in a gallop along us before turning to cross the road.

We all slept thoroughly.  But at the crack of dawn, my body jolted awake ready to go.  I felt strong, electrified to see the beautiful Pajarito range just ahead having spent time here a few years ago.  I got up and exited the X-mid only to realize everyone was still completely asleep.  I tiptoed around camp taking care of personal needs and then realized there were half a dozen tents next to us in a site - turns out they were all bikepackers riding the Sky Islands Odyssey West Loop.  I went over to strike up conservation; we all remarked how beautiful and accessible this campground was and how only bikepackers camped here last night - no one else.  The group was from all over the States and having a great time.  We talked for a bit before I heard Josh and Steph begin to rouse back at our site.  Now that they were up, I was itching to get going.  I knew today would start with areas I had ridden before as we traced the US/Mexico border through the Pajarito Mountains all the way to Arivaca.  However, everything north of Arivaca was brand new to me, and the SAUER route noted miles and miles of chunk. 

Night sauntered by cold and thorough. I nestled into my quilt and let it take me into deep sleep. When the first strands of light hit the horizon, I opened by eyes and felt truly rested after this quarter's teaching. The outside of my X-mid was frosted over. I stretched deep knowing I was dead last and unlikely to catch or see another racer the rest of the ride. This released me of any impetus to move quickly as I embraced whatever speed I wanted. Finally, more sun crept up, and I stirred into the icy world outside. The rain and snow of yesterday left a morning of frozen dew across the mesquite and bunchgrass landscape. I packed up with numb fingers, quickly stuffing everything away, and then wandered back into the common house of Sleeping Dog Ranch to roast my body's core in the woodstove-heat while I made breakfast. I greeted all the morning crowd who asked me dozens of questions about the route, the race, and where I was heading today. I stuffed some granola in my mouth while filling my water reservoirs and answering them all. Then, I was back outside and pulling out into the dawn now washed over the grasslands.

As 2025 rolled around a year ago, I set a goal that had been twinkling in my mind for some time: I signed up for a bikepacking ultra.  I'm no racer when it comes to bikepacking by any means, but there was something to the promise of a shared group experience along with sure physical challenge that stuck with me.  Plus, Janna and I were having a baby in early June which would change the calculus of our free time as late-term pregnancy and newborn responsibilities surged.  The goal became to try one out, preferably locally, and lined up with my time off.  Right around winter break 2024, I spied an Instagram post by Dexter Kopas about the SonorAn Ultra Endurance Ride (SAUER) that he and Henley Philips planned on co-hosting mid-March.  I cross-checked the dates and it landed smack on day one of my spring break - it couldn't be better timing.  And the route traveled on majority dirt roads around southern Arizona - one of my favorite places in the spring and my style of riding.  I signed up immediately when the 320 mile event registration opened.  The date was set, and now I had a real push to get into cycling shape by March.