National and Desert Classic Trails - South Mountain

Name:	National and Desert Classic Trails - South Mountain - Phoenix
Details:	South Mountain is a city park south of Phoenix, a mountain range about 15 miles long and 3 miles wide. National Trail follows the mountain east to west mostly along the ridge. From the eastern end, where I started, it climbs up over many rocky steps and ledges. After several miles, the trail levels up and keeps going up and down for a while, but it's still quite difficult at spots. Then the trail descends to Telegraph Pass, the trail is full of loose rocks here. From Telegraph pass, there is one more steep loose climb, and then gradual descent, again many times on loose rocks. I was pretty hammered already once National hit the road in the western part of the park, but still rode Bajada trail about 2 miles north to another intersection with the road. Bajada is also quite hard and rocky, a lot of foot or so rocks to hop or climb about, sometimes loose stuff too. After this, I had enough of tough stuff, so I rode about 2 miles up on the road back to Telegraph Pass. Then I descended south down Telegraph Pass, about 50% of walking, there's a lot of large steps and loose rock. Last hour or so on the Desert Classic trail was much nicer, fast rolling terrain in the lower desert.

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