Tom's Thumb Route

Having the day off I decided to figure out what some of the newer McDowell trails had to offer.  We have explored most of the known routes in the area including Bell, Windgate and Sunrise passes.  Tom's Thumb was supposed to be a steep climb with many switchbacks.

Link to City of Scottsdale McDowell Preserve map

I will say that this Tom's Thumb trail is one of the steepest yet climbable trails I have found in the greater Phoenix Metro area.  In fact, I think the climb rivals most I have found in Flagstaff or even Colorado... minus the negatives of altitude of course.  Heck, I climbed more vertical feet in less miles than even the Colorado Trail!

The Tom Thumb trail itself is very well constructed with minimal loose rock.  In fact, the traction today was simply amazing.  Rivaling slick-rock tackiness in many of the steeper sections.  This was a very good thing, as without sticky tires... one wouldn't even have a chance of conquering the endless switchbacks and severe pitch.

I started at the 104th street trail-head and headed up Windgate Pass.  A somewhat flat climb by comparison, but always rocky.  I caught up with several groups of hikers and a dog.  Strange, as the parking lot itself was empty when I arrived.  With so many ways into the trail system, I am sure these walkers had found another route.

Past the Desert Park Trail the Windgate trail gets very steep and full of both fixed and loose rocks.  Mentally, this section always messes with me, and the lunch I ate in the 4Runner on the way over to the ride started to reveal itself in strange and uncomfortable ways.  Climbing can be hard... climbing on a full stomach is just plain stupid.  I finally made it to the Tom's Thumb turn off and took a little sit down to let things settle..

First view of the Thumb itself:

The trail was relatively mellow at this point, but it was obvious where it was going to go... straight F'n up.  Generally, one can make out a ribbon of singletrack from a good distance, or at least be able to assess the upcoming terrain for a logical route.  In this case, I could neither see or figure out how on earth I was going to get from the bottom to the very top.

As I began to climb up what appeared to be an old road, I started to compare the pitch and terrain to Colorado.  I wondered how steep I was going already and what possible verticallity  lay around the next series of corners.  Remembering the moist singletrack perfection that is Summit County, I began to hear running water.  It was very strange, but I started to believe a creek was just around the bend.  Knowing I was in the McDowells and it hadn't rained for several days I checked it off as an audio mirage.  Much to my surprise, there actually was a creek to be found!

Huge greenery right next to the trail (check out my bike for scale):

The source... and maybe bucket for dogs:

The pipe came from upstream.  Maybe a crude cement tank had been created by ranchers or miners years ago.  The rusty tube just went up and up as far as the eye could see.  Was very strange to actually have to cross a stream anywhere in the McDowells.

After that the pitch got steep... very, very steep:

Maybe a bit hard to tell from the pic, but the grade required full weight on the nose of the saddle and total granny engagement.  I figured I'd just pedal until I spun out, but as I stated before, the ground was incredibly tacky.  I soon realized the only way I'd be walking if this kept up was by choice as opposed to loosing traction.  I ended up making this section, and after catching my breath at the top... continued on.

The trail started to grind up the valley and wind through some really impressive rock sections.  You can see one outcropping towards the bottom left of this pic.

How can this section lead to that Thumb? :

From there shit just got crazy.  Crazy steep with switchbacks well into the 130 degree range.  Again the traction was unimaginable and over and over again I was able to creak past with a rolling trackstand. Stopping for the occasional catching of breath, I just couldn't believe how much of this trail was actually ridable.  I made all but 2 or 3 switchbacks with maybe 30 yards of walking.  My guess is conditions were perfect and the duplication of this feat might be next to impossible.  That said... I was feeling pretty stoked right about now.

Looking back down:

Lot's of exposure at this point and still no way to figure out what direction the singletrack was going to head next.  Sometimes you'd get several switchbacks in a row with less than 10' of trail between.

Super tight turns:

Literally hanging off the edge:

View back down to Windgate trail:

Closer to the Thumb now:

Every single switchback cleaned seemed to offer three more.  Talk about getting a skills clinic on slow speed uber tight corners.  The trail is a relentless challenge offering superb views of the valley below.

Cardinals Stadium can actually be seen in the distance:

Final approach:

Tom's Thumb up close and personal:

At the top now the temps were actually very cool.  Even had to put on my vest.  Gave Micki a quick call to let her know my location and took a look around.  The terrain seemed to change almost instantly once at the summit.  Switching from that incredibly sticky stone stuck mud to the floaty sketch of decomposed granite.  I rolled by the Lookout Trail option to my right and started to head down into the saddle across the way.

Carvey singletrack:

Now the switchbacks started to offer a different challenge.  The slippery terrain and steep exposure makes sure you are committed to the corner before attempting it.  Simply stepping out and calling it quits gets a bit more tricky when your XC hardtail has it's seat sky high.  This challenge brought me back to the day when that's all a cyclist new.  Dropped seats, big front travel and rear suspension was all an engineers delusion. I must admit however that there was a huge smile plastered across my face and I was enjoying every moment to the fullest.

Trail heads through this boulder tunnel... sweeeet!!  :

Amazing rock formations all around:

Fountain Hills in the distance:

I came to the East End Trail junction and headed South towards Windgate and Bell passes.  At this point the trail gets very steep and really feels exposed.  Traction has come back and you need it when scrubbing speed into the un-bicycle friendly turns.  Most of them having no radius what so ever... more like "V's" of death.

Edgey:

Rather important right turn:

Towards the end, the trail opens up a bit and with less corners comes more flow and speed. I was at the bottom which connected to Windmill Trail much quicker than I had expected.  I decided to round out the ride with a roll over Bell Pass and then back to the car.

View from Bell:

Back down the steeps, through the rocks and then to the car.  A really good loop with some amazing climbing for AZ.  The McDowell trail system always continues to impress me with the quality design and construction of the routes.  Options are endless.  In fact this loop today has me thinking about upping the ante of the well known "Quadruple Bypass".  Perhaps the "Gnardruple Bypass" which would include a summit over Tom's Thumb, then Bell, Sunrise and a final ascent to Windgate.  Four truly different summits.

Hmmmm.... who's ready to go?

Ride info:

Length: 11 miles
Elevation: 3050 feet climbing
Time: about 3 hrs