There are special places in everyone’s heart. Places that seem to fall right in step with your sensibilities and rhythm. The Transition Zone north of Tucson is that place for me. At least for a few months in the winter. Edward Abbey spent a lot of time here and I can understand why. The valley floor rises from Tucson to meet the Tortalitas and the Pusch ridge. Mt Lemmon, the grandfather, looks down on all of it. The cactus is thick and the hide feels thin. We’ve managed to scratch out 30 or 40 miles of singletrack to ride on out here. It hasn’t been easy, everything here will make you bleed.

At 32 degrees north latitude, the angle of the light this time of year is perfect. Subtle, softer, gentler. On certain evenings there are 360 degree sunsets. There is a lot of old energy here that can be sensed but never conveyed. Pottery shards and Metatés are all that is left of people past. I wonder what we will leave behind?