Because the weather has been generally mild and dry this fall, we have been able to continue mountain biking through October and much of November in Flagstaff. That all changed last week when we had a multi-day storm that brought plenty of rain and a bit of snow. Most of the trails in the Flagstaff area have at least patches of snow and the rest are probably a bit muddy.

The trails in Sedona, on the other hand, are in great shape. The 2+ inches of rain was absorbed by the dry soils and there was only minimal runoff. Area streams and washes only briefly showed a rise in water levels. Now, several days after the rain, the trails are damp but not muddy. This makes for excellent mountain biking conditions because the moist soil provides better traction. We’ve spent three of the past four days in Sedona riding some of our favorite trails — and will probably to get in a few more days before the really cold weather arrives next week.