Trail Stats:
Distance- 140 mi
Level- Experienced Rider
Towns- Ajo, AZ-Yuma, AZ
Permits- Luke Air force base
Water sources- 3

Mid December, I set out to meet my bike and take it for a test pedal across Arizona to California with Birdie, who I met on the CDT. The highlight of this was a 5 day, 140 mile proper backcountry stint of bikepacking El Camino del Diablo along the US/Mexican border between Ajo and Yuma, AZ. Those lonely sandy roads through jagged mountain ranges featuring 3 water sources in total were a perfect test for what we anticipate lies ahead. I broke my chain twice, got a flat, got caught in a deluge, walked several kilometers through deep, fine, white sand. Laughed and cried. Danced and dragged. It was wonderful and intimidating and invigorating. And the best part is, unlike many others who have traveled this road in the thousands of years it has been in use, we didn’t die!

We got the route from our friends, Redhead and [Man] Neon, but it is also available on bikepacker.