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Trail MMD (Maguey Mi Dia (Maguey My Day)) is a lightly used, very tight (i.e. vegetation tunnel), twisty, short, mostly downhill singletrack that connects Road LNR (Libramiento Norte Road) and Trail LLL (Larry’s Lacerated Leg). The trail’s tread is mostly well-packed dirt that is no more than 30cm wide with little in the way of technical challenges – e.g. a large rock the trail is forced to circumvent…..though sharp-edged Maguey plants occasionaly encroach as if looking for biker blood. A few ravine crossings (down and in, turn, up and out) provide the biggest challenges.

Start on MMD at the western end at its junction with Road LNR and Trail HFR (High Flyer Ridge). From the LNR road cut, turn southeast on the delta of loose dirt flowing down from the east embankment where Trail HFR cuts up the embankment as a terribly eroded scar, about five meters tall. Passing the HFR scramble scar, continue southwest over the dirt delta staying alongside the diminishing embankment on your left. Trail MMD turns to the west and the vegetation closes in as it skirts the end of the embankment (i.e. the ridge Trail HFR climbs onto and on up to the north). Almost immediatly the trail forks, go to the right side (i.e. keep going straight) despite the tight opening under an acacia bush this path dives into. The left fork you skipped is an alternate pathway to Trail HFR that climbs the same embankment/ridge as the initial (eroded) pathway you passed at the HFR + LNR + MMD Trail Junction. On the right fork you’ll quickly move through a flat clearing with a few clumps of acacia bushes that the trail (and other social pathways) wind around and under. After leaving the west end of the small flat area, the trail heads northeast with a small climb and then begins following the contour line with occasional climbs. Ignore the occasional goat trails entering/exiting Trail MMD. The only exception to this comes about 2/3rds of the way through Trail MMD where a inconspicous trail junction with Trail LP (Luz Piloto (Pilot Light)) hides on the south side of MMD behind a small bush just as MMD emerges from some trees and does a sharp, uphill jog to the left (north).

Trail ML (Mechero Lado (Side Burner)) is dirt road that runs east/west along the south side of the upper portion of the major ridge of the San Felipe area trails (i.e. the ridge capped by Trail HFR (High Flyer Ridge)). Probably a remnant of the construction of the high-voltage power line that runs along this ridge (e.g. electrical towers waypointed in Trails HFR, LLL, and Ma), this road no longer sees hardly any auto traffic and remains in good shape. Harder to get to the east side of the trail (via Trail M (Mechero (Burner))) than the western side (via Trail T (Tostadora (Toaster)), it’s generally used for acces Trail E (Encendero (Lighter), the lower 2/3rds of Trails T or M. Nonetheless, those looking for a good climb may access Trail ML via a climb up Trail M, before returning the way they came or using Trail T (uphill or downhill) or Trail E for exits. An overgrown goat trail drops down from the west end of Trail ML, which in due time may be groomed&pruned into an extension of Trail ML or a new trail in its own right.

Trail Ma (Martillada (Hammerblow)) starts high on Trail HFR (High Flyer Ridge) as singletrack running through the trees and shorter vegetation. After roughly following the contour line from the HFR ridge over to a lesser ridge on the south, Trail MA begins diving down the ridgeline towards its eventual exit on LNR (Libramiento Norte Road) road. The trail is wide singletrack for a bit but most of the way it is doubletrack full of sections that are very rutted, steep, and full of scree. About halfway down the trail cross a saddle of the ridge and a short climb ensues before you pass one of the high-voltage electrical towers and then continue downhill on the ridge. Nearing the bottom, the ridge gets less steep and a fork in the trail appears. Right is easier (as it turns into a poor dirt road before terminating at Road LNR) but left gives you even more steep, rutted, chunky, where-the-FUCK-is-the-line trail to enjoy before spitting you out on Road LNR.

In short, the best 2.6km technical downhill for those who like their trail EXTRA chunky.

Morning riders should be extra cautious due to heavier hiker and campesino traffic (which implies dogs and donkeys, too.). YIELD!!!!

Trail M (Mechero (Burner)) starts off of Trail HFR (High Flyer Ridge) and dives down to Road LNR (Libramiento Norte Road) . The top is a rutted, twisty, very steep, rock-filled bobsled run that eventually turns into a rutted doubletrack trail/jeep road.

Trail LP (Luz Piloto (Pilot Light)) is the shortest member of The Smoking Section collection. Like the other Smoking Section trails, it’s a straight-down-a-ridge, singletrack made by goats, campesinos, running water, and a few biker/hikers. The vegetation can quickly take back over this rarely used trail so part of the fun is keeping a sharp eye on the terrain to keep from being led astray by a mirage path. Depending on the time of year and the amount of recent use, the tread may show more or less obviously. The usual mix of scrub oak and acacia bushes (i.e. THORNS!) do their best to keep your sight lines short and your body scraped up. Just go easy on the terrain with your braking, be prepared to turn quick, and let ‘er roll.

Since Trail LP dumps out on Trail TTT (Toro Toro Toro (Bull Bull Bull)) above the steep, eroded section, it makes for a nice connector to create a loop on the western end of Road LNR so you can ride part of Trail MMD (Maguey Mi Dia (Maguey My Day)), come down Trail LP, and be back up on the top of Road LNR for more singletrack (e.g. Trail ED (Espina D (Spine)), Trail LLL (Larry’s Lacerated Leg), Trail VV (Via Viguera)).