Just minutes before leaving for Mt. Lemmon TJ informs me that Catalina Highway is closed due to the weather. I don’t mind riding around a barrier from time to time but he mentioned things like “rock slides” and “blizzards.” So I gathered my things and drove south on I-19 to Green Valley. The ride was incredibly beautiful. A million people may live in and around Tucson but once you find your way out of the mess, you’re out there. Madera Canyon is a unique climb. The grade begins at an easy 2-3% on a straight road through the desert, then some miles later you’ve climbed into a forest and the road turnS into a narrow twisty thing before the grade kicks up to around 15%. Tucson’s famous “shootout” group ride climbs up Madera Canyon every Saturday morning–or at least those strong enough to make it (I’m not quite there yet). I took some pictures after some hill repeats.