Riding/living in Arizona

I'm considering moving to Phoenix. I've heard there are a lot of riding areas close to Phoenix. I'm into trail riding, so are there trail systems there, or do you just drive out to a riding area and go nuts, riding all over like it's a big huge free-for-all? I read that a lot of Arizona's land is federally owned, and the whole place is a big dirt bike playground. I was talking to some friends from California, and they said if I want places to ride, go to Arizona. I noticed Steve Hatch moved there and seems to be having a blast. What's the riding like compared to the woods of Georgia? Is my KDX 200 going to be fast enough, or in the open desert will it be a dog? What's the cost of gasoline out there? Right now I can get regular unleaded from quality stations, not the no-name places, for like $1.06. The cost of living compared to Georgia concerns me. Do a lot of people get up early and ride before dawn, or wait until dusk to ride? Would I need one of those big baja-style lighting systems? Are there any big lakes other than Lake Havasu? Northern Arizona has mountains and stuff right, and even skiing in the winter? I am used to Atlanta's stifling temperatures in the summer, how does Phoenix compare? I know it's like 106 or 110, but I heard it's a drier heat out there, whereas here it's so muggy you can't walk to the mailbox without dripping sweat. I know anything over 100 is really hot regardless, but I was just thinking if it's not as muggy as Georgia then I might be able to adapt well. Do you see rattlesnakes and scorpions out on the trail and stuff? I'm not going to have to worry about scorpions occasionally showing up in my apartment am I, because those things scare the crap out of me. I heard you can go around at night with a black light and see them on the walls of buildings. I have no idea what it's like out west, I just am intruiged by it and think it would be an adventure to move there. I have never been west of Alabama or north of North Carolina, and don't like what I am majoring in now in college, so maybe after I get my degree next semester I will go to MMI in Phoenix. I was looking for some info about the place from someone who lives there. Thanks.

Sounds awesome!

<<There are plenty of lakes. Arizona has more boats per capita than any other state in the union.>>

I did not know that. What kind of fish are in the lakes? Any largemouth bass? I have heard that southern California has some really big bass in their lakes. That's another thing that would be important to me, being able to wet a hook for some bass or panfish when I'm not riding.

Gas is down to 99 cents a gallon in some areas here! $1.25 isn't that bad. That's what it was for a long time here before it started going down. This girl I know in San Diego says it's like $2-something there. If I get an apartment, I'm going to have to find a place that has storage areas so I can put my bike, tools, and mountain bike somewhere. That's another thing I wanted to ask, is the mountain biking out there cool as well? When I am not on the bike I love to hit some downhills on my Gary Fisher.

What I am thinking about doing is saving up a wad of cash this winter, and then come spring break, take a road trip out there and go to MMI and see what it's like and also look around at apartments and the surrounding area and look at the bike shops where I would possibly become employed and see if I really want to do it. Sounds like somewhere I would really enjoy living. I love Dixie, but I need a change. I'm sick of seeing new neighborhoods pop up where I used to go riding. People complain about dirt bike trails, but when someone clears out acres and acres of woods to make a new subdivision, no one says a dang word! Hard part will be telling my parents. :eek: But I figure, screw it, we've got e-mail and web cams now, right? I can even set them up with IP phones so we can talk for free. I can still fly home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Still hard to tell your parents that you want to do something like this, when you're an only child and over-protected, even though I am 20 years old. I want to be able to get up at 5am to go riding without my mother murmuring and worrying to death, and I want to be able to stay up late, and then go out at 3 in the morning to get a bite to eat if I feel like it, you know? So you can see the situation I am in. Thanks for the information, I really feel like going now.