Yesterday, while fog blanketed much of Orange County, I basked in the sun atop the ridges of the Cleveland National Forest. Yes sun! The thick cloud line hovered at a mere 2,000 feet so almost all of my ride was under blue skies. Perfect riding conditions - cool weather and warm sunlight. When I reached the top of Maple Springs road I was greeted with views of snow-capped Baldy and Big Bear. There was even a bit of snow in the Santa Anas. The roadways near Four Corners (just below Silverado Peak) still had patches of snow and ice, remnants from the pre-Christmas storm.
Past Four Corners Main Divide Road was almost completely dry. It was also in great condition, with only a few rocky and rutted sections. Since I hadn't completed the Silverado Loop since before the fire (which resulted in a twelve-month closure of Maple Springs Road), I was happy to get on it again. The downhill on the Silverado Trail was also magnificent. One rider complained that the trail was too loose, but perhaps that's like saying a lemon is too tangy - it's the nature of the beast. Definitely sections of the trail would be difficult to climb, but the downhill was pure fun- with small berms, fist-sized rocks and wide sweeping switchbacks. I'm grateful for the Warrior's Society and the volunteers who spent the time to remake this trail after it was demolished during the fire. I'm not waiting a year to ride it again.
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