Snow on Santiago

Santiago Peak has been shrouded in snow for the last two weeks. So last Sunday I finally managed a trek to the top. I rode up Maple Springs with Josh and Richard, hiked over the saddle and then rode alone down upper and lower Holy Jim to Trabuco Road. I descended alone because Josh, Richard and I did an odd scramble after we passed Modjeska. It is too tedious to explain here, but I spent plenty of time waiting near the peak. To pass the time, I hiked up to the towers -tromping through the snow. The snow above the saddle was about a 8" deep, cornlike and impossible to ride (uphill). Josh reported some snow along the canopied section of Joplin as well.

Upper Holy Jim took a small hit from the last series of storms, but Lower Holy Jim rides like butter on hot biscuits. There was also plenty of water in Trabuco. I splashed my way through the culverts and arrived at my car wet and happy.

I wish I had my own photos, but my camera has been busted for some time. Josh took the nice Leni Reifenstahl-esque photo of Richard as he stood on a rock below Modjeska Peak (see above). We don't support Leni here on MBOC, but we like pictures with clouds. Shortly after posing for the photo, Richard floated back to his car. Josh and I reconvened at my car after a bit more waiting (by me) and a bit more confusion. Nobody spent the night on the peak. Next time, hopefully, we will manage to stay together.

Introducing Josh Wolff

Monday through Friday he may be a mild mannered attorney, a hard-working family man with a two-car garage, a Viking BBQ and a fridge stocked with mayo. But come Saturday, Josh roams the hills like a wildcat. He's the weekend warrior's weekend warrior. Nothing can stop this guy. He's been known to ride all day, spend the night on the trail and keep on riding come morning. Give him a couple Power Bars and he's good for the entire weekend. A trooper. A charger. And a pretty nice guy. Josh Wolff.

Happy Holidays - Card 2009 (click to enlarge)

How Not To Hit Your Head On Doorways

First of all, if you do hit your head, pound your fist into the doorjamb. Pound it hard. Pound again. Yell at the doorframe. “Leave my head alone, you big bully.”

Always duck. Bow your head. Pretend the Emperor of Japan is always waiting in the next room, but in general, avoid Asian countries where structures tend to be built for smaller people.

Avoid caves. Avoid castles. Avoid beach houses. Avoid trailer homes. Avoid cozy lofts.

Be vigilant when wearing a cap. The cap won’t protect your head. The bill will impair your vision. The little button atop the cap will tattoo your pate.

Don’t grow so tall. Refuse milk as a child. Avoid hanging from ledges. Live in a cold climate. Malnourish yourself. Tell your parents you want recessive genes.

Don’t wear heels. Even when such shoes are fashionable during disco and glam rock periods, insist on flats. Express your fashion sense with large belt buckles and jade jewelry.

Under no circumstances should you ever let your friends convince you to wear a Mohawk.

Insist on living in Wilt Chamberlain’s house. Vacation in Norway. Walk through archways. Visit marble buildings with enormous entranceways. Visit museums. Visit train stations. Visit monuments.

Stay outdoors.

Bell Ridge

Ron, Chris, Carl and I rode up Trabuco and down Bell Ridge last Sunday. What a day! The climb up Trabuco was tough but doable. My pre-holiday legs just couldn't spin up all the loose sections, so I walked a bit. When we reached the top of Trabuco we made the familiar climbs to Pinos Peak. This is where we geared up for the descent and - oh my gosh - what a descent. Bell Ridge is amazing. Many thanks to those who worked on this trail. It is in such good shape. I can't say enough about this trail. It begins with an out-of-this-world descent through the trees, then climbs and drops along the exposed ridge for several more miles. There was one gut-busting hike-a-bike. Then there were several controlled slide sections, followed by shorter climbs and a couple steep, on the verge of, uncontrolled slide sections. It was truly on out of body experience. We finished on the super steep BGR trail, which is sort of like luge riding on a 30% grade. Wow. I've been buzzing all week about this ride.

After The Rain

Rode the San Juan Trail following the big rain. Actually rode it twice that week. San Juan is the go-to trail when everything else is soaked. This day was perfect - tacky dirt, tight switchbacks and gorgeous scenery to boot.

Photo courtesy of Ron Leland. I'm always pissed when he makes us stop, but it the result is definitely worth it.

Holy Jim to Trabuco

Six of us had been planning a post-Thanksgiving ride, up Holy Jim and down Trabuco. A Twenty-six mile course, if you ride the road in, that carves a nice swath across the southern section of the Santa Anas. When Saturday, ride day, rolled around, weather was passing over SoCal. Ron called me to tell me it was raining in Dana Point. We quickly reconsidered the ride and decided instead on the San Juan trail - decomposed granite holds up in wet conditions. But a little later I had a change of heart. I really wanted to ride Trabuco. It's such a great trail. So I convinced Ron and the others to go for it. It seemed a bit risky, Main Divide always seems to show the brunt of any weather system. I've ridden through crap loads of snow, been pelted in a hail storm and have been battered in mud. However, we figured, that if the conditions were poor, we could just return down Holy Jim. Well, we lucked out, the conditions were magnificent, perhaps a bit cool, but not wet and certainly not windy. I couldn't believe it. Both the Holy Jim and the Trabuco trails benefited nicely from a light dusting of rain. My mantra for the day - "The trails are in great shape, too bad I'm not." Unfortunately, my bike was slightly less than perfect as well. Actually, only the rear wheel. I busted a spoke one mile in to the ride (with twenty-five more to go). Without a spare spoke, I kept going and managed to make it about half way before busting a second spoke on Main Divide. I continued and somehow managed to ride the entire descent on Trabuco without further issues. The descent was perfect. With the absence of dust, we rode in a tight group, smiling and hooting through one beautiful section after another. I think that smile lasted for about 12 hours.

Thanks to Ron Leland for the photos. Not only did the weather cooperate, but so did the light. A beautiful day.