For Whom The Bell Tolls

Thursday was a day of feasting; Friday was for riding. Richard and I made a noble push along Bell Ridge, negotiating rocky climbs, steep descents, abyss-like ruts and man-grabbing foliage. At ride's end, it was only the lack of sunlight (days are short now) that stopped us from continuing on lap two. I jest. We weren't that strong. In truth, the five hours was well spent but a bit exhausting. I thought I would have enough fuel left over from Turkey day, but that wasn't the case. I found myself bogging down on the final climbs - bonking as it were - losing breath and energy over each small hilltop. Typically downhills are for recovery, but Bell takes it toll descending as well. I found myself at the mercy of gravity and terrain, out of breath and holding on. Next time I will eat more.

The views from Pinos Peak were stunning. This is the highpoint of the route, offering a panoramic view from the snowy San Bernadino Mountains to San Clemente Island. Richard pointed out where the 5 freeway winds over the ridge near Carmel Valley in Del Mar. Beyond that we could see the distant ridge lines of Mexico. Bell Ridge begins just a stone's throw from the peak. The trail requires several more climbs -steep, wearisome hike-a-bike ascents - and plenty of descending - steep descents, loose, rocky descents, and harrowing I-wish-I-wasn't-looking descents. We kept our tire pressure low, our skidding in control, walked some of the can't-see-bottom section (yes, it is that steep) and I even tripoded a bit. Our strategy was successful, we arrived back at the car with smiles of satisfaction. Then we were ready for a well-deserved rest and a helping of leftovers.

These days I seem to be riding as slow as paint dries in Nova Scotia. Tonight I traversed the old PC Cow Trail and then dropped into Emerald via BVD and rode down what used to be called Pac Man. At the beginning of the ride I was overtaken by the Rads. My buddy Andy didn't want to ride with them. They go fast. As we rode up Poplar, Hans Rey was complaining how they don't wait for anyone anymore. Not even Hans Rey apparently.

Anyhow I ended up at the pit (Andy needed to pick up his new jersey). Amid oohing and aahing at a new Ibis downhill bike, I was force fed a few beers and shots of Tequila. Yes, I was coerced. So much for working tonight. The bikes, the trail, many of the old riders who are still out there playing hard, all inspire me to ride. I'm all in with inspiration. But inspiration only gets you so far up the hill and then all you have left is perspiration.

Pay to Play

Gentle Riders,

It has come to my attention that the Sheriff Department is writing tickets to rule-breaking mountain bikers in El Morro. Apparently last weekend they cited folks as they exited the bottom of "Nothing Better to Do." It is unclear, but they may have been citing riders at the base of "Better to Do Nothing" as well. There is a discussion of this matter on the SoCal Trail Riders forum (under El Morro). If you are not familiar with the names, both of these trails are near the Ridgepark entrance at Newport Coast NBTD begins about three hundred yards from the entrance and BTDN is on the opposite side of the canyon (running somewhat parallel) and begins between the third and fourth section of fenceline. Both trails wind up in Deer Canyon.

According to missives from officials at CCSP, this is part of a stepped up effort to eliminate the use of non-sanctioned trails. My advice is to avoid these trails, particularly on weekends. In addition, other nearby non-sanctioned trails might be avoided during weekend rides. These would include Marie Callenders, the third and fourth sections of Fenceline and perhaps even The Shredder. There are plenty of other trails - some officially mapped, some gray area, and some under the radar - that may still be ridden. All the drops into Emerald seem to be fair game. Namely, BVD, Erection (mapped as Old Emerald) and the newly reformed Conception. There are two other drops here, Repo Man and another trail I don't know the name of, but these are crazy steep. There are also several fun drops into Laguna Canyon, including T&A (officially mapped as Laguna Ridge and really fun, I just rode it). On the Aliso side, there are several new and rediscovered trails. There are other trails as well, some of these can be easily found, others take a bit more reconnaissance. Remember, all trail knowledge is on a need-to-know basis. Keep trail entrances clean and avoid calling attention to yourself.

Happy riding and keep your eyes open. If the ticks, poison oak, cactus, snakes and barbed wire don't get you, you may just get snagged by good ol' Johnny Law.



dwo

Mo' Betta Moab

My friend Marshall sent me the link for this event in Moab. It sounds pretty cool, a big mountain bike jamboree in mountain-bike mecca. Fall is definitely the best time to ride Moab and there is plenty of riding to be had - fun challenging riding and out-of-this-word scenery. My advice: Book early, stay longer and get in shape before you go.

Thinking about a new bike?
The world's best bike companies are coming to Moab with their 2011 bikes and you can ride them all. Outerbike is a four-day event September 30-October 3rd. Cost is $150 for all four days, which includes bike demos, lunch, shuttles and schwag. From the event site there are 5 mountain bike loops and a paved road bike path that you can take to either Arches or Canyonlands National Park. Attendance will be capped to make sure there are plenty of bikes.

Beyond the Rides
There will be all kinds of extras like on-site daycare, a free women's skills clinic, movie premieres on Friday night and a pub crawl on Saturday where you could win a Western Spirit trip for 10! And, all the bike companies are bringing their athletes and product designers-- so not only do you get to ride all the bikes you usually just get to read about --you can also meet the people who dreamed them up.

The Bike Companies
Outerbike exhibitors include: Rocky Mountain, Maverick, Santa Cruz, Yeti, Fuji, Breezer, Fox, Pivot, Marin, Ibis, Cannondale, Turner, Trek, Intense, Haro, Kona, Masi, Marzocchi, Specialized, Norco, and GT.

Sign Up
Sign up and learn more about how to get to Moab and where to stay at Outerbike.

Running with the Toads

2010 Toad Festival

June 5th was the Toad Festival, an annual fun ride put on by the Warrior's Society. The key word is, of course, fun. The Toad Festival features casual rides that lack the competitive intensity and the grueling courses of the other Warrior's Society events - the Vision Quest and the Traverse. The Toad is more about camaraderie, getting outside and having fun. It is not a race, but there are games of chance along the course - dice, cards, horseshoes, darts - allowing riders to vie for a number of great prizes. I think there were prizes for everyone. There were also two courses, a short family friendly ride in Arroyo Trabuco and a longer ride up Holy Jim and down the Trabuco Trail. Both rides start and end in Oneill Park where there was a post-ride picnic.

It was a great event. Personally, it was a bit hot for me and I bonked a bit on Holy Jim. I rested and stopped to eat on Main Divide and then was mostly fine for the rest of the ride. (Although after the heat and exhaustion drama, I was too far behind to catch my riding partner, Josh.)
By the time I reached the top of W. Horsethief, I was feeling almost normal. The nice folks from the Warrior's society were offering Rootbeer floats to go along with the horseshoes at that stop. At the next stop - on the upper end of the Trabuco Trail - there were darts and a spray mister. Way to go guys. The ride down Trabuco was great as always.

I must mention the horseflies, however. They were particularly pesty, swarming and biting. Unless you were going more than 10mph, they were on you like papparazzi to a crotch-flashing starlet. I made the mistake of wearing only a perforated jersey and got bit repeatedly on my back. I should've worn a t-shirt. I should've worn a t-shirt. Two days after the ride my back sported an archipelago of itchy red welts. Yeah, those bugs are nasty. I am generally against Malathion, but I might make an exception in this case. The good news is that the bugs usually go away after a week or so. I don't plan to see them again this year. As for next year, yes I will return to the Toad ride, hoping for cooler temps, packing more food and bringing plenty of DEET.

Limestone Canyon

Inspired by one of my riding mates, I've been taking part in several of the docent-led rides on the Irvine Ranch Reserve. The rides are spectacular, covering less traveled trammeled trails through some of the most pristine wilderness in the county. The IRLR offers at least one ride per week, beginning and ending in their staging areas which are spread throughout Irvine Ranch. Each ride is led by a nice group of docents. The pace is good, the trails are fun and the scenery is stunning. The other added bonus - less dust, ruts and trail wear - these trails don't see nearly the traffic of the "major" mountain biking areas in the county.

Yesterday's ride began in Agua Chinon Wash and climbed to Limestone Canyon. There was a fun bit of single track that paralleled Santiago Canyon and then a long climb to the ridge line above Limestone and then a fun rolling downhill out of Agua Chinon. The ride was listed as advanced, but mostly for the climbs. The downhills were non-technical, but fun. Sure, fire road climbing grows old after a while but the scenic payoffs seemed worth the pain. No trip to Limestone is complete without a view of "The Sinks" and we viewed the eroded canyon from both perspectives. The ridge above Limestone afforded views of Saddleback and Newport Coast. The rolling landscape of the canyons still clings to spring colors, Yuccas, Lupins, Irises were in brilliant bloom. Many thanks to Roger and Chris for leading another cool ride. I'll be back.

Check out the IRLR website for ride times and sign up info.

Santa Ana Mountains

An aerial view of the range, looking toward the Southeast. Main Divide Road snakes along the ridge. Maple Springs Road lies mid-frame switchbacking into Silverado Canyon.
A rock outcropping near Santiago Peak.


This year I made a simple goal: to ride every single-track trail I know in the Santa Ana Mountains. I wanted to accomplish the goal as early as possible, perhaps by the end of spring, since the range gets quite hot in the summer. Last summer I almost shriveled up on Los Pinos - too much heat, too little water and no shade. Manzanita's are beautiful plants, but no one mistakes them for elm trees.

As of now I have ridden (from north to south): Skinsuit, Smashface, the Silverado Motorway, the Coldwater Trail, Upper and Lower Holy Jim, West Horsethief (mostly an uphill hike-a-bike), the Trabuco Trail, Bell Ridge and BGR, the San Juan Trail and the Old San Juan. That leaves me with Joplin, Yeager Mesa, Los Pinos and the Chiquito Trail. I won't do E. Horsethief because I don't believe it is maintained and, I believe, the trail ends on private property (the route out of Coldwater is difficult enough).

Here is a report on the trails:

Skinsuit - The trailhead is off of Main Divide about 1 mile south of the golf ball (two climbs before Pleasant's Peak). The trail ends in a wash near the bottom of Skyline Drive. The route follows the ridge -steep and straight - with very little climbing and few turns. This may be the fastest route from Main Divide to the base of the mountain. Chris Garcia and I rode it in January, riding up Blackstar and then returning up Skyline and down Blackstar. It is a fun trail, but it ends quick. There were some rutty sections in January with plenty of alternative lines. I crashed on one of the steep sections, but only because I was going out-of-control fast. The whole trail should be ridable for accomplished downhillers. There are also a few kicker jumps near the top. As I said, fun but short-lived. For the up and over ride, the climb back up Skyline is relatively pain free.

Smashface - The trail begins at Pleasant's Peak and ends on Silverado Canyon Road near the Silverado Cafe. It's a long climb to Pleasant's, but the pay off is pretty good. The top of Smashface is stunning, coursing over rocks, winding through shrubby foliage and running under a canopy of small pine trees. This is true backcountry - you are bound to be alone on this trail. After a couple of miles the trail turns steep, then super steep, cascading into tight canyon (maybe Ladd Canyon). There is a necessary creek at the bottom of the canyon and the trail crosses it three times. I actually rode this trail twice this year. The second time, post rain, there was a lot of water in creek and it was amazingly beautiful. At the base of the canyon, there is a magnificent feeling of contentment and isolation - it's scenic, no one is around, and you've just completed a great section of single track. Then you have to climb out of the canyon... and it's heinous - a long hike-a-bike over three false peaks. This is why a lot of bikers ride Smashface once. After the HAB there is another drop into Silverado. This last section is challenging only due to ruts. It was ridable for me when the ground was still wet and tacky, but I'm not sure how I would do if the ground was dry and silty. Overall, Smashface is a great experience to be experienced once in a great while.

Silverado Motorway - The trail drops from Main Divide (near Bedford Peak) to the base of Maple Springs Road (it is usually ridden downhill). This is a popular hiking and biking trail and gets a lot of use. I rode it just before the Counting Coup and it was in great shape. There is a lot of loose rock on the trail but it definitely isn't steep or scary. Parts of the trail are quite fast and quite loose. Overall, it's pretty fun, not my favorite trail - it kind of hammers you in places - but the views from the trail are quite nice.

Holy Jim - There are two sections. Lower Holy Jim connects Trabuco Canyon to Main Divide. Upper Holy Jim begins on Main Divide about a 1/2 mile from the top of Lower Holy Jim and reconnects to Main Divide about 2 miles below Santiago Peak. This may be the best known trail in the range. On weekends it will be crowded with hikers and bikers, many of them headed to Santiago Peak. Nonetheless, this trail is both a great climb and a worthwhile downhill. The climb is long and challenging, but very makable. There are plenty of switchbacks out of Trabuco canyon and they are all ridable now. I rode up and down the trail a week after the Vision Quest and it was in primo shape. Downhill, the trail runs fast. There are plenty of blind turns though. Riders need to be aware of other trail traffic. The trail is also a scenic masterpiece - sections with great views and sections where the lush vegetation envelops the trail. Beneath the waterfall, the trail crosses the creek a few times. A couple of the crossings are ridable, but a few will require portaging. Upper Holy Jim is more exposed and more technical. The surface is looser, there are a few rock gardens and some tight switchbacks. UHJ is a fun downhill but mostly a hike-a-bike climb.

I have ridden Holy Jim four times this year and I will keep coming back.

Coldwater - This trail, generally a downhill, begins near the top of Upper Holy Jim and ends in the I-15 corridor. Ron, Chris, Carl and I rode this trail in February, climbing up the nearby Indian Truck Trail. Here is part of what I wrote then: It is really a magnificent trail. Many of the upper sections are canopied with gorgeous red-trunked manzanita. The surface of the trail is covered with leaves and decaying vegetation, giving it an almost pillow-like texture. No, I don't want to sleep up there, but it was quite fun to ride. We headed down through tunnels of vegetation coursing along ridgelines and around tight switchbacks.

The last mile of the trail is steep, at times ridiculously steep. The trail ends behind a rock quarry and requires a bit orienteering to get to the nearby roads. I would like to do this trail as an up and over, beginning on Holy Jim and ending on the Trabuco Trail.

West Horsethief - The trail begins midway on the Trabuco Trail and heads up to Main
Divide. It is loose, switchbacky and relatively steep. For some reason it is a more often hike-a-biked uphill than ridden downhill. This might be because nearby Holy Jim and Trabuco offer better downhill payoffs. The trail affords great views of upper Trabuco canyon, Bell Ridge and the Yeager Mesa.

Trabuco - One of my favorite trails in Orange County. This single track offers a bit of everything. Downhilling is fun, fast, and slightly technical in spots. The trail seems to be the perfect length with great views, plenty of canopied sections and a few fun stream crossings. It is also a worthy climb. The fields of transistor radio-sized boulders are a challenge to spin up. Cleaning the entire climb will test the strongest rider's legs, lungs and skills. But don't worry if you can clean it or not - the trail is not to be missed - just go out and do it. The time you are wasting reading this post is time you could be spending on the trail

Bell Ridge - Like doughnuts after midnight, candy for breakfast or Tequila for lunch, this trail is an indulgence, providing plenty of joy to go with a bit of pain. The trail, almost always ridden downhill, veers off the Los Pinos Trail near Pinos Peak. Once you start, be prepared for an out-of -body experience. The route heads straight down through a canopy of trees you won't have time to look at. Keep your eyes on the trail. The first drop is followed by the longest, steepest hike-a-bike. More drops and more climbs ensue. The trail keeps giving and giving (and taking a bit too). Like Los Pinos, the entire trail runs along the ridgeline, affording maximum views and maximum steepness. There are a plenty of technical sections, some steep dirt, a few steep and stony sections and a few rock drops. The biggest and most technical rock drop is fondly referred to as Can't See Bottom. The trail ends near Robinson Ranch. Most folks turn off and head down the BGR trail, a sharp plunge that winds down behind the RC airport on Trabuco Road.

San Juan Trail and Old San Juan - Probably the most popular trail in Orange County. The San Juan Trail is a popular shuttle ride for the instant gratification set and a fairly popular out and back ride for the strong, the wily and those who can't afford the extra gas. The decomposed granite single track has been burrowed down after years of heavy use, but it still looks good - a bit luge-y in sections, rocky in others, but generally well maintained. Everyone knows this trail so I won't write more. Old San Juan provide an alternate route between Cocktail Rock and Blue Jay Campground. Old San Juan is bit more worn, with ruts large enough to swallow a whole family of Hobbits. It is a worthwhile ride though, a fun downhill followed by a scenic ride through one of the area's nicest meadows. When San Juan is packed, Old San Juan may offer a slight respite from crowds of face-guarded banditos.

That's all I have for now. Come back for reviews of Los Pinos, Yeager and Chiquito. The quest goes on.