RR: Holy Jim to Trabuco and Back

[jcampbell]

1st time up Holy Jim, 1st time across Main Divide from Holy Jim to Trabuco, 1st time down Trabuco.

I was late so I missed the horrid Trabuco ride in, I didn't mind. Holy Jim was great, looking forward to doing that ride again. Trabuco kind of sucks on a fully rigid. My arms and hands are still numb. Flatted twice. Once on way up Holy Jim, and then on the way down Trabuco. Decided to ride out on my rim, and I made it. Thanks for the great company.

[jake]

Originally Posted by guero

....brodozered out chevy.

Brodozer! I can't wait to use this word.

Originally Posted by jcampbell

1st time up Holy Jim, 1st time across Main Divide from Holy Jim to Trabuco, 1st time down Trabuco.

I was late so I missed the horrid Trabuco ride in, I didn't mind. Holy Jim was great, looking forward to doing that ride again. Trabuco kind of sucks on a fully rigid. My arms and hands are still numb. Flatted twice. Once on way up Holy Jim, and then on the way down Trabuco. Decided to ride out on my rim, and I made it. Thanks for the great company.

J, the last time I spotted you, you were changing a flat tire at the bottom of Blackstar. Are you getting pinch-flats or running tubeless?

[jcampbell]

Originally Posted by jake

J, the last time I spotted you, you were changing a flat tire at the bottom of Blackstar. Are you getting pinch-flats or running tubeless?

No, Blackstar was a peice of glass or something really sharp. It went right through the center tread of my tire. No thorns or pinch flats. Today I got a thorn halfway up Holy Jim... a 1 inch long thorn, and then on Trabuco, I don't know what happened. I run high pressure and usually never pinch flat so its probably either a cut tire or a thorn. I was over it so I rode out on the rim. Probably not smart but it got me to the car quicker. I was starving and needed to get home.

Probably see you on Tuesday.

[genusmtbkr5]

Great turnout today. I counted 27 riders that rolled out from the wash area. The pace was good and right away, I knew we had a couple that were gooing to have a tough day. 4 miles in and we saw the group at the HJ parking area. I sent them on there way while OMR and I waited to check on 1 rider. She(Linda) wasn't feeling well so we headed out to catch her friend Kim and told her that she'll need to wait on her and they could ride their pace. As I started up HJ I came up on the Queen, Willie that is. It was her first time up HJ and she did a great job. OMR went on and I stayed with Willie. She cleaned several of the switchbacks and kept climbing. I can tell she was tired, but she pushed on.

At one point, I told Willie to look back and take in what she had just climbed. She was tired, but I know she had to be stoked. We climbed on and came up on one rider that was with our group and he was heading down. Now only 24 left. As we got towards the top of HJ, We saw the group ride. 5 riders waited for us at the top. OMR had to cut his ride short so he volunteered to go down HJ with Willie. Big props to OMR for staying with Willie and guiding her down, All I have to say is this. For someone who's only been riding less than a year, Willie rocks. She didn't complain at least not outloud . She accomplished something that some people can only dream of doing, other riders included. We said our goodbyes to OMR, Craig and Willie and we rolled out. Climbing HJ is not easy and she did it! You rock Willie.

With 21 rider left, we roled onward. What can I say about the "Pain Divide". I guess you all know what I'm thinking. I can see the group in the distance and came up on Hugh. He was soaking up the scenery and taking pics, having a good ole time. We finally got to West Horsethief and saw Steve aka "autodual". he was thinking off going down WHT, but after some consideration, he decided to go on to Trabuco. We finally arrived at Trabuco. 4 riders went on ahead so there was 17 left. We all spread out and started our much earned descent! Down we went and as I came up on the Chrismas tree, I promised Chris V that I'd tkae a pic of it cause it was already decorated. I finally came to the split off and several riders were there. I asked who was going up WHT and 5 riders raised there hand. So the 6 of us started up WHT while the remaining riders went down Trabuco.

So me, Eron(WS member), Chris aka slayer, Chris(lurker on STR), Mike and John(I hope I got the names right) headed up West Horse Thief. WHT is a biatch! It was loose as always and as I was riding/hiking/dabbing up. I kept thinking of Willie not knowing where the end was, but she kept going. That inspired me so I got on my bike and just kept on riding. Thanks for the inspiration Willie! We finally made it to the top and rest a few. Once we were rested, I ask which route we wanted to take. Eron was almost out of water and none of us could spare any either, so Eron went down WHT. % of us headed out to HJ.

Going that way is just as bad after all the riding we already did. When we got to HJ, 3 guys were sitting ther and they were thinking of going to Trabuco. They still had still 3 riders walking their bikes up HJ and they had no lights so we told them that they will never make it to Trabuco and down before it got dark. So we told them it would be best to go down HJ. Holy Jim was fun as always and thanks to Maxwell for clearing the tree so the trail was clear.

Great job everyone for completing which ever ride they did. Due to time and the fact that we were tired, we did not do Upper HJ. I'll just add that to the next ride. I took some pics and I hope others will post theirs as well. Thanks again for a great ride! I bet you all can't wait what I have in store next!

Miles ridden: 35.8
Elevation gain: 7000+
Ride time with stops: 7 hrs+

[OMR]

What you didn't know is that while we were waiting for Willie to rest, Linda and Kim show up... yeah, Linda made it all the way to Main Divide!!!! They wanted to stay there for a while so Willie, Craig and I took off. I had to get home by 1 PM to meet the computer guy (he charges by the hour!)
. Asked Craig to make sure Willie got down OK and I had to rock...so I was sorry leave these guys (yeah... for about 2 minutes and then the fun factor kicked in). Made it back to the car in 45 minutes.... weeeee!!! Gee, I'm so sorry I missed the hike up WHT (NOT!)

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by OMR

What you didn't know is that while we were waiting for Willie to rest, Linda and Kim show up... yeah, Linda made it all the way to Main Divide!!!! They wanted to stay there for a while so Willie, Craig and I took off. I had to get home by 1 PM to meet the computer guy (he charges by the hour!)
. Asked Craig to make sure Willie got down OK and I had to rock...so I was sorry leave these guys (yeah... for about 2 mintues and then the fun factor kicked in). Made it back to the car in 45 minutes.... weeeee!!! Gee, I'm so sorry I missed the hike up WHT (NOT!)

Wow that's great! I forgot to thank you for giving up your ride in my RR, I editted it. Thanks again Gregg.

[maxwell]

Gret RR and pics Gene!

The OC Reg. had a story in the Outdoors section about a trail run event over the past weekend.
I can't remember the officail name of the run, it mentioned that the "Old Goats" had decorated the tree on Trabuco for their run.

[OMR]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Wow that's great! I forgot to thank you for giving up your ride in my RR, I editted it. Thanks again Gregg.

No thanks required fella, that's what friends & tribe members are for....

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by maxwell

I can't remember the officail name of the run, it mentioned that the "Old Goats" had decorated the tree on Trabuco for their run.

The Billy Goat Racers(BGR) decorated it. No problem, we'll just add more to it. Who knows, lots of people know about it and there could be more ornaments by the time we have our ride. Thanks again for clearing the trails BIG D.

[maxwell]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

The Billy Goat Racers(BGR) decorated it. No problem, we'll just add more to it. Who knows, lots of people know about it and there could be more ornaments by the time we have our ride. Thanks again for clearing the trails BIG D.

Nope, check it out. Old Goats 50.
This thing makes my legs hurt just reading about it!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007
California's 'toughest marathon' hits OC

The Saddleback Marathon has more than 5,000 feet ascent, but it's the spirit of the run that is the highpoint.

DAVID WHITING
Register columnist
dwhiting@ocregister.com



A few miles into the Saddleback Marathon, the runners do something you rarely see at such an early stage of a 26.2-mile race.
They walk.
It's then, staring at the pack ahead, that it dawns on you that the hype about "the toughest marathon in California" is not hype. It's fact. Backed by numbers. And sweat.
More than 5,000 feet of vertical ascent. More than 5,000 feet of downhill. By mile two, the runners on this day, Saturday, already are pounding up the first 1,000 feet of uphill. The grade is so steep in parts it feels like trying to run up a ladder. For most of the athletes, a fast walk at this point is about the same as running.
You look at the aide station at the crest above and think, soon, this too shall pass. After mile three you get your wish. But, as they say, be careful what you wish for – 2,500 feet of downhill.
For those not familiar with running down Trabuco Trail, think running as fast as you possibly can down stairs. Now attach those stairs to the side of a mountain. Toss in a few low hanging branches for good measure. Oh, and scatter loose, sharp rocks all over.
As the trail winds its way toward Holy Jim Canyon, the muscles in your thighs – usually OK through at least mile 18 of a marathon – are screaming. Not screaming as in, "I'm going to punish you for this." That will come on Monday when you try to get out of your chair at the office. But screaming as in, "This is only mile 10?"
What's going inside your knees is a different story. There, everything is quiet. But discontent is stirring, discontent which will rise up by mile 20 and attempt a revolution to end your race. The brutal trail has maxed to the max the ligaments and tendons that hold together the fragile structure attaching your upper leg to your lower leg.
Despite all this, you're dancing, dancing over small boulders, around old oaks, through a forest of sycamore, past bare wood cabins that have seen generations come and generations go. At times, your body is in such sync with the terrain, you feel like water flowing.
On this day, the air is crisp and clear. Gone is any scent of the smoke which lingered over this area while fires still raged just two weeks ago and only a few miles away.
Just ahead is the second aide station, this one manned by volunteers Maurie Bousquet and Walt Johnson. It's an eye-popping smorgasbord of all things yummy for a trail run. Red and brown M&Ms, glistening oranges, yellow bananas, heavenly caffeine in flat Coke, crackers, pretzels and more. Although you've run other events, this spread – in a remote canyon – is one of the best.
As you thank Maurie and Walt, you smile, thinking of the small pine decorated with red bows and colorful Christmas bulbs you zipped past earlier on the Trabuco Trail. You find out later the tree was decorated by Steve Harvey, an original "old goat" ultra trail runner after whom the concurrently run 50-mile race is named, "Old Goats 50."
In their own way, the aide station and Christmas tree symbolize what make this race truly special. Sure, it's a challenging run on beautiful trails, the kind of run which gives anyone who even attempts it "bragging rights." But what makes the Saddleback Marathon really fun and meaningful are the people and the history.
Steeped in tradition, the event goes back decades. An old photo under glass lies atop a fold-up table next to the white chalk finish line under the trees in Blue Jay Campground off Ortega Highway. A cluster of toned runners smile within the wood frame. Look around. You see older versions of the young trail gods. It's not hard to pick out who's here from the picture. Some have hardly aged; others look only a few years older.
This year, the event is smaller than usual. About 100 runners are on Saddleback for both the marathon and the 50-mile race. Typically, the number is far more. It wasn't until a few days before gun time that the event got the final green light from Cleveland National Forest rangers because of the Santiago fire. In fact, the longer race had to be re-routed because of miles of charred land.
Still, younger racers mix with older ones. Rookie trail runners hug veterans at aide stations, chatting briefly with familiar faces and new-found friends.
As you cross the finish line, Race Director Baz Hawley greets you with open arms. To Baz, an Aussie, everyone is "mate" and no finisher is too sweaty to clap on the back or put an arm around.
A few days after the race, you talk to fellow marathoner Dana Taylor of Long Beach. An architect-consultant, Dana, 47, says, "Baz puts on a great race. He's super experienced."
Then this veteran 100-mile trail runner talks of the camaraderie, of being alone in nature and of "one of the hardest marathons out there." And you realize the pain in your legs is gone.
David Whiting's column on people and places appears Thursdays. He finished seventh in the Saddleback Marathon, winning his age group. He can be reached at 714-796-6869 or dwhiting@ocregister.com.

[slayer]

i had a great time today. thanks gene for putting this ride on. i got to meet a lot of new people and got my ass kicked on WHT. i think i'd rather do the wall twice in a row than hike and bike up WHT. next time i do it will be at VQ. alright gene, when and where is the next suffer fest.

[double_d]

Thank you Gene for organizing this ride...even if we didn't get to ride upper HJ :-) It was Mike's first time on any of those trails so he did a really great job!

I finally have taken the time to register for STR so I don't have to be a lurker.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by double_d

Thank you Gene for organizing this ride...even if we didn't get to ride upper HJ :-) It was Mike's first time on any of those trails so he did a really great job!

I finally have taken the time to register for STR so I don't have to be a lurker.

Great to meet ya and you're welcome! Great job on the ride Chris. I'll keep you posted on future rides. You're right Mike kicked arse! I was behind him going down HJ, tried to take pics and did, but they came out blurry. I guess I couldn't keep it steady while riding 1 handed down HJ.

[foofighter]

Great RR Gene and sounds like everyone had a great day of climbing