RR Holy Jim, Upper And Lower

[dstepper]

Nice RR's guys. Why did the ranger turn you guys around, did you go to far along the MD and get into a closed area?

About the cold it is going to get colder, in Prescott right now it is 19 degrees. Going to be brisk ride tomorrow AM. Nice thing about AZ is that it is dry, so even if it is cold and you get wet you dry off.

Dean

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by queenwilhelmina

I totally suck at switchbacks so that's the #1 thing I need to work on I think.

If you want switchback practice Willie, you should just go up and down Brush Canyon at CHSP from Lower Aliso to Skully Ridge. It's an easy climb/descent, but plenty of switchbacks to hone your skills on!

Great RR folks.

[ShinKen]

I just want to add that some one got their 29er drink on today i wonder who that was NeiL?

yes we have to have pics muuuhhahhaaahahhhhaaahaaa!!

Originally Posted by BrewMaster

If you want switchback practice Willie, you should just go up and down Brush Canyon at CHSP from Lower Aliso to Skully Ridge. It's an easy climb/descent, but plenty of switchbacks to hone your skills on!

Great RR folks.

Or jUSt freaking do HJ a few more times ehh!!!

[foofighter]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

I just want to add that some one got their 29er drink on today i wonder who that was NeiL?

yes we have to have pics muuuhhahhaaahahhhhaaahaaa!!
:

I feel so betrays hehe post it up!

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Nice RR's guys. Why did the ranger turn you guys around, did you go to far along the MD and get into a closed area?
Dean

Apparently. the whole Main divide was closed from Bedford to ITT, but the website was not updated. The Ranger was aware of the confusion so he was ok in letting us wait there at the LHJ trail head and wait for everyone to regroup there. Only Me, Tim(your son) and JOx2 didn't make it to UHJ. We started 45 min behind everyone plus Tim got a flat. There were other riders and hikers not in our group that got turned around as well. I'll have to check the closure maps, maybe they updated it by now.

[bevaaler]

Like everyone has said, it was pretty damn cold this morning.. I layered up like recommended and was already shedding a layer at the Holy Jim trail head. Very cool to see so many riders out on the mountain and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. It ended up being a total chain gang for much of the switch backs heading up LHJ, but nothing to bad. Nice climb and trail in awesome shape. I nearly bagged the peak, I could see it only a few hundred yards away. The ranger just wouldn't budge. Apparently they were going to apply some hydroseed/mulch in the area via air drop?? Ya, sounded kind crazy to me to, but he was the man in charge, so I listened. I figured it was a good time to layer back up a bit, so did that, while the ranger waited impatiently. He then told me to tell any other riders coming up to turn around, so I passed on that info on my way down. Most were like, say what, why, that blows, or whatever. Some continued their quest, but soon were also turned around by the ranger on a quad. So dropped down that UHJ, wow, what a blast, I have never been down that section and was well pleased. I had only wished my brakes worked better and that I could get out of that damn rut in the center of the trail. no luck though. Dropping down LHJ was also very nice and was just a blast, better than any rollercoaster ride!! The last part riding out on Trabuco road or whatever its called kind of sucked.. Covered my face, bike, shorts and jersey with wet mud and all the pot holes and ruts hammered my tail bone, that Alum. HT wasn't very forgiving. Great ride in all, good to see everyone, and most definitely, a major thanks to Gene for setting up this ride for all the STR riders training for VQ/CC!!! Happy trails, Erik

[1x1clyde]

It was a great ride, just wish I had more time yesterday morning!
Even with the 6:30am start we still had to get the bodies to the trailhead so we did not really start until 7:30am...still a blast!
Trail was in great condition, the streams were nice and chilly- I love wool socks- and I used my christmas gift a few days early...pix will go up on the 25th Jose!
Thanks to Jason, Kurt, Eric, Jared, Gary, Art and Joe for meeting me in the dark and standing around in 31 degree temps
I think one of the best bits of the day was when we were waiting at the wash for Gary and we hear a rooster crow, I believe it was Kurt or Jared who said "this is too effing early Neil, too effing early!"

The CREW! I know, it was dark!

Eric, Gary, Art, Kurt, Jared, Joe, Jose and Jason

Huge props to Jared and Gary for making it up, it was their 1st time on Holy Jim and I think they are hooked!
Art blew his rear disc caliper apart, I wish I could have seen the decent!
Jason, thanks for the music and excellent job cruising up the trail, you are a animal!
It was great seeing Carl, Scott and Justin on the switchbacks and then running into Greg and Willie at a stream crossing yelling Ho!HO!Ho! I especially liked the high speed high five with Darin and seeing Sam as I bombed a little rock section.
Back into my truck and on the way out I stopped to say hey to Gene and Tim and then somehow actually got to work at exactly 10am...whew!

It is about 8:30 am right now and we are getting ready to go hit Snow Summit for a few "family" runs!

[Von-Skipp]

Here is my personal route I created since this route aint on Geoladders.

Holy Jim - Upper HJ- Trabucco

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=11232

[allison]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Didn't hear anything about that, but he would not let us go in either direction from Lower HJ. He headed towards ITT. I asked him if it was ok to wait there for the rest of our group there at LHJ and he said yes. As Tim and I descended LHJ, we saw him coming back from that direction. We were the last in our group of mtbers to leave the trailhead. Informed hikers of the closure on their way up. Don't understand the mixup. They should post signs at the trailhead at the bottom of HJ if they don't want anyone up there, at least update their website. I'll call Debra Clarke and find out and post the info.

Since when?? Everything was open last weekend. What's the reason for the new/additional closures?!

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by allison

Since when?? Everything was open last weekend. What's the reason for the new/additional closures?!

I guess because of the hydromulching, but that is what this ranger told me. I don't think he had the answers, just doing his best to inforce what ever closure he was told to enforce right or wrong. I'll find out from the district manager tomorrow if they are even open tomorrow.

Originally Posted by mechmann

this is total BS. there is no reason for them to close that area! the motorcycles wore a nice groove in going AROUND the gate at the top of ITT. i don't think any of the motorized guys get any greif for doing that. the ranger can't catch them! this is bogus and they need to open OUR NF up to US! frickin nazzis!

I'm sure they would love to catch them. Truth is they don't have the manpower to post a Ranger at every gate all day and night. They just need to post signs(not that would stop anyone) and get the word out on their website(not that anyone ever checks it anyway).

[dft]

Originally Posted by mechmann

this is total BS. there is no reason for them to close that area! the motorcycles wore a nice groove in going AROUND the gate at the top of ITT. i don't think any of the motorized guys get any greif for doing that. the ranger can't catch them! this is bogus and they need to open OUR NF up to US! frickin nazzis!

denny, woody and i hit up you favorite trail today, coldwater!
perfect temps. no rangers out (lots of motos). killer descent, super tacky, made the switchbacks as easy as they can be. off to snowboad in colorado, next up, bell ridge baby!!!!

[tkblazer]

i heard someone brought a new bike to the ride... any one get pics of this person with said bike?

[NolanSB]

This was the first time I had seen an STR group head out on the trails also my first ride on Holy Jim. I arrived at the trailhead around 9 am and I believe that I was greeted By Gene and Tim???? I asked them a frew questions about the trail and they pointed me in the right direction. They caught me at the Holy Jim trialhead and I saw them again when I had to turn around due to time constraints.

I did not show up to do the official STR ride but knew of it from the site.

I have never been on an official STR ride but wanted to thank the people I saw out there for pointing me in the right direction and the friendliness on the trails.

Will plan on making a ride in the future.

[genusmtbkr5]

Yup, I remember you on the orange Santa Cruz. Glad you were able to at least experience a little of the trail. Hope to see you on future rides.