RR: Ken Burton/El Prieto

[dirtmistress]

10 of us met Sunday 12/30 to schlep up Brown mtn to the incredible Ken Burton trail. Weather was very comfortable for the most part. Bravo to Kanga and the OTB club for the trail maintenance done on the Ken Burton trail.They made it the incredible ride that it is. Over 18 fantastic switchbacks right Steve? That trail rocked our world!! It connected to the Gabrielino trail which is always stunningly beautiful and then out through the Arroyo. A trials riders dream I'm sure! No pics of the switchbacks. Too much fun to stop!
Tedroy, Slowspokes and Andy bailed before the second climb. I wish they would have continued but they were tired from the party animal life style!
The rest of us went back up Brown mtn 1/2 way to the first saddle and then down El Prieto. El P is a fantastic ride and personally, I'm sorry that's it's gotten so torn up over the years with so many different lines but Steve kept us on the original line "so it wouldnt disappear for good" and we had a great time. The original line is way more challenging than the *ahem* baby fast line. *ahem* Just my unwanted opinion I'm sure!
Many many thanks to Tedroy, BigRingRider101, Endo Verendo,slowspokes,Sprockethead,Gregg, Beata, Ken and especially Kanga for navigating trails that have certainly changed since I last did them.

Ann anticipating a new ride



Tedroy loves to climb


BigRingRider a bit slower after the Rwanda ride


Kanga hits the steeps


Ann & Andy not looking too raggedy yet


Endo Verendo..his mouth is always open







you can't not smile on the Gab trail


this is not a movie set! that is actual water in an actual stream in SoCal!


feet got wet this fine day


Ken is one of only a couple that made this little step up




did he make it? I'll never tell




you want me to what?? ride it like Shannon?


yeah,right! C'mere you fool!








Sprockethead & Bigringrider101




Kanga

endo Verendo

bigringrider101


Gregg & Beata


Your hostess


MTBKen

Bigringrider on the original line! STUD!





this is what it's all about! Big smiles all around!


major kudo's to my partner that read the tutorial that Endo sent and then taught my ADHD non computer brain how to upload with text! I love you!!
Thanks to all in the past that tried to teach me. Pass the Ritalin please!

[Pain Freak]

Looks like an awesome ride Liz, but you know I have AhDH worse.

To bad I can't ride in two places at the same time!

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Looks like an awesome ride Liz, but you know I have AhDH worse.

To bad I can't ride in two places at the same time!

looks like you have dyslexia too!
or is that word play on DH?

[Pain Freak]

Oops, that's what I meant that dys....a thing

[dstepper]

Still want to ride Ken Burton, I have walked up and down it doing trail work...rode the top 1/4. Have done the Gab section from the top.

Liz where was my invite? j/k

Dean

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Still want to ride Ken Burton, I have walked up and down it doing trail work...rode the top 1/4. Have done the Gab section from the top.

Liz where was my invite? j/k

Dean

I thought you were in Sedona?
How's your arm?

[gregg]

Great write up DM. And some great pics, those of you came out pretty good. he he. That was my first time on Ken Burton. It was a lot of fun. The water crossings might get a lttle tough if we get the rain the weather man is talking about this weekend. Can't wait till next time.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

I thought you were in Sedona?
How's your arm?

Just kidding ya, I was in Sedona. The arm is still sore maybe a week or two before it is prime time.

[Endo Verendo]

Thanks Liz for putting together yet another great ride!

[kanga]

That was a sweet ride. It was great to meet some new faces, ride with some familiar ones and show off my "home" trails. Our OTB group does all those trails at least once a month on our night rides... it's rare that I see EL P in daylight or on a weekend.

I pm'd this to some of you, but I'll post here. After I climbed back to the saddle after El P, I figured I'd run out of daylight if I kept to my original plan of doing Sunset Ridge (the Altadena Trifecta) then riding home, so I ended up riding back up Brown and doing another lap on Ken Burton. Top to bottom in 12:28, no dabs... I've never not stopped to take photos, survey needed trailwork, avoid PO, or re-group, so it was pretty cool to do a non-stop all-out run, especially when I'd already seen it once that day.

The "survey" work I did was revealing. We were looking at doing a re-route of the bottom section to avoid the spring that had washed away the original trail. I hiked to the edge of a different canyon to see how viable that route would be. Didn't look too promising, given our available resources. I have PO from crawling through the underbrush to check out the proposed route. (But not as bad as when we built those bottom two switchbacks - systemic 60% of my body covered!).

I'd like to go back after a big rain and try to see the underground spring that washed away the original trail in action to see if there's a way we can keep the existing trail and divert water from above, rather than divert the trail. Perhaps we'll make those last couple of "temporary" switchbacks a bit more permanent and wider. Burton trail is a gem that should be ridden, and it is, since the work we did last year, all rideable right now.

That ride was part of a big week for me.... 150 road miles and 110 mountain bike miles in the past seven days... now if only a VQ spot opens up!

[Tedroy]

Killer ride with some real athletes! Thanks Liz for organizing and Kanga for just generally Ruling! Here's some pix...
The group resting at 3 mi.


The group rests at 6mi. Wow, riding with STR royalty!
\

Dirtmistress feeling no pain on the climb!


Ann at the top


...and my little helmet vid...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKCDv8cEHzU

Good times!
STR Rules!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

.....snip.....

Over 18 fantastic switchbacks right Steve?

...snip....

24, to be exact. I got to count them twice, just to make sure! That doesn't include turns, only full going-back-the-other-direction switchbacks.

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by kanga

24, to be exact. I got to count them twice, just to make sure! That doesn't include turns, only full going-back-the-other-direction switchbacks.

Maaaan!! you made those 2 switchbacks at the bottom??? Holy cow! I finish work by 11 almost every day. After the storms and things dry,PM me when you go again! I want to follow your line's! umm..but slow down a little will ya?

[kanga]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

Maaaan!! you made those 2 switchbacks at the bottom??? Holy cow! I finish work by 11 almost every day. After the storms and things dry,PM me when you go again! I want to follow your line's! umm..but slow down a little will ya?

Cleaned 'em both, both times, and the drop at the bottom down the river! I think Endo was behind me on the first run....

If you've got lights, join us on an OTB ride, but I can be convinced fairly easily to jump on the bike and ride...

[dirtmistress]

Originally Posted by kanga

Cleaned 'em both, both times, and the drop at the bottom down the river! I think Endo was behind me on the first run....

If you've got lights, join us on an OTB ride, but I can be convinced fairly easily to jump on the bike and ride...

I don't like my night rides quite so technical. My night vision isn't all that great.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by dirtmistress

I don't like my night rides quite so technical. My night vision isn't all that great.

The days are getting longer.... and I'll usually go out early for extra credit before the scheduled rides. Stay in touch!