RR: Viper

[kanga]

We (OTB Club) rode Viper today as our year opener.... I chose to do a little extra credit, starting out in the SF Valley at Wilson Canyon and riding up to Pinetos Saddle. Winds were gusting pretty strongly, and blew me off the trail a couple of times on Viper (lap 1). You're on an exposed ridge top for most of it.

The rest of the group had started from Santa Clara Truck Trail, I was about 15 minutes behind but caught some of the OTB'ers about half way up. Dave had a heart attack on Bulldog six months ago, and this was his first ride back. Gary, a 73 year old animal was already at the top. There was also Jeff, John, Hans, Will, Ron, Chris, Dale and Tony. We headed down Viper (lap 2) with the winds a little stronger this time, and turned off down to the nature center. That's a steep, switchbacked, stepped trail. Fun, and a challenge.

From there we climbed the Los Pinetos/Placerita Creek trail, a newly designated LA County multi-use trail (used to be off-limits to bikes). It's steep, 25% grade in places, but all rideable with the tacky dirt right now. From the top I did a loop over the ridge line while the rest of the group finished the climb.

Back at Pinetos Saddle, it was time for body armor (for those who had it) and the helmet cam. We headed down Viper (lap 3 for me) with the helmet cam rolling. The wind had picked up even more....Tony, Hans, John are in front of me on the vid. The wind was howling, and even though I'd cleaned all the climbs on Viper a week ago, the wind was blowing so hard across the trail that when going slow (climbing the whoops) I was blown into the bushes a few times.

Gary, our septegenarian, went OTB on one section of Viper but was fine, got up, laughed, and kept going. He's an inspiration! Viper is like a roller coaster ride with grades from flat to 30% grade climbs, to -100% descents; it's fast and fun! Top speed was 30.7 for me, can't speak for our other riders.

At the bottom of Viper everyone left, and I rode back up the Santa Clara Truck Trail to Pinetos Saddle, did a quick little extra loop around the top of Los Pinetos, then back down Wilson canyon for some exploring and back to the car.

It was a fantastic way to start the year. Tacky dirt, good friends (some of whom are on STR) and a good dose of all-around fun riding. 9800' of climbing, 38 miles.

Here's the ride details:
http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/4693524

Pics speak louder than words, as they say. So videos must SHOUT! This was on lap 3.

[Evel Knievel]

killier vid.

Dang those elevation spikes on the ride chart are bad ash.

[Pain Freak]

Damn, we climb that much on the road over a 100 miles and we're screaming "mommie", and you do it in 38 in the dirt? That is scary! Man, I'm hurting just thinking about it.

We put some water bars up there about 3 years ago made out of rocks to try to sustain the trail from eroding. It looks like they didn't take or somebody removed them? Anyways this would be a good trail to work on after the rains. CORBA have any plans to work in this area?

[lmnop]

"Uncle, uncle!" Wow, that is quite the route you put together up there, especially with the wind.

Props.

[JoeTruth]

That's a great perspective of Viper. Fast, steep, rutted and fun as hell. Looks more eroded then I remember it being but it's been a while since I've been up there so who knows.
Wow, you put in some serious miles and ascending! Another mutant wind sprite in our hills!

If I ever see you riding up Brown Mtn., I'm going to be very tempted to kick you off in the bushes as you try to pass me (which won't be difficult) in order to feel better about my riding inadequacies.

Thanks for the RR and the great video. Both well done with great tunes to boot.

[allison]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

Wow, you put in some serious miles and ascending! Another mutant wind sprite in our hills!

Kanga is definitely a mutant Guy is super fast up and down hill!!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

That's a great perspective of Viper. Fast, steep, rutted and fun as hell. Looks more eroded then I remember it being but it's been a while since I've been up there so who knows.
Wow, you put in some serious miles and ascending! Another mutant wind sprite in our hills!

If I ever see you riding up Brown Mtn., I'm going to be very tempted to kick you off in the bushes as you try to pass me (which won't be difficult) in order to feel better about my riding inadequacies.

Thanks for the RR and the great video. Both well done with great tunes to boot.

Yeah, it's rutted in places, but on the super steep section above the nature trail there's one hefty rock water bar that people have been riding around and widened the trail. One of those that didn't got sent off left and OTB.

With the dirt so tacky and the dust low right now, it's pretty cool. No dust, so you can see even when following, but Viper's a trail you don't want to follow someone too close behind. It's easy to roll through the ruts and even ride them.

Look for me on the green Bionicon Edison, 6" 30 pound dual crown bike and say Hi. Rode Brown MTN (3 laps) last Sunday on a 54 miler from my house. Dirtmistress did a RR on that one... but just , you don't have to kick! .

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Damn, we climb that much on the road over a 100 miles and we're screaming "mommie", and you do it in 38 in the dirt? That is scary! Man, I'm hurting just thinking about it.

We put some water bars up there about 3 years ago made out of rocks to try to sustain the trail from eroding. It looks like they didn't take or somebody removed them? Anyways this would be a good trail to work on after the rains. CORBA have any plans to work in this area?

Hans, in front on the vid, is the CORBA trail crew leader. Corba will be organizing an event with LA County trying to "bring together user groups" and we're gonna suggest the new Los Pinetos trail as the location. The section up to Walker ranch is easy and family friendly, and the hard core can climb the 25% grade and come back down Viper.

There's a couple of the water bars left...gotta wheelie them or bunny hop them at 30 MPH - the few left are pretty big. But for me the ruts just add to the fun factor! Not sure if there are any trailwork plans up there, but it's on the radar.

[lmnop]

Originally Posted by kanga

Hans, in front on the vid, is the CORBA trail crew leader. Corba will be organizing an event with LA County trying to "bring together user groups" and we're gonna suggest the new Los Pinetos trail as the location. The section up to Walker ranch is easy and family friendly, and the hard core can climb the 25% grade and come back down Viper.

What did you and Hans think of the new "trail work" on the upper end of Pinetos? Somebody's been doing a bit of buildin'... Might want to organize this event with the County sooner rather than later. Keep us posted, this is my favorite local trail and will definitely attend.

[kanga]

Originally Posted by lmnop

What did you and Hans think of the new "trail work" on the upper end of Pinetos? Somebody's been doing a bit of buildin'... Might want to organize this event with the County sooner rather than later. Keep us posted, this is my favorite local trail and will definitely attend.

Pros: No PO, easy (as in non techy) climb, wide enough for wheelchairs and walker frames
Cons: hard to hit the berms and off-trail hits going uphill!

The upper "features" have been appearing over the last year and there's more of them. On my third lap of upper Los Pinetos (Did I mention I lapped that 3 times too... down the upper part and out the fire road) there was a group of about 30 hikers heading down... definitely still a hiking favorite.

I'm guessing the major work on the lower part was part of the county plan to bring it up to "multi-use" standards, but it's now official and signed that way in both directions. It will likely grow in and narrow with time, use and rain. Not the most sustainably built trail with grades like that and the water management wasn't really up to IMBA standards, no rolling dips, no outslope, etc, so it should get a bit more technical again soon. It would also be pretty hard to make the 25% grade section when it's dry and dusty.

[Endo Verendo]

Thanks for the vid! I was going to join you guys but I got home at 3:30am. Plus going up Los P on a SS is not my favorite thing in the world, let alone doing it more than once!

[ddmansprty]

I ride Pinetos often. The "newer" section will not be accessible in the spring when the poison oak grows in. And yes, there is a lot of poison oak in the area so be careful! If anyone rides up Pinetos, be aware that may locals ride down it, with many blind corners take care not to collide with hikers and those that choose to climb it! It is one of the better trails in Santa Clarita..

[CC]

Sweeeeeeeet video, thank you! Now I get to look at more pictures of what I didn't do for New Years! I'm through with being sick for the rest of the year...hopefully.

[OMR]

Very nice video. Viper is one trail that is on my "To Do" list for 2008. Perhaps we can hook up and do a ride together... I'll bring some of the guys from OC up and you can guide... or Gene and I could do a Newbie ride there and kill somebody... he he he he..

[ddmansprty]

Originally Posted by OMR

I could do a Newbie ride there and kill somebody... he he he he..

Fresh Meat RSVPing for the ride!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by OMR

Very nice video. Viper is one trail that is on my "To Do" list for 2008. Perhaps we can hook up and do a ride together... I'll bring some of the guys from OC up and you can guide... or Gene and I could do a Newbie ride there and kill somebody... he he he he..

Thanks

The official route for the club ride was about 16 miles but still a tough one with the pinetos climb. I'd suggest that as a local introduction. I'm pretty easy to talk into riding anything, and if a 73 year old can get down Viper with only one OTB and a big smile (yes, he did walk a few sections), most of the newbies should survive too. I said most.

Viper is not really a technical trail. Being a ridge-top you have very few surprises as you can see so far ahead. But the steeps are pretty steep (difficult to walk).

Where the pucker factor comes in is with speed... you can haul down that trail. My times are about 17 - 18 minutes top to bottom and there are many faster than me. When it's tacky and you can climb the short steep climbs (I cleaned them all a week ago, but got blown off two of them yesterday) it makes for a very sweet, flowing trail, but not without effort. It's not a pure DH trail, but feels like it in places.

It also gets much more difficult when it dries out and gets loose. You're riding blind in someone's dust, and there's no traction. Still heaps of fun though.

[OMR]

Originally Posted by kanga

It's not a pure DH trail, but feels like it in places.

I guess I leave the 29er SS behind and bring the squishy 5.5... Will probably be after VQ/CC... maybe a late Mar or early Apr ride. I'll talk with Gene and call it an advanced ride. I'm sure we can gather a good group. J-Sims should be healthy by then, Jfsh, Roger & Nancy & their crew. There are probably some peeps from San Diego that would be interested in this as well: Mechman & Allison's crew. Are you up for guiding? Can you put together a 24-26 mile route? If so we'll need to get this on the ride calendar as soon as possible as weekends get booked up fast

[VTVic]

Wow, nice vid. Looks very fast. I can only imagine how hot and loose it gets there in the summer. Thanks for the great RR.