RR: Holy Jim to Trabuco and Back

[genusmtbkr5]

8 of us started out about 9:15 this morning and it was cold already. I learned form yesterday's ride to bring a jacket and 2 pairs of socks. The riders that join me today were OMR, WS member Gerry aka Hootie, Debbie aka db250f, Vickie, Paula aka ocmtnbiker911RN, Dave aka Kish Me and Kevin aka kevinator.

Pretty messy on the road going in. The creeks were flowing and I got my feet wet after the 2nd creek . After the first mile or so I felt my right knee joint hurting and I knew I wasn't going to do the whole route. OMR told me to just spin instead of hammering up HJ. Dave gave me a couple Advil and it helped. Thanks.

Lots of riders and trail runners out today. It was cold and having wet feet didn't help. All the creeks were flowing pretty good, but like Eric said in his trail report, the creeks had little log bridges so you could get across.

Aside from being a little tired from yesterday's ride, my knee hurt everytime I stood up to hammer. I hate to spin, but I had to. Got to the top of Holy Jim. Kevin and Gerry were already on their way to Trabuco. Paula who also rode on yesterday's ride, decided she was heading down and Vickie joined her. OMR, Dave, Deb and I continued on to Trabuco.

The Main Divide was nasty in some sections. The recent grading made it loose. The wall is a muddy mess. My knee was killing me at this point, but I sucked it up and pressed on and finally making it to Trabuco. Gerry and Kevin had pressed on.

Heading down Trabuco was fast and wet. It's in great shape. Once we got to the WHT junction, Dave decided he was going to go up WHT. Even if I wasn't tired, my knee would've prevented me from doing that ride..err hike. I wished him well and headed down. When OMR and I got to the HJ lot, we ran into Chris V and other WS members Lare-dog, Bob and Danny. They were up on UHJ to evaluate the trail for the upcoming POW WOW and get a little riding in themselves. That beer hit the spot! Thanks Chris. I met up with them after for some pizza and more beer.

After eating, I went back to staging area where I saw Gerry. He did the full route I planned on doing. He told me the sections that you descend on the way to Trabuco were loose, but he pressed on all the way to Upper HJ. Big props to him for finishing the full tour . Dave showed up minutes later after he went up WHT and down Trabuco for the 2nd time. Not bad for someone who SS both days.

Today's total: 26.65 miles and 4,661 ft of climbing bringing the 2 day total to 64.2 miles and 10,823 ft of climbing.

[genusmtbkr5]

More pics from today's ride

[mottmcfly]

Thanks for a great report. Hope the knee is better.

Mott

[bevaaler]

Nice RR, excellent photos, I felt cold just looking at those water crossings.. Erik

[kevinator]

Great pics Gene and thanks for the RR - had a good ride with y'all. Hope the knee feels better soon.

[genusmtbkr5]

Originally Posted by kevinator

Great pics Gene and thanks for the RR - had a good ride with y'all. Hope the knee feels better soon.

Thanks Kevin. Gerry said you were moving at pretty good clip. Nice job today . Once my knee feels better, I'll be in touch.

[bighit8]

Hey I thought they moved the x-mas tree gene. Thats what Jesse told me.
Hope the knee gets better.

[Waldo]

Looks like borrowed dvil saved both of our rides yesterday Gene. Hope your knee feels better. Mine could do with a heat pack and some warmer, drier weather.

[sdyeti]

Thanks for the report Gene. Trabuco and HJ were on our original route plan for yesterday (SJT-Trabuco-HJ and back). From the looks of it, we stayed far dryer on the north end of the Santa Ana's.

[Pho'dUp]

Gene,

If you're not taking them already Glucosamine, Chondroitin, MSM and Omega-3's (helps with inflammation). Keep a cooler in your car and Ice immediately after the ride.

Couldn't hurt.

Carl

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

More pics from today's ride

The Wall is tough enough but that slick mud must have made it extra special

That is one of ....if not my fav ride in OC

[Kish Me]

Thanks, Gene for organizing a perfect training weekend. Glad we started Friday to get 2 days in before the rain! Thanks for the pics as well.

This was my first time up WHT. I'm glad I got to do (hike) it before the VQ. The trail is in great shape (for hiking).

[slayer]

thanks for the RR gene.

it was a lot dryer over on blackstar. but man ,was it cold.

[guero]

great rr gene. that reminded me of a couple years ago when a handful of us did the hj to trabuco ride. we encountered hail and snow on the ride. the wall was a sloshy/sloppy mess with snow all over it and that last mile or so before trabuco was a slopfest...we all had so much sticky mud that accumulated on our wheels/fork/chainstays, it was insane.

hope the knee gets better soon!

[OMR]

Little did we know when we started out that we would be getting a jump on the Toad Fest. We ended up doing the same route. Nothing wrong in that, it's a fun route.

I'm glad the rain held off until Sunday althought it was a bit cold on Paine Divide. Just how cold was it, you ask? Vicki, upon reaching Main divide, pulled off her shoes and tried to warm her feet which were soaked and cold. She even went so far as to put her glove on her foot hoping for a little warmth. All we could do was laugh through chattering teeth. Brrrr.

As Gene says, there were muddy spots here and there... there just HAD to be mud all the way up the Wall!.... and, of course the bike was thrashed after riding in all that muck coming out ... For once I was glad I left the single speed at home. This riding once a week sucks big time! Major Props to Dave for doing both days on the SS. My knees hurt just watching him go up the Wall!

BTW: Debbie is riding so strong... she will kill VQ is time for sure! Atta girl!

Here's a few pics that I took during the ride.