RR: Viper (Feb 6)

[kanga]

Wednesday night is a non-ride night for OTB, but yesterday was a little different. Call it convergence of the planets aided by technology, but out of thin air (and SMS), we had a ride of 6 people.

Posthole, whom I've been wanting to see this trail so badly, was stuck in traffic, but dying to break in his new Supershuttle and some other gear (which replaced his stolen Golden Willow). 1080p, El Pres, Tasha, and I headed up without him, and I agreed to meet him at the end for a second lap.

We cruised up the 4 mile, 1800' climb, but another friend of the family, Patrick turned up not knowing we'd be there. He put the pressure on and we powered up together. From the top, he went on to the towers, but wasn't planning on a viper run. I went back down to ride up the last part with the rest of the group.

Viper was in incredible shape. While rutted, the traction was really good. That DG was damp and tacky. Add crystal clear views of the Santa Clarita Valley, cool crisp temps and a great sunset, and it was a memorable ride. The lines were fast and with predictable traction. It's a trail I never tire of....

We cruised down, though a mis-shift one one of the short climbs left me HAB'ing that 50' section. The trail was fast and fun as ever. 1080 even rode the -100% chute that he'd only walked on his previous runs.

I stopped to take photos a few times, then stuffed the camera back into it's pouch, and caught up with the group. At a rocky rutted little chute, I went on ahead to take pics, but no camera. It was gone.

We cruised out the bottom to find the flat trail out to the parking had been gouged into a 3' deep streambed, but was easy to ride around.

Mic was waiting at the bottom. Mic and I headed back up. We cruised and chatted, riding without lights, and enjoying the steady 10% grade at a chit-chat pace.

City lights were crystal clear and the air was crisp and cold. We padded up at the top and got the lights going. It takes some cahones to drop in to a trail like Viper when you've never seen it, at night! Mic was right there with me the whole way.

We cruised down fast and furious, and both of us were able to clean all the climbs as well as the descents. With the Bionicon and a gravity dropper, all the rises and descents are rideable, but it takes some skill in timing your GD and Bionicon button use with the terrain. I was impressed that Mic cleaned it at night having never seen it (though I was giving him the heads up where possible by calling out what was coming up )

We stopped where I thought I might have dropped the camera, where I'd hooked a low shrub as I rode past the others on the trail, but it was nowhere to be found.

Mic had a great time, and so did I. We both needed bigger faces to fit the smiles!

This morning I cruised back there with 1080 for another lap and we found the camera about 50' from where I was looking last night....

After just one cold and dry night, the trail had become just a little bit drier, and just a little bit looser. It doesn't take long in a desert climate, but I was still able to clean all the climbs . This trail is only tacky for a week or two after a soaking, so the dust is on its way back.

Here's the stats: http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/e...kValue=4925190

Good times... and since I found the camera this morning:

Tash on the climb:



The group at the top:




1080 at the top of the first rise:



Viper has some incredibly long sight lines... looking back up to the trailhead:



Looking down the trail (note the climb):





But Viper is a roller coaster ride... it's not all downhill:






Riding into the sunset.... last pic before I lost the camera:

[Zippo]

I have to ride that trail, it looks killer!

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Zippo

I have to ride that trail, it looks killer!

You can go do a "virtual" ride of it on my last RR on viper... helmet cam style... RR: Viper

It's a fun one for sure...

[Zippo]

I'll check it out (the video). How brutal would Viper be on a single rigid? Or is it time to dust off my El Fuego???

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Zippo

I'll check it out (the video). How brutal would Viper be on a single rigid? Or is it time to dust off my El Fuego???

Wouldn't be my first choice... It's not too hard to hit 30MPH on the single track with the long sight lines and the rigid's gonna beat you to death...

[Rossage]

Can't find it on my Harrison map. I can find the Santa Clara divide and Los Pinetos, etc. but no Viper. Got a map or a link to one? Or is it really four miles up on the right?

[kanga]

Originally Posted by Rossage

Can't find it on my Harrison map. I can find the Santa Clara divide and Los Pinetos, etc. but no Viper. Got a map or a link to one? Or is it really four miles up on the right?

"Officially" known as the Manzanita trail.... I've never seen it referred to by that name except on old FS maps. The motionbased link has a map you can view.

[Zippo]

Nice helmet cam vid Kanga! I'm gonna get on my squish and check it out, and then hit it on my ss. I'll document the carnage.

[Rossage]

Thanks Kanga. The Harrison map shows it as Whitney Canyon Rd/SantaClara Rd and it shows the Manzanita trail heading to Placerita Cyn park. I'll be out there on Sat morning. Think it will be zooed out around 8:30/9?

[epicriderat]

I was planning on riding Viper Saturday. That vid from Jan 1st got my stoke going to ride this again, it's been about 2 years since last time. Anybody want to hook up?

[El Presidente]

Originally Posted by Rossage

Thanks Kanga. The Harrison map shows it as Whitney Canyon Rd/SantaClara Rd and it shows the Manzanita trail heading to Placerita Cyn park. I'll be out there on Sat morning. Think it will be zooed out around 8:30/9?

Yes the fire road climb is Whitney Canyon.

It never gets crowded there! You can head to the park or keep going straight to the parking lot.

[scottay]

What time? Maybe 0730 or 0800? I'm maybe good for that.....I'm not the fastest climber, but I've been down Viper a few times......


scott

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[1080P]

If you turn your Garmin on in the parking lot, at about 3.8 5 to 3.9 miles you'll see Lone Pine on the left, on a bulldozed or cut pad. It's 50 feet North of the tree, unmarked.

Being a Saturday, please be respectful and give hikers and horses the right of way. We saw plenty of hoove marks on the fire road Thursday that were over tire tracks we'd made.

Be kind to it, ride in control and responsibly, lean WAAAAAAY back, use your front brake and don't skid, Viper gets plenty of erosion without speed junkies tearing it up like Middle Merrill. The other thing is, CORBA Trail Crew is spread way, way, way too thin to do trail maintenance on this trail too, so don't tear it up.

Saturdays highs will be 76., This morning, the wind is 20-25mph through the passes below here in Granada Hills, so expect Viper to be in a "changed" loose ball bearing condition, dried out, and in her PMS b*tch condition, ie, she'll hurt you if you aren't on your game. Kanga was 100% correct when he said that Viper is mentally as well as physically challenging, you have to make split second decisions on lines to take, and things can happen fast on Viper due to the slopeside pitch.

I'd recommend it for intermediates this weekend, all of your bike skill sets should be well developed before trying this, or be willing to walk what you don't feel comfortable with. There is some mild exposure on some of the single track, nothing like the San Gabes or Lower Merrill.

[1080P]

[epicriderat]

Originally Posted by scottay

What time? Maybe 0730 or 0800? I'm maybe good for that.....I'm not the fastest climber, but I've been down Viper a few times......


scott

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scottay,
I could meet at 7:30, San Fernando rd parking lot. Does that work for anyone else?

[scottay]

Okay, me and another guy will be there!


scott
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[epicriderat]

Cool, I'm in a silver 4Runner and riding a white Intense 5.5.
See ya in the am.
Todd

[scottay]

okay, green Silverado and Blur 4X......Jose has an Accord, I think, and a Giant Reign.

scott
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[1080P]

Originally Posted by epicriderat

Cool, I'm in a silver 4Runner and riding a white Intense 5.5.
See ya in the am.
Todd

Pics and a full report?

[epicriderat]

Originally Posted by 1080P

Pics and a full report?

Pics for sure, I may try my new(cheap) video camera. It's the Digital Hero 3, seems to work fairly well, despite it's limited features and simplicity.