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ODB · 03-02-2008, 09:32 PM

Met up with Hanzo, Grandpa and Banana Seat for a taste of the San Gabes today. Was the first time up Lower Merrill for everyone but me, so I prepared the crew for the worst (I hadn't done climbed LM in years either, and i remembered it being less than pleasant). Turned out all my dire warnings were unwarranted, cuz everyone handled it with no problem.

Grandpa, hero of the climb, getting it done on his 1x9 ... on flat pedals, no less:

Banana Seat grinding it out:

Grandpa contends with a rocky up:

Banana Seat kills it:

Hanzo bagged the toughest switchback of any of us, cleaning the last right-hander before we made it to the ruins. (No pics, unfortunately.)

We stopped at the ruins to rest and refuel, and ran into Maniacal, who hooked up with us for the cut-across on Echo Mountain and the descent on Sunset.

Maniacal on Sunset:

Grandpa:

Banana Seat:

Hanzo:

At the bottom of Sunset, we parted ways with Maniacal, who headed down the road while we marched on down to Millard Campground on our way to El Prieto.

Hanzo loving the climb up from Millard:

Stopped for only one photo op on El P cuz the trail's just too damn much fun to want to break your flow.

Banana Seat drops:

So does Hanzo:

I have to join in:

Hanzo · 03-03-2008, 10:45 AM

Holy Crap! We saw the place Tris went over the cliff and its suprising that he is still alive. Never met the guy but glad he made it out. Good seeing Henry out there.

ODB getting some air while Bananaseat takes a pic standing in the PO.

davidB · 03-03-2008, 10:48 AM

anyone want to head out there tomorrow?

Rossage · 03-03-2008, 11:07 AM

Not going there, but I'm heading up Brown to El P at 730 tomorrow morning from JPL parking lot. Moderate pace, recovering from the flu.
Later

davidB · 03-03-2008, 11:08 AM

a couple of us may be doing that same brown/ep route, but probably a little later. still waiting to hear back

Rossage · 03-03-2008, 11:23 AM

I'm going to take the fireroad to Ken Burton and then back down to El P so maybe I'll see you guys out there. I'm on a silver Yeti 575. If not let me know if you're up for a night ride on Thurs. Same route.
Later

JoeTruth · 03-03-2008, 12:17 PM

I feel like a bastard child. Thanks for the ride invite!

All willing, I guess I'm leading a ride with Davidb and a friend of his tomorrow and you're not invited so there!

ODB · 03-03-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

I feel like a bastard child. Thanks for the ride invite!

All willing, I guess I'm leading a ride with Davidb and a friend of his tomorrow and you're not invited so there!

Awwww, need a hug, JoJo? Gonna pack up all your marbles and march home now? Maybe I'm just feeling a little hurt that you spurned my invite to Gooseberry next month. I was so looking forward to sharing that double bed with you and getting some quality spooning time. (Sniff, sniff)

JoeTruth · 03-03-2008, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODB

Awwww, need a hug, JoJo? Gonna pack up all your marbles and march home now? Maybe I'm just feeling a little hurt that you spurned my invite to Gooseberry next month. I was so looking forward to sharing that double bed with you and getting some quality spooning time. (Sniff, sniff)

Don't get all butt hurt on me, Toby. We don't have to go to Gooseberry to get some quality spooning time with one another. Fullerton or Sierra Madre will do just fine.

Tahoe is awaiting your arrival in August. We'll keep a light on for you.

SchwinnStr8 · 03-03-2008, 01:30 PM

Great pics! Nice RR. I love El P. How are the trail conditions? Last time i was there ...some of the trail was washed out due to the rain.

davidB · 03-03-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidB

a couple of us may be doing that same brown/ep route, but probably a little later. still waiting to hear back

nevermind, we (myself, joetruth, speckledtrout) will be doing almost the same route as the original post tomorrow (tuesday) at 1 or 2pm or so

ODB · 03-03-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SchwinnStr8

Great pics! Nice RR. I love El P. How are the trail conditions? Last time i was there ...some of the trail was washed out due to the rain.

Thanks. Conditions on El P are great, with the exception of one uphill section where fallen tree limbs have blocked the trail. Not on El P but on the route we rode Sunday, there's a pretty muddy section of trail coming down from Chaney Trail to Millard Campground. Only about 50 feet or so. Still, it broke Grandpa's heart to get his new Yeti and spiffy I-9s all greasy.

VTVic · 03-03-2008, 06:36 PM

Great RR and awesome pictures. The trail looks very tacky.

bananaseat · 03-03-2008, 07:59 PM

had a great time. climbing lower merrill was tough but the payoff was well worth it. lucky for us the majority of the hikers were on the lower merrill climb. descending sunset and el prieto was fun. the trails were in excellent condition.

bananaseat · 03-04-2008, 11:34 AM

scored some PO on my right leg, below my knee. anyone else?

ODB · 03-04-2008, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaseat

scored some PO on my right leg, below my knee. anyone else?

(See Hanzo's pic.)

So far, so good for me. Hopefully the Dawn dish soap did the trick.

JoeTruth · 03-04-2008, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanzo

Holy Crap! We saw the place Tris went over the cliff and its suprising that he is still alive. Never met the guy but glad he made it out. Good seeing Henry out there.

ODB getting some air while Bananaseat takes a pic standing in the PO.

Wow, that's a nice photo, Toby! Ju look so shmooth!
I might have to join you in Gooseberry after all.

northshore · 03-04-2008, 12:22 PM

Can't wait to ride this in the future.

grandpa · 03-04-2008, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananaseat

scored some PO on my right leg, below my knee. anyone else?

Not me.

'Course I wasn't standing in it while taking pictures either

03-02-2008, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
ODB Team Sting-Ray	Lower Merrill/Sunset/El Prieto Met up with Hanzo, Grandpa and Banana Seat for a taste of the San Gabes today. Was the first time up Lower Merrill for everyone but me, so I prepared the crew for the worst (I hadn't done climbed LM in years either, and i remembered it being less than pleasant). Turned out all my dire warnings were unwarranted, cuz everyone handled it with no problem. Grandpa, hero of the climb, getting it done on his 1x9 ... on flat pedals, no less: Banana Seat grinding it out: Grandpa contends with a rocky up: Banana Seat kills it: Hanzo bagged the toughest switchback of any of us, cleaning the last right-hander before we made it to the ruins. (No pics, unfortunately.) We stopped at the ruins to rest and refuel, and ran into Maniacal, who hooked up with us for the cut-across on Echo Mountain and the descent on Sunset. Maniacal on Sunset: Grandpa: Banana Seat: Hanzo: At the bottom of Sunset, we parted ways with Maniacal, who headed down the road while we marched on down to Millard Campground on our way to El Prieto. Hanzo loving the climb up from Millard: Stopped for only one photo op on El P cuz the trail's just too damn much fun to want to break your flow. Banana Seat drops: So does Hanzo: I have to join in: __________________ *guero:* "it's so good once it hits your lips!"

03-03-2008, 12:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
JoeTruth Don't touch me!	I feel like a bastard child. Thanks for the ride invite! All willing, I guess I'm leading a ride with Davidb and a friend of his tomorrow and you're not invited so there! __________________ "People... they don't write anymore - they blog. Instead of talking, they text, no punctuation, no grammar: LOL this and LMFAO that. You know, it just seems to me it's just a bunch of stupid people pseudo-communicating with a bunch of other stupid people in a proto-language that resembles more what cavemen used to speak than the King's English." Hank

03-04-2008, 12:22 PM	#18 (permalink)
northshore Aloha Brah!	Can't wait to ride this in the future. __________________ Hawaiian Island Creations Ride it: dw-link.com/reasons

03-03-2008, 11:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rossage Senior Member	Not going there, but I'm heading up Brown to El P at 730 tomorrow morning from JPL parking lot. Moderate pace, recovering from the flu. Later

03-03-2008, 11:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rossage Senior Member	I'm going to take the fireroad to Ken Burton and then back down to El P so maybe I'll see you guys out there. I'm on a silver Yeti 575. If not let me know if you're up for a night ride on Thurs. Same route. Later

03-03-2008, 01:30 PM	#10 (permalink)
SchwinnStr8 Team DHB	Great pics! Nice RR. I love El P. How are the trail conditions? Last time i was there ...some of the trail was washed out due to the rain.

03-03-2008, 06:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
VTVic STR Veteran	Great RR and awesome pictures. The trail looks very tacky.

03-03-2008, 07:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
bananaseat STR Veteran	had a great time. climbing lower merrill was tough but the payoff was well worth it. lucky for us the majority of the hikers were on the lower merrill climb. descending sunset and el prieto was fun. the trails were in excellent condition.

03-04-2008, 11:34 AM	#15 (permalink)
bananaseat STR Veteran	scored some PO on my right leg, below my knee. anyone else?

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