RR: Monday Madness

[ThinkFast]

Well, I had Monday off and wanted to get a long ride in. So I decided to ride from Canada Vista Park in Rancho Santa Margarita down to Trestles in South San Clemente and back. My original plan was to do an out and back but that changed as the day progressed.

Starting off on Chaquita Ridge, the day was so clear and Saddleback looked so close.


Down in the meadow below Chaquita Ridge the morning was already warming up and it was still early.


Another shot from down in the meadow.


Looking inland, Saddleback still looks very close.


Looking towards the ocean, the water looks a long ways off, and Trestles is even further away.


Approaching Oso drop, someone smoothed the trail out a couple weeks ago but it is still a fun drop.


On Ladera Ridge I came across this guy.


His view to the left included Saddleback and snow covered peaks in the distance.


His view to the right was the ocean.


Just beyond Firehouse I saw a big Cat on the trail.


One of many steep fire road drops heading towards Ortega Hwy. I was surprised to see so much water here. I also wasn’t sure if I wanted to return this way, the climbs would be a challenge even with fresh legs.


After getting to Ortega Hwy I had to ride a couple miles on the street and a short time in the dirt behind San Juan Hills to connect down into the backside of Forster Ranch in San Clemente, then another brief stint through some residential streets before I hit dirt again.

The Camino Del Rio Trailhead.


I hadn’t ridden back here in years and I was surprised to come across this site. Last time I was back here this area was barren.


After climbing up over the backside of north San Clemente I finally came to the trails that run behind Talega. This was all new to me and I was surprised by the constant up and down of the terrain. It was getting warm by this time in the day and I was running later than I though I would have up to this point. I was feeling beat to be honest.

Then I came across an encouraging trail sign. The trail here was the worst of it.


What a beautiful day!


On the backside of Talega I was rewarded with a view of Catalina Island, San Clemente Island, and the trails I had been on earlier.


There was still a fair amount of steep climbing to be had behind Talega and finally a switchback fire road that dropped down to the end of Pico.

I then climbed up into the San Clemente Single Tracks and ran into Mr. Hobbs. Who turned me on to yet another new addition to the SCST trail system. Thanks Tony!

On the SCST’s looking back towards Saddleback, which is now in the distance.


Finally! I’m at Trestles. The waves looked fun, and the crowd was thin too.


I had a decision to make, take the steep up and down trails I had just been on the last couple hours back to RSM or enjoy the San Clemente Beach Trail and check out the surf through San Clemente. Easy enough, I was off towards SC Pier.

A couple enjoying a beautiful day at the beach in San Clemente.


I didn’t take too many pics going back since it was already later in the day than I thought it was going to be. The ride back from Trestles included SC Beach Trail to PCH, then to Ave Vaquero and back to Camino de los Mares and the trails behind San Juan Hills. Once down into San Juan I took Rancho Viejo Rd to Highland Ave and connected onto the Ladera Look Out trails over to Tijeras and back to the car at Canada Vista Park.

Overall it was a fun ride. The best parts of the trail were the popular Chaquita Ridge and San Clemente Single Track's. Total for the day was 55.1 miles and only 6494’ of elevation. Ride time was 6:10 and the total time was 7:21.

[bighit8]

Awesome, i will post my solo ride tomorrow. I have a route planned, so look out for my RR.Great pics.Looks like a great time.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Awesome RR Troy! I'll have to do this route with you sometime...as a shuttle!!!

[ryandood]

looks pretty epic. 55 miles is a long ride and a hell of a journey it looks like. did you just get a ride home?

[singleminded]

Sweet.....

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by ryandood

did you just get a ride home?

No, I rode back to the starting point. I didn't do a straight out and back though. It would have taken too long and been more work than I wanted, it probably would have been an extra 8 or 9 miles and at least another 1000 -2000 feet of hard elevation. The ride down was around 32 miles and the ride back was only around 23.

[ThinkFast]

Originally Posted by KeepsWhatHappens

Awesome RR Troy! I'll have to do this route with you sometime...as a shuttle!!!

We'll have to do a shuttle ride from Friends in Dove Canyon to Pizza Port in SC .

[tkblazer]

any more pics of the sun bathing chick?