RR: Hidden Routes of Chiquita Ridge

[KeepsWhatHappens]

We had nine riders show up this morning for the tour of Chiquita Ridge. It was my first ride in a while since work has slowed down a tiny bit for me. Plus it was nice to be riding with Singletrack Angel again. Got to meet two riders I'd never ridden with Mark aka hoovermd and Dylan aka neg1977. Mark showed up on a cross bike singlespeed This guy was a hill climber! Neither had ever ridden these trails before...and they were in for a treat!

Karen aka kpeony and Carrie aka Carbon Carrie graced us with their presence. Always nice to have some ladies on the ride. Got to ride again and chat a bit with Richie Rich who is another local rider. Eric Foltz joined us who is always cool to ride with and last but not least Gene happily surprised me and showed up to ride having been up since 1pm the day before. What a trooper.

Anyway we headed off up the hill and after gaining the ride we were on our first hidden route...a small connector over a small pass and then a meadow filled thigh-high with wildflowers. After crossing the meadow everyone's legs were stinging from all the little prickers and stickers that we'd brushed against. Ain't it great to be alive!

We headed up to Playboy while the ladies sat that one out and met us after we dropped Playboy. Karen and Kristine then skipped the next foray and met us at Rats Back since Karen was feeling a bit dizzy from too much coffee.

The rest of us dropped down Big Dip alternate (very overgrown) and picked up Eucalyptus and then Palomia Trail into Coto. These are some really fun, steep singletracks that culminate in a beautiful run through an Oak forest before letting out on the Coto horse trails. After a quick jaunt on the hrose trail we were heading back up to the ridge on Sawgrass.

Expecting to find the ladies waiting at Rat's Back they were no where to be found. Then we saw them. They had decided to drop rats Back once without us and were coming back up valley through fields of flowers.

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Rats Back.

Once re-grouped we dropped Rats Back right and then head up for some HABage up to the ridge trail I call 241. This ridge was simply stunning and quite overgrown with mustard and other plants. We all had a blast bombing down this trail.

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Gene on 241.

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Eric on 241.

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Dylan on 241.

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Richie Rich on 241.

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Karen in a field of shoulder-high mustard.

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Coming down 241. Can you find the five riders in this photo?

Next we climbed back up to the fireroad where the breakaway A group had some words with some motos who were ripping up trails. We re-grouped and then dropped the always exciting Oso with it's exhilarating descent at the end of the ridge.

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Gene bombing the Oso Drop.

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Rich showed some incredible speed on the Oso Drop.

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Kristine takes the drop only for her second time.

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Carrie smiling the whole way down Oso Drop.

Here Carrie and Mark headed back to the cars. I later found out that they got lost getting back (I hope not due to my bad directions) probably due to overgrown trails. Carrie also apparently had a little spill. So sorry for this Carrie and Mark. Next time I'll make sure this doesn't happen.

The rest of us headed south and we ALL climbed up the b!tch of a hill up to Ladera Ridge. Nice job Singletrack Angle and Kpeony! Then we continued south along the ridge line singletrack which was ablaze with wildflowers and orange Witch's Broom.

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Singletrack Angel along Ladera Ridge.

Then we took a right down Firehose which was also quite overgrown but fun as always.

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Gene on Firehose.

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Kristine on Firehose.

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Karen loving the Lupines on Firehose.

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The lower, really overgrown section of Firehose.

We then dropped through Waterworks and climbed back up to the fireroad behind the condos and headed north. Then, since we had Dylan with us who had never ridden any of these trails, we decided to drop into the Arroyo Trabuco again at Las Flores. We dropped in on Tijeras Creek Trail, crossed the creek and headed north through the jungle.

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Gene crossing Tijeras Creek.

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Kristine crossing Tijeras Creek.

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Heading through the Jungle.

Dylan certainly got his money's worth on today's ride. The full tour of 17.5 miles and 2300' feet of some of RSMs finest trails. After getting back to the cars, we then quenched our thirsts and filled our bellies at BeachFire Grill in Ladera.

Then about 2:30pm (still at The BeachFire) reality set in and Kristine and I were off to pick up the kids from school. Thanks all for the good times today.

[dfioc]

Thanks for the write-up! I hope to join your next trip through Chiquita! I ride there often but I've not been a lot of the singletrack.

[ericfoltz]

Great group. Always a fun time riding on some good South County trails. Thanks for putting this together.

[xhuskr]

Do ya plan on doing this ride next week when I can prob make it? Looks like fun!

[Jordansrealm]

Sorry I couldnt make it today guys/gals I really wanted to! Ended up having to work today was 100% day for the mag.

[foofighter]

John excellent write up and photos as always...i'd love to have that garmin file from ya so i can give that loop a whirl

[singleminded]

I knew i should have taken a sick day.....

Looked sweet!

[ericfoltz]

Originally Posted by foofighter

John excellent write up and photos as always...i'd love to have that garmin file from ya so i can give that loop a whirl

It's loaded up over at GL if you want to download.

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=12992

[Jordansrealm]

Originally Posted by ericfoltz

It's loaded up over at GL if you want to download.

Whats the link?

[northshore]

*cough* *cough* I suddenly feel sick and have to do a ride tomorrow!

[Jordansrealm]

Originally Posted by northshore

*cough* *cough* I suddenly feel sick and have to do a ride tomorrow!

*coughcough* let me know

[xhuskr]

Originally Posted by northshore

*cough* *cough* I suddenly feel sick and have to do a ride tomorrow!

Originally Posted by Jordansrealm

*coughcough* let me know

can you two be *cough cough* ill next week? along with anyone else? I'd love to do this ride and have the week off. I'm not too familiar with the route...but it sure looks great.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by foofighter

John excellent write up and photos as always...i'd love to have that garmin file from ya so i can give that loop a whirl

I had some problems with my Garmin today but eric Foltz posted his here.

Originally Posted by xhuskr

can you two be *cough cough* ill next week? along with anyone else? I'd love to do this ride and have the week off. I'm not too familiar with the route...but it sure looks great.

If I am not working Tues or Wed I can lead us. I'll let you know in a day or two.

[Kpeony]

Thanks guys and gals for a wonderful day! The wildflowers and plants were, pardon the pun, having a field day today! It was as I said, SPECTACULAR! I enjoyed every climb and single track sections. Lunch was the bomb and hit the spot! Can't wait to get out there and do it again! Kpeony

[Keith B]

That looks like a nice ride. I'll have to try some of those trails back there.

[Wrecker]

It looks beautiful out there! Wish I was there this morning instead of work

[genusmtbkr5]

Great ride today with some great folks. Good to ride with afew new riders that I have'nt ridden with yet like Mark(hoovermd), Dylan(neg1977) and Rich(richie_rich). Always a pleasure John, Kristine, Eric, Carrie and Karen. I gave rich a ride home and when I got home, I was out cold till 7pm, but the ride was worth losing sleep.