RR: Bommer Cyn Wilderness Access Day

[Sprockethead]

Met up with the STR bubb and bubbettes this morning at the Bommer Cyn Cow Camp around 8am. We had a pretty good showing, Shannon and Bruce, Craig and Margo, CC, Art, Steppie, Pat, Craig (CJWally), Ann and I. It was a bit warm already and we were the last group to roll out of Cow Camp. Looks like everyone went up Ridge Route but we had to be different. We took Adam's advice and did the whole shabang. By the time we got to Quail Trail, it must have felt like 90. The climb up Quail was long, I think Craig, Craig and I were the only ones to clean it. Margo was kickin' some serous A$$, she made the switchbacks look easy. I can tell you, they're not beginner friendly. Great job Margo!

By the time we got to Rabbit Run, it was hot, CC, Shannon and Bruce split off from the group and the rest of us headed to Fox run. I really enjoyed Fox run, it had some good technical features so please leave the trail as is Adam . At the bottom, it was now officially HOT. Did I mention it was hot today?? Steppie, Margo and Ann decided to skip Rabbit run and Craig, Art, Pat, Craig and I started our push up Rabbit Run. While heading up, we discussed possible lines for coming down Rabbit. Craig did a nice job cleaning it. I told everyone the wheelie drop off the rock was probably the safest line. Yeah, easy to say, but it's quite sketchy.

By the time we were climbing back, it was now FREAKIN HOT. I was feeling cold chills up my back and Pat told me he stopped sweating. I'm pretty sure we were starting to suffer the effects of heat exhaustion. All I wanted to do at this point was to get back and be done. Back at Cow Camp, the water hose felt sooo good. Nice cold water. Felt better, but not much.

Morning meeting


Heading up to Quail Trail


Ann and Margo reaching the top of Quail



Lot's of climbing


Pat of Fox Run


Craig - CJWally on Fox


Ann coming down Fox Run




Craig setting up for the rock section on Rabbit Run


Rolling the rocks




Craig showing us how it's done on a 29er HT


Here's the link to them:

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/gall...503&ppuser=354

[Shannon]

I knew it was going to be hot when we rolled out this morning, but had no clue it would be that bad. I think Bruce and I have become a little too acclimated to the cooler weather up on the central coast.

When we decided to split from everyone it was just so friggin' hot we had no desire to add any extra climbing to our ride. Sorry guys, we love and miss ya but the heat was too much to take. Along the ridge back to Cow Camp, we stopped to talk to the ranger who was out patrolling in his truck to make sure people were okay. Because of the heat, he was offering people a ride back to the cars. Man, I was so tempted when I saw he had the air conditioning going full blast. Since it wasn't too much farther back to the cars I tore myself away and we continued back. It was nice being able to ride new trails. Hopefully next time the weather will cooperate.

[back of the pack]

It was great seeing everyone out today, when I got in my car at 1:00 pm the thermometer said 103, from what I could tell everyone made it out OK.

[JamR]

Nice to run into the group while out checking the trails this morning, and to put some faces to names.

We will be leaving the trails pretty much as is except for some onging rock armoring in places to keep them from turning to dust. However, rock armoring that is done right actually adds to the technical features of a trail, and in some places we will be using rock-boxes which support the trail, but add a series of drops along the trail on the steep sections.

The main improvements that I'm sure everyone noticed were the bridges which are a requirment of the Recreation & Resource Management Plan anytime a trail crosses a blue-line natural drainage or watershed. They actually make some pretty nice trail features though, especially with the rock work at the abutment.

Hope everyone had a good time!

Only had to drive one person out who did a little dance on her ribs with her handlebar, and got a little hot on the way out.

Other than that it was a warm-but-nice day out there.

[JRD]

Rode the Irvine Open space preserve – south this morning. After talking with the fine folks at the check in, John ( a mtb guide) suggested that I take the East Fork out and up to get some altitude early while it was still cool (yea at 8:00am it already felt like 80 freakin degrees). I was told that there might be a slight hike a bike section towards the top and sure enough there was. It was really strange to not see any other tire tracks on the trail. It was like I was the first bike to ride up that trail. Traversing the top section on a ST along the 73 toll road, I had to walk a couple time because I was still dying from the climb and could not pull off the stair steps along the barb wire fence (maybe next time). I met up with a guy named John and another rider named Bob at the Hogback connector. They actually climbed the ridge behind me but I stopped and took a leak which allowed them to get ahead of me. So much for no tire tracks…I rode with them down Hogback at a nice fast pace onto the Serrano Ridge passing up the Fox Run ST and finally stopping at the top of Rabbit Run. After getting some oxygen back into my lungs and downing another 6 oz of water, we lowered our seats and rode down Rabbit. What a sweet ST trail. When I hit the nasty sections I just sat up on my cross bar of my stumpy and put my feet out wide and made like a bob slider (not a pretty site for sure). When I came up to that section which was premiered on the STR web site, I was amaze at how much tougher that section looked from in real life and from behind. I wish I was ready to attempt a section like that but I wasn’t going to shoot my whole wad on that rock hop section, especially since I had no idea what else was still out there in front of me and it was getting really really warm. At the bottom of Rabbit, I hooked up onto Shady Oaks ST, not sure why it’s called that because I don’t remember seeing too much shade anywhere. While climbing a section of ST on Shady Oaks I realized I had a flat front tire. I needed a rest so I really didn’t mind taking a break. Digging into my back pack, I pulled out my new handy dandy CO2 pump that I had won at mtb clinic I did up in Woods Canyon a month earlier, for doing the longest track stand at the top of the rocky section on Rock It. For a month now that Air tool had been sitting on my work bench still in its plastic case but for some reason I had decided to pack it last night for today’s ride. I’m glad I did because it was too freakin hot out there to be burning precious calorie dinken with my little manual hand pump. Anyways, I finally continued on down the Shady Oaks ST (what great little ST trail) and finally down onto Shady Oaks service road where I met up with John and Bob. I followed them back up the service road but I was hurting on that climb back up and was glad to finally get see to the Hogback Ridge and Serrano Ridge intersection. I was totally wasted but continued on back up the Ridge Route. I was actually passed by a jogger. Man that was really demoralizing. I finally made it up the ridge back side and onto the top of Ridge route. That long ST run down the Ridge Route was worth every drop of sweat I paid riding up that fire road. What a cool place to ride. My thanks to the folks working and maintaining those trails, well done. If you get a chance to do these trails ‘do it’. Thanks for the hot tip STR..

[dstepper]

I was not much in the mood to take pics today but I did take two.

CC and Shannon on the first climb
Ann and Margo on the finial hill of the day.

Dean

[CC]

I enjoyed the group today and was very impressed with ms. cal epic (Margo). Way to go girl! Hopefully you and craig can can make it out on Thursday night fully loop rides soon (remember I said that you have debs on the light).

One really great treat for me today was to ride with my homie, Shannon...and you too Bruce. Since Shannon has moved to SLO we don't get to ride together very often. Unfortunately they have adapted to the cooler temps on the central coast so today was doubley hot for them. Either way, we managed to complete the ride, grabbed some lunch, and had some good laughs. What more could you ask for.

I took some pix that Shannon has down loaded on her lap top and she will post them up soon.

Thanks for opening up the trails Adam, I really enjoyed the un-docent rides, so that ppl can go at there own pace and ride different trails.

Good seeing everyone, hope to see you for the b&b ride tomorrow.

~cc

[guero]

darn my snooze button.

[CalEpic]

It was hot!

Video of Andy on Rabbit Run
http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...enSpace001.flv

C

[cjwally]

Hot is an understatement... I was glad to get home after the short ride from Bommer Canyon on the road. Once again guys, I had a good time seeing old faces and riding with the group... Thanks to everyone that showed up. Andy...Thanks for taking the time to take some pictures...

Now for Bikes and Beers.....

[HardCharger]

Looks like a fun trail. How many miles is this ride?

[CalEpic]

Originally Posted by HardCharger

Looks like a fun trail. How many miles is this ride?

Total mileage was ~ 15 for the route we took.

If it's new dirt, it may be worth riding there, but it just seems there is not enough singletrack descent to justify the amount of fire road climbing. It is getting better though. I understand more singletrack is coming on-line so once all the additions are made that may change my view.

C

[art23rockpile]

+1 on that, Craig. After riding it on two separate occasions, i'd have to agree that it's a lot of effort to ride the singletrack trails there. Once you're in the canyon, there's just no easy way out. Yesterday, it was way over-the-top with the brutal heat... that climb out was miserable (even tho I did get a 'second wind' toward the end).
It was nice riding with everyone. MsCalEpic showed some impressive climbing ability (for a 'new' rider) cleaning a number of switchbacks with ease . By the time we were riding Rabbit Run, our crew was down to five: Craig and Craig, Andy, Pat, and I. CalEpic and Andy rode the lower sections skillfully! Riding the bottom section, I swerved to avoid Pat's sunglasses on the trail, crashed into a bush, and put a tear thru a kneepad into my shin ...thanks to 661 for their tough gear!

[Mudman]

Was this one of those rides for the "IN" people?

looked like a scorching day!

[art23rockpile]

Originally Posted by Mudman

Was this one of those rides for the "IN" people?

looked like a scorching day!

Not at all. The ride was posted under 'Trailhead' and another thread for Wilderness Access Day. At 8am there were at least 25 riders (STR and others) in the parking area. It's open for 'unguided riding' once a month.
"Scorching" is accurate... miserable at times!

[L8 APEKS]

Shannon, what the hell? You and Bruce are in town riding and you didn't message me?!