Ramona/San Vicente

[PacMan]

This isn't really a Ride Report, so I didn't prefix as such. This is more like a friendly bit of advice: If there's a trail you've put off exploring, don't put it off any longer.

I've lived out in Ramona's Country Estates since just before Christmas. I've barely explored the endless trail system in the hills surrounding my neighborhood. I've just recently started piecing together some good loops of varying length.

Earlier in the week, I scoped out another trailhead and today, I talked Sean/GP Pilot into exploring with me since he recently moved into the area as well.

I took a few pics, so I'll share them. They're nothing special. But, they do show some really fun trails that have been sitting right under my nose for months.

It started off with a few hundred yards of paved climbing. Some of the locals have painted it so it looks like a Tour de France mountain stage. The names ARMSTRONG and LEMOND are painted in huge letters, along with various other symbols. I know Sean got a pic or two of them.

On trail:



Sean plays on a rock formation:



This little rattler did not want to move, so we ended up going around him, off trail:


Awesome scenery (Light was fading fast so I only got a couple):





Day turned to night and we broke out the lights (yes, we came prepared). We climbed up some switchbacks to the top of a hill and came out on a very well maintained and used dirt road. We saw cars on a highway in the distance and figured it was Hwy 78 going out to Julian. We decided to turn back and just retrace our route instead of taking any chances and I'm REALLY glad we did---


Our turn-around point is at the northeastern-most point. About 2 miles from Witch Creek, which isn't far from Santa Isabel. That would have been a sucky ride back home.

What started as a little exploration ride turned into a 2.5 hour, 14+ mile, 1,800' of elevation gain ride. Pretty fun for a Sunday evening.

Again, if there's a trail you've been meaning to explore and you keep putting it off--stop procrastinating and Git 'er done!! You never know what you may find!!

[SKULLY]

Funny, I was at Lake San Vicente yesterday wakeboarding and thinking to myself that there must be tons of trails out there. Some cool ridge lines by the lake that look like they could be fun if they had trails on them.

[mcinvale]

Funny, I was at San Vicente on Friday wakesurfing with my friend that lives in Santa Isabel.

[GP_pilot]

Ok, here's a few more photos.

Pacman in the Pyrenees




High Meadow




Sunset




Cuyamaca Peak in the distance




Good stuff from the brief amount we rode. Gonna be hard with two concurrent mapping projects.

[Pain Freak]

Thanks Doug. I got to get over that way and check some of that out.

[PacMan]

I forgot to mention the final wildlife tally:

Daylight:
1 Rattlesnake
5 Horned Toads

Night:
10 frogs
1 Skunk
5,000 Field Mice (give or take 1 or 2)