RR: Forgotten Gabes: Table Mountain Ridge

[GP_pilot]

With the advent of handheld GPS, many would think that printed topographic maps are a way of the past along with hardbound encyclopedias. This can very well be the case when you’re hitting up a new trail that a previous person captured in their GPS and posted the .gpx file for you to jam into your GPS for navigating instructions. But having grown up in the Atari era, I learned orienteering the old fashioned way while in Boy Scouts with none other than basic a map and compass. The time and place when you need these requisite skills is when you’re well off the beaten path. In these situations, the GPS is great for telling where you’ve been but knowing where to go is a learned art. Reading topo maps and understanding land contours isn’t much different than trying to find the optimal fall line down a slope in ski season. If you don’t know how to backcountry navigate, head over to REI and take both their Map & Compass class and outing. One of reasons I don’t post overlayed routes on topo maps is that several of these routes require genuine orienteering to navigate. It is my way as a subtle disclaimer that I expect you to put forth the effort to merge my ride report with map reading and planning. I’m now into a routine of taking a topo with me everytime I hit new trail in the San Gabes, free from digital-topo-maps.com. Also don’t be surprised when your trail isn’t following the topo route. Trails can and do change by natural or human intervention, but topo maps are rarely updated beyond their initial survey.

This next trail is captures the essence of this series and will force you to blow the dust off your navigating skills. You will loose the trail several times as I did, but good orienteering will put you back on it immediately. The idea for this ride started when I saw a trail along a ridge that ended on one side of a hill and with another trail falling off the other side. What the heck, I’m up for some bushwacking between the two and so I was off to explore Table Mountain Ridge. As I was pulling into the Blue Ridge trailhead at Big Pines, things were already getting interesting. I did a double take when I saw a cat playing on the Blue Ridge trail, but it happened to be twice the size of an average house cat.



Getting underway it’s a short .15 mi past the Big Pines lodge to Table Mountain road that breaks right, just before Big Pines Hwy N4. From here it’s a steeper but short 0.7 mi asphalt climb to a 180 degree hairpin with a pretty good 180 degree view.



There’s a parking area here and you’ll pick up forest road 4N21 heading east.



This is a paved, narrow single lane road that runs to a communication tower at the end. It’s also is popular with runners and hikers at Table Mtn campground due to it’s shallow grade. Just over 1.3 mi on this road you’ll see a trail bearing left and want to pick it up.



Your single track journey has now begun.









In 0.55 mi, the easy navigation is over as you cross back over 4N21 and real navigation starts. You’ll see the remains of an old, steep jeep trail on your left, that someone recently ignored the no motor vehicles sign. But you’re looking for the trail straight ahead that looks like a small storm wash.



This takes you to the top of the rise and joins back onto the jeep road.



Picking it up, you’ll come to another clearing with an old corral.



There’s vehicle tracks all over, but continue bearing left. Before you start climbing another steep jeep trail, a single track bears right and switchbacks to the top.



Again you’ll join the jeep trail which will finally put you out at the end of 4N21. Before reaching the road, you want to turn right.



There’s an incredible overlook of Hesperia/Victorville to your left.



Here the road splits and you’ll want to take the high road.



There’s some great remote camping spots back here that you can drive to. The very end of the upper jeep road will end in a loop. It is at this point you’ll see a slight indentation in a berm preventing vehicles from going further. It’s at this point you cross into unmaintained back country.



The trail starts an immediate, straight down descent which is fairly loose and rocky.



I’d highly encourage to tread lightly by walking your bike down this slope as it won’t be able to sustain the damage from rear tire skidding and there’s no telling what you’ll hit with the front. Looking back on the slope you just came down.



Examples of just how reclaimed this trail is.









Heading for the far knoll.



Looking back at your descent from the top.



Sunset of over Wright Mtn and Wrigthwood



You’ll reach a dip in the ridge line with a distinct trail off to your right which would take you to Rivera Dr, off CA-2 on the west side of Wrightwood.



You can bail here, but you’d miss another 2.6 mi of backcountry singletrack. Instead take the bulldozed climb up.



The trail does go all the way through between the two trails on the topo, just like I had hoped. On the other side you’ll pickup a slightly more distinct trail that joins with an old road grade.



Although it was too dark to take any remaining pictures, you’ll stay on the bulldozed road grade and start a descent back into town. At the end you’ll hit a locked gate with posted Keep Out on both sides. I’m pretty sure the land owner at the end put those and old barbwire up to keep people from driving up his driveway. Google Map has this entire grade listed as Valley View Blvd. I also checked another site that shows property boundaries, it’s hard to tell if there is a road easement with out pulling up the parcel survey from county records. The house was vacant, but bottom line is to use some discretion when crossing through or scramble down the slope to the left. Valley View will spit you back out on to CA-2 on the east end of Wrightwood. If you still need to squeeze out a bit more single track, take a left and head down the road 400 ft. Just before the town sign, there’s a trail bearing to the left. This puts you on the local pump track loop which some kids told me about a some time ago. When you’ve had your fill, it’s 4 miles back up the road to where you started at Big Pines. However it doesn’t have to be all road. Right past the town park at Spruce street, you can pick up the embankment used for flood control which will take you up to Flume Canyon Dr. From here you’ve got 1.25 mi on asphalt until the parking lot at Mountain High East, unless you want to poach a mile of dirt road through a ranch to the left. Once reaching Mountain High East, take the parking lot all the way to the end which will turn into a service road between the two ski areas. 1.15 mi later and you’re right back to the start of the Blue Ridge trailhead, just below the Big Pines parking lot.

This trail was definitely a bit of a challenge to navigate, but was straight forward as it traverses along a ridge line the entire way. I can’t say I even saw recent foot prints once I crossed into the backcountry. If this trail continues in its current state, I would suspect it could be completely reclaimed in half a decade. And that’s what makes this trail…forgotten.



Status: Forgotten
Distance: 12.7 mi (loop), 8.3 mi for Table Mtn Ridge
Total Descent: 3120’ (loop), 3059’ for Table Mtn Ridge
Total Ascent: 3263’(loop), 2244’ for Table Mtn Ridge

Ride reports in the Forgotten Gabes series:
Blue Ridge Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Blue Ridge Trail
Acorn Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Acorn Trail
Pinecone Trail – Forgotten Gabes: Pinecone Trail

[art23rockpile]

Thanks for another fine addition to your "Forgotten Gabes" RRs. Keep 'em coming!

You make a good point about bringing (and knowing how to read) a topo map. There are a number of "essentials" i'm learning to always bring whenever I go exploring in the Gabs.

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice pics and RR. I really need to get a ride up there. Those trails look sweet. Thanks for sharing.

[PacMan]

Thanks again bro. I'm really enjoying reading these and seeing the pics. Hearing your firsthand accounts on our ride last Sunday made this RR even better!!

[Solo]

I'm really enjoying your RR series and am wondering if you can crank them out a little faster? I especially like this picture.

Originally Posted by GP_pilot

Great point on navigating with a map and compass, you never have to worry about the batteries dying, tech issues, etc. Not to mention, have you ever tried to navigate using a 2" screen?

Keep exploring!!!

[GP_pilot]

Originally Posted by Solo

I'm really enjoying your RR series and am wondering if you can crank them out a little faster?

It's just like a TV series, you gotta tune in each week. Just wait for the season ending finale come this fall.

[jakethecake]

Great pics, great information...what doesnt this thread have?

[Evil Chocula]

Originally Posted by jakethecake

Great pics, great information...what doesnt this thread have?

Pics of chicks.

Great RR man... I'm envious.

[GP_pilot]

Originally Posted by Evil Chocula

Pics of chicks.

Great RR man... I'm envious.

Ok, I'll work on the getting cougar shots next time.