RR: Forgotten Gabes: Ball Flat

[GP_pilot]

RR: Forgotten Gabes: Ball Flat

Most of us don’t encounter situations in our daily hobbies or sports that require hard decision points that basically forces us to give up on our goal. None of us like to resign when we’re so close to the finish, but continuing to go on can result in dire outcomes. The key is planning out these situations in advance and having already made your decision well before arrive at the predicament. Making decisions on the go when you’re fatigued, sick, at minimum reserves, or at your limits is not the appropriate time.

Summiting, scuba diving, and flying all fall into this category. Bagging a peak much above 10,000’ requires an early start at the trailhead, not only to get back before nightfall, but to get down off the summit if afternoon clouds are expected to build into possible thunderstorms. You won’t repeat the terror when a storm whips up and you’re forced to take what little shelter is afforded on an exposure, crouched into a ball, as you’re pelted with hail while lightening crashes around you. Likewise when you’ve got a raging altitude headache at 12,000’ and the summit is another 2,000’ above, you’re not making the summit today. Scuba divers can face the urge to further explore an interesting feature at the end of a dive. Yet hurrying the timed ascent back to the surface before running out of air can also get you killed from decompression sickness. But nowhere did I find this more prevalent than when it comes to flying. Recreational pilots face a near endless amount of critical decisions throughout any flight. A stronger than expected headwind or routing around thunderstorms can cause fuel to be exhausted before reaching your destination. What claims the most fatalities is flying to the destination when the weather is bad and the pilot gets in over their head either by not following set procedures or by exceeding their personal limits.

Although safety and good practices can taught for nearly all activities, much of our experience comes by way of bad decision making from ourselves and others. It’s those “never again” situations that you retain for the rest of your life. We don’t normally encounter this in our rides, but once you’re biking in the backcountry it’s no different. Take an extra couple of minutes to consider a few self imposed limits and then go enjoy the ride.

Just down the road and around the corner from Jackson Lake is Ball Flat. I was looking forward to this being a semi-easy 6-7 mile loop, but it was quite the opposite. I now have an appreciation for the steepness of terrain depicted on a topo map. From the Lake entrance, head 0.23 mi down Big Pines Highway to Ball Flat Rd.



You’ll turn right here and head around the backside of the LA county road department.



On 4N16 there’s a maze of jeep trails, but basically you keep right at all junctions, namely at 0.88 mi after you get on Ball Flat.



You’ll start a gradual descent, then hit the first serious downhill portion. This is unrideable due to jeeps hill climbing it, producing an oversized wash board of deep, soft ground.



From here on it’s all down or up.



Some of the uphill sections become hike-a-bike portions due to soft soil from offroad traffic.



Pretty much it follows the ridge line above Mescal creek 600’ below you.



Eventually you’ll drop off the steep ridge to the left



The last major ridge requires a crazy steep climb but is rideable as Jeeps don’t come out this far.



Exposed tree roots on the way up.



Looking back where you just came up.



More climbing ahead



The 360 degree views from the top are outstanding as long as there’s not much smoke from distant forest fires. Looking back at Ball Flat.



The initial descent of the ridge is good.





Then the bottom of the world drops out from underneath of you at 2.7 miles from the start.



This bulldozed trail drops 1000’ in a half mile, so riding this isn’t even in question. You’re better off having a toboggan at this point.



Before heading up another crazy steep hill, a cut 4x4 trail drops to the right all the way to Mescal creek road.



It’s now a 2.9 mile spin 1,200’ up to Big Pines Highway on 4N06. This puts you out at the east end of the lake and it’s another 1/4 mile back to the start. I’m not trusting the total GPS ascent number on this one, but there was way more climbing than I expected on this loop. It’s not singletrack, it’s not for everyone, but it’s definitely off the beaten path for those that like a challenge.




Status: Unknown (Off road)
Distance: 6.42 mi (loop)
Total Descent: 1771’
Total Ascent: 2822’

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
Table Mountain Ridge – Forgotten Gabes: Table Mountain Ridge
Jackson Loop – Forgotten Gabes: Jackson Loop
Table Mountain Campground – Forgotten Gabes: Table Mountain Campground

[CalEpic]

Thanks, I'm really liking your Forgotten Gabes reports.

C

[Evil Chocula]

Awesome RR. Was this one of those "never again" moments for you?

[DISCO]

I am so inspired, thank you for sharing.

[dstepper]

Nice thanks for the RR. Keep knocking off the sections that not of us what to ride. Sounds like it is a better Moto route.

Dean

[Solo]

Another great RR and I'm still waiting for the "bad decision" or "never again" part? . Was it that steep a$$ hill, you should have never climbed but unwisely pressed on in order to finish what you started knowing that all of us non-explorers were depending on you to quench our thirst for adventure?