RR: Mt. Waterman and Mt. Hilyer

[dstepper]

Lots of different rides going on today but when I heard “Beat the Heat Ride” I had no problem choosing. Scott, Nick and I did two different rides up in the San Gabriel’s…Mt. Waterman and Mt Hilyer. The beat the heat part worked…the beat the humidity...not.

At 8am, we meet at the Highway 210 and Highway 2 and truck-pooled up to Buckhorn Station; parked and climbed, 1,100ft; over about 3 miles of singletrack, to the top of the 8,100ft, Mt Waterman. We stopped many times, manly for me to catch up, but mostly to take in the views…that are outstanding. The top of Waterman is not a peak it is a large rolling open area with great old-growth trees and excellent rock formations. We sat up there in the sun watching the rain and lightening happening over the top of Monrovia Peak…yes, we were wondering who was getting rained on down below. The single track decent is top rate and well worth the climb. Needing more miles and few legal options out there we headed back down the hill.

Our second ride we parked at Three Points and rode the Silver Moccasin Trail out to Mt. Hilyer. To start off, very ominous clouds overhead, a little warmer and much more humidity, that cool breeze we had at higher elevation was gone. After a few minutes the thunder started and seemed to keep up for most of the ride. It never seemed very close and it was most excellent as it would rumble from mountain to mountain, I could never tell were it was coming from and never felt threatened at all…it was just outstanding. Never really rained on us just a couple of sprinkles.

Total day we maybe rode 15 miles and climbed maybe 2,000 foot.

Pictures are a mix of both trails…enjoy and don’t let the miles and time to get to these most excellent trails discourage you.

Happy Trails
Dean

[Pain Freak]

That one part Nick is on on the Silver Moc never comes out right and it's probably the most photographed place in the whole San Gab's. Man, I wish I could have done both rides.

[TURNERob]

Great pics as usual Dean, that looks like a pretty sweet trail! Nice to see a few action shot also

[Nagaredama]

My buddy and I drove by you right at the begining of the Crest. We were in the gray Subaru wagon with a Yeti AS-X and Azonic Saber on top. We shuttled up past Red Box.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

My buddy and I drove by you right at the begining of the Crest. We were in the gray Subaru wagon with a Yeti AS-X and Azonic Saber on top. We shuttled up past Red Box.

You should have gone further up, it was hot around Red Box...got a ton cooler up the road further, even had a cool breeze in the shade.

Dean

[TitusChick]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Lots of different rides going on today but when I heard “Beat the Heat Ride” I had no problem choosing. Scott, Nick and I did two different rides up in the San Gabriel’s…Mt. Waterman

Beating the heat sounds good right about now. What are the easiest rides to beat the heat on around the area?

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by TitusChick

Beating the heat sounds good right about now. What are the easiest rides to beat the heat on around the area?

On Sunday we did not feel much relieve from the heat until we got above 6,000 ft. That leaves out all of Orange County. It was hot around the Red Box Area....different today. I just checked the Mt. Wilson Web Cam (5,700ft) and it is 76 degrees at 3pm. The easiest ride I can think of up there would be the Mt. Lowe Fireroad from Easton Saddle down to Inspiration Point and Back. The trails in the San Gabriel's for the most part are pretty tough.

[dirttorpeedo]

hey dean,it looks like the top left pic. the guy is kissing the tree.sumpthin happen your not telling us? mmmmnnnnn?

[TitusChick]

Originally Posted by dstepper

On Sunday we did not feel much relieve from the heat until we got above 6,000 ft. That leaves out all of Orange County. It was hot around the Red Box Area....different today. I just checked the Mt. Wilson Web Cam (5,700ft) and it is 76 degrees at 3pm. The easiest ride I can think of up there would be the Mt. Lowe Fireroad from Easton Saddle down to Inspiration Point and Back. The trails in the San Gabriel's for the most part are pretty tough.

I don't mind crashing as long as it's cool out.

[stjunkie]

Originally Posted by dirttorpeedo

hey dean,it looks like the top left pic. the guy is kissing the tree.sumpthin happen your not telling us? mmmmnnnnn?

What can I say, that tree was hot.

[stjunkie]

Finally got around to downloading pics of this ride from my camera. Better late than never.

[dstepper]

Scott thanks for the pics.

[gurp13]

Man, that ride looks nice. Next time...