RR: Burkhart Trail, Angeles National Forest

[dstepper]

WARNING: If any of you pay any attention to me, which I am sure few actually do: stop and wonder why I ride where I ride, you need to start questioning my judgment…as I am starting to question my self. The only people that enjoyed today’s ride were the masochists… and yes we had a few of those today, and the very strong. Those of you that decided not to join us; it may have been a good call. After the ride, I asked Scott if he enjoy the ride, he fits two of the categories above, and he replied, “Yes, I will do it again when I want some high altitude punishment”.

I have rode ¾ of this ride before on the singlespeed and thought it might be easier with gears; actually the singlespeed was easier because it is 9 lbs lighter to push uphill. This had to be one of the longest toughest 11 miles I have done in a long time. Either up or down; long steep climbs filled with skree and numerous deadfalls. If you are familiar with that gray shale landslide on Trabuco Creek before Horsethief then you have an idea what skree is…not a tire made that works in it uphill. I have 4 new holes in my right leg, 3 from my front tire throwing rocks at me, and the last in a going to fast, horrible drop-off on the left, aim at a bush to shed speed.

14 of us started the ride and all but a couple made it to Burkhart Saddle, it was much warmer up there than I would have thought, but when you get to the saddle you understand why…very close to the High Desert.

My closing thought is “when do we do it again”!

[RidetheRAAM4]

i hate riding on that stupid skree stuff....lots of it up in lytle creek...its a fun trail except you get into the wilderness area and aren't supposed to ride there so I usually turn back

[ka0t1c07]

Riding with you guys, ill do it again. Especially now that im riding on a weightless rig. I had a great time riding, hiking, chatting, carrying bikes over big big big fallen trees, crossing streams, Hiking up very loose single tracks, and chilling while fellow riders do trail repairs. There was a mix of everything that you can imagine that can happen on a long ride like this. I think the weather was good to OK today. If it were to be hotter, then the experience would have been different.
I finally get to meet the peoples that I see on the boards and they are nice and cool people that have lots of riding skills.
The climb out of the mountain was very long and brutal. I give props to the riders who did it and especially to those that brought their heavy armor truck.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by ka0t1c07

Especially now that im riding on a weightless rig.

Tin you need to post some pics and describtion of your new bike it is beautiful.

[Jordansrealm]

Scenery looks great, steep climbing looks crappy lol

[Pain Freak]

I'm bummed I missed this one, but I've done it before. Yes, I'm part masochist.
But I did get to go with the family to watch the Angels pull it out in the nineth inning. My boys loved it and so did I.
C'mon Tin I want to see this new rig of yours.
Dean, if you say it's a tough one, then it must have been brutal.

[ShinKen]

sorry for not making it Dean. but it sounds like it was a good call!! muuhahahhaaa!! shhh and I was even thinking of doing this ride on the SS! someone up there is waching over me fooo sure!!

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Looks like I made a good choice too. I was having flashbacks of that climb out of Strawberry Peak in the baking sun while reading your ride description.