RR: Mt. Zion Trail Work

[dstepper]

Angeles National Forest, above Sierra Madre, in the Chantry Flats area.

First off, kudos to all those that raced today and to those that went out to support them. I was committed to this trail work months back…way before I knew about the race. Whatever you did today I hope you did it outside and enjoyed the weather: Santa Ana temperatures and clear skies without the wind…very nice for mountain biking.

Brian (MTBMaven) was very gratefull that I showed up, as no one else from Epic Riders or STR showed up. Much got done over the weekend with huge efforts put in by the Forest Service and the Boy Scouts. You can now ride Upper Winter Creek, down Lower Winter Creek Loop, without fear of getting poison oak. Also Mt. Zion Trail is brushed to within one mile of the top…Zion needs some threadwork and it will be in prime shape.

I know many of you on STR do not ride this area…you are missing out. This area is not an easy area to ride... don’t take newbee’s. Very narrow trails, extreme exposures, and lots of embedded rocks in the trail. I take my time and walk many sections; this is about as sketchy as any trails I ride…but the pure beauty of the trail brings me back again and again. The uphill climb to Mt. Zion is steep and is a hike-a-bike for me. This loop in the National Forest is pocketed with old cabins build some 80-90 years ago. 80+ of the cabins are still being used but only a couple of full timers live out there…very primitive walk-ins. Point is, get out there and ride these trails. Do not go out there when there is a threat of rain. If you wait until rainy season, be prepared to get wet on the stream crossings. Winter Creek can become impassable at Hoegees.

Pictures are of Upper Winter Creek, Lower Winter Creek and Mt Zion Trail. There is not much light that gets down in the canyon bottoms so my camera does a poor job. I photoshoped them the best I could to get them brighter.

Dean

[Schecky]

My thanks to all who worked on this.
One of my favorite trails - So great!
I've gotta get up there soon.
Anybody game for a Friday after Thanksgiving ride?

I'm not sure if i agree on the no rain riding. One of my best rides ever was in the rain on the DG of this trail.

I lightened up one of your darker shots a little:

[Pain Freak]

Angeles Forest isn't it? Anyhoo, thanks for the work guys. I worked 3 days on this trail so far this year, Hard days, but very proud of what we got accomplished. I'll have to get back up there soon and inspect your work . This is definitely a technical trail, but not that hard of a climb with the exception on the Zion trek, but it's worth doing as you get paid back with so much more downhill. Lot's of exposure and there is some of the evil weed PO out there so I'd agree with you on the level being intermediate. I was thinking of doing this with Upper Winter to the toll road then coming back down Mt Wilson Trail. Anybody interested? All day ride around 6 to 8 hours. About 5800' climbing.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Schecky

My thanks to all who worked on this.
One of my favorite trails - So great!
I've gotta get up there soon.
Anybody game for a Friday after Thanksgiving ride?

I'm not sure if i agree on the no rain riding. One of my best rides ever was in the rain on the DG of this trail.

I lightened up one of your darker shots a little:

I have been out there in the rain and those little washes became torrents very fast. You never know how much it is raining further up the mountain. But there again, I tend me be on the cautious side.

[quote=Pain Freak;38360]Angeles Forest isn't it? quote] Mike you are right, I fixed it THX.

I wonder what shape Upper Winter Creek above Hoegees is in.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Thanks to the guys for the trail work, it is very much appreciated. A Mt Wilson shuttle through Upper Winter Creek down to Chantry is in the works too.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by MTBRacer

Thanks to the guys for the trail work, it is very much appreciated. A Mt Wilson shuttle through Upper Winter Creek down to Chantry is in the works too.

Please wear your bells so you don't smack into Mike on the way up.

A shuttle on Upper Winter Creek on the weekend? The section from Hoegees to Chantry, I stopped more than a dozen times today due to hikers. I am not kidding I passed over 30 people and six dogs on the trail. No hikers on Zion and just a couple on Lower Winter Creek. On much of the trail, there is no room for a bike and a hiker to pass without the bike stopping.

[gurp13]

I'm down for riding this trail as long as it's within my abilities. I think I am solidly in the intermediate/novice class these days (Dean said months ago that if call myself a noob again he was gonna huck me. I think he said huck.) This trail looks awesome!

On the T'giving ride, I was hoping people were planning something. I totally want to ride that day! This could be a great trail for that day, weather permitting.

[Sharky]

Don't forget about the Turkey Ride every Thanksgiving (morning). Hundreds of riders meet up at Mt. Baldy starting at Cow Cyn. Saddle. Have to admit Dean's ride is much more scenic!! Great pics...

[Pain Freak]

I'll be doing the Baldy run again.Just enough to work up an appetite and to still get home in time to take the turkey out. The Baldy ride is better because of the time allowed and Baldy is a long time traditon. I know some guys who will be going since 89. I've got 6 years in, but I did miss last year.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Please wear your bells so you don't smack into Mike on the way up.

Bells? We don't need no stinkin' bells.

[gurp13]

Originally Posted by SHARKY

Don't forget about the Turkey Ride every Thanksgiving (morning). Hundreds of riders meet up at Mt. Baldy starting at Cow Cyn. Saddle. Have to admit Dean's ride is much more scenic!! Great pics...

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I'll be doing the Baldy run again.Just enough to work up an appetite and to still get home in time to take the turkey out. The Baldy ride is better because of the time allowed and Baldy is a long time traditon. I know some guys who will be going since 89. I've got 6 years in, but I did miss last year.

Is that a trail ride? I'm not familiar with the Cow Canyon Saddle. Is it a shuttle ride or a loop? How long does it take? I usually have to be ready to go meet with family by about 11am. My family has dinner early because people travel to get there.

[Pain Freak]

It's an unsponsored thing. No LBS has taken this opportunity to host the ride. (we don't have a Path or Switchback like our bro's in the OC have), but it's pretty well attended. Not being sponsored it really has no set times as to start and finish. Most people start at 8 am and ride up to Sunset Ridge which is really a short jaunt of climbing. Some do shuttle in fact 90% do. I've shuttled early then liked it so much I climbed back up the road and found some more guys getting ready to start so I jumped in with them and did it again. We usually finish right around 10:30. But if you were to go at 7 you'd probably find riders going then too. But the big group usually goes at 8. It's a fireroad ride, but gives some of the best views and is a really great descent.

[jfromlv]

Quite a few years ago, some people were injured on the Turkey ride, and of course the Forest Service wanted to know the responsible party for organizing the ride. I think that's why none of the bike shops advertise this ride, it has always been word of mouth. There have been times when this ride has been well over 200 riders, but I have not been for the last four or five years, what do you think the #'s are like now Mike?

[Sharky]

If it helps any it's the exact same ride I put together here if you'd like to see some pics and the RR of the trail. I really like this one and especially all the downhill.
Sunset Fireroad, Baldy Village to La Verne

Cow Cyn. saddle is at the first parking area as you just start on Glendora Ridge road from the Baldy side. The trail starts right there on the south side.

[tkblazer]

well now sharky, look what you've gone and started... you guys totally hijacked deano's RR

nice pics dean, when are you going to set up a ride there?

[Sharky]

Oops...your right. Sorry Dean. Those trails sure look like fun to ride. Nothing like riding through scenic trails. Maybe I'll start a seperate post for the Turkey ride info.. Thanks for those photos too BTW.

Edit (next post):Hey...no fair Jose. I was just complimenting the pics (and Glenn looking to ride Thanksgiving) and off the thread went.
Dean's right...you're a meanie!!! I'd stop talking to you too but you'd like that too much.

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by SHARKY

Oops...your right. Sorry Dean. Those trails sure look like fun to ride. Nothing like riding through scenic trails. Maybe I'll start a seperate post for the Turkey ride info.. Thanks for those photos too BTW.

DEE DEE DEEEE!!!!!

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by tkblazer

well now sharky, look what you've gone and started... you guys totally hijacked deano's RR

nice pics dean, when are you going to set up a ride there?

It is not much of a epic ride (maybe 5 miles), but it does wear me out. Good for a nice 2 hour loop.

We could add a couple more miles to it by riding up the Gabrileno to Sturtevant Falls.

Or push-a-bike up Mt. Zion to Camp Sturtevant (8-9 mile loop).

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by dstepper

It is not much of a epic ride (maybe 5 miles), but it does wear me out. Good for a nice 2 hour loop.

We could add a couple more miles to it by riding up the Gabrileno to Sturtevant Falls.

Or push-a-bike up Mt. Zion to Camp Sturtevant (8-9 mile loop).

That's the ride I would be looking to do - Upper/Zion/Sturtevant. I'd be up for doing the falls too.
And there's In-N-Out at the bottom of the hill when we're done!
If we are going to do this, early would be best to avoid them hikers.
Leave about 7 from the OC.

[ShinKen]