RR: Strawberry Peak loop

[SScheetz]

With all my years of mountain biking there are still amazing local trails that I haven’t done. One of them was Strawberry Peak loop. So that’s what I did bright and early New Years day. Unfortunately, with little sleep and a slight headache, I forgot to grab the camera. This is now on my top 5 list of fun trails.

After the initial fire road climb from Clear Creek Station the whole trail is fast rolling single track around Strawberry Peak. There are no technical sections and only a couple of short steep climbs. It’s very similar to SART. For those who haven’t been there in a while, the trail is in perfect shape.

I heard that a couple of years ago that it was “sanitized” by widening the scary narrow sections and removing all the rocks. Even though it’s no longer the technical challenge that it used to be, it’s really fun. It would be great for beginners.

From Redbox we descended down to Switzer. As most of you know, this is a little more typical of San Gabriel trails with small baby head sections. From here you’re left with a short climb back up to Clear Creek Station. Good times!

[gurp13]

I love this loop, too, but I'm not sure about it being good for beginners, with all due respect. I think that the exposure would freak out most beginners. I get a little freaked out on some parts up there. The narrrowness of the trail in many spots would be considered "technical," I think. There's also a pretty gnarly waterfall of rocks on the section down to Switzers that I always walk. I guess beginners could ride this loop but it would be scary. My experience is that beginners need wider trails with less of a penalty for failure.

Or, I could just f*** off.

[tkblazer]

i NEED to ride this loop again

[SScheetz]

Originally Posted by gurp13

I love this loop, too, but I'm not sure about it being good for beginners, with all due respect. I think that the exposure would freak out most beginners. I get a little freaked out on some parts up there. The narrrowness of the trail in many spots would be considered "technical," I think. There's also a pretty gnarly waterfall of rocks on the section down to Switzers that I always walk. I guess beginners could ride this loop but it would be scary. My experience is that beginners need wider trails with less of a penalty for failure.

Or, I could just f*** off.

Yeah, I sort of forgot about some of those sections with big drops to the side. For the beginner, I guess I was mostly referring to the relatively smooth trail bed and fairly easy climbing. It would be ok for beginners with good balance and confidence … maybe?

[dhshuttlemonkey]

I rode this trail a few weeks ago, not one of my favorites though. Redbox to JPL has a higher fun factor IMO.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by MTBRacer

I rode this trail a few weeks ago, not one of my favorites though. Redbox to JPL has a higher fun factor IMO.

Ya, we know you don't like to climb Frank! If there was a lift up Josephine you would love the ride.

[tkblazer]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Ya, we know you don't like to climb Frank! If there was a lift up Josephine you would love the ride.

the climb didn't seem bad at all, just getting used to the elevation was tough at first for me

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Originally Posted by dstepper

If there was a lift up Josephine you would love the ride.

Only if they put the baby head rocks back on the trail. Redbox to Switzer's has been "sanitized" too so even you can ride it now Dean.

[dstepper]

I don't think I can ride that waterfall section.

I rode Strawberry once before the sanitization, there was not even a trail in some of the washed out sections. I am sure that someone was riding it..maybe 5% of the people that went out there. It was bad and before the days I took a camera with me.

[dhshuttlemonkey]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I don't think I can ride that waterfall section.

I bet you could now. That trail is nothing compared to what it was back in June. All the rocks along the trail are gone and someone took out a few rocks on the waterfall section to make it easier.

[Pain Freak]

Franks right, somebody has made a somewhat easy line now thru the waterfall, but it still has a pretty good level of difficulty and even more so, if you don't know the line.

Yep, Strawberry used to be somewhat more difficult and there was some parts that didn't have a trail anymore. What they did when they worked on it was to mostly shore up the trail. I think they did a great job on it, and after a few more rains and a few more years, it'll be as fun as ever.

[SScheetz]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Yep, Strawberry used to be somewhat more difficult and there was some parts that didn't have a trail anymore. What they did when they worked on it was to mostly shore up the trail. I think they did a great job on it, and after a few more rains and a few more years, it'll be as fun as ever.

The trail is now in great shape and if you don't freak from the exposure, it's a fast trail.

Originally Posted by MTBRacer

I bet you could now. That trail is nothing compared to what it was back in June. All the rocks along the trail are gone and someone took out a few rocks on the waterfall section to make it easier.

[FONT=Times New Roman][FONT=Verdana][SIZE=2]That explains why Switzer was so easy on full rigid. I was expecting this to be more techy from some of the older descriptions. I’m guessing the “waterfall” section you’re talking about is the one lone tricky part I did stop and look at to find a line.[/SIZE][/FONT][/FONT]