RR: Cucamonga Cyn to Frankish Peak

[gurp13]

Apologies up front: I left my camera at home! It's too bad because this was a great ride! Anyway, as an English teacher, I'll have to use my words to describe.

Present for the ride... me, Epic Mountain Biker, and CycleCC. Thanks for riding with me, guys!

We met at about 7am with the clouds and fog gathered overhead thickly. It was cool, but not cold. After getting our gear together and last minute bike adjustments, we pedaled our bikes up the pavement. As we had parked on Almond, we took Skyline north toward the canyon.

Cucamonga Canyon is a little-used area of Rancho Cucamonga. In all the times I've been there, I think I've maybe seen ten people in all. I've ridden up there about five times. So, that's an average of two people every time I go up there. That's outrageous! It's not like it's out in the middle of nowhere, but let me tell you, when you're on the trail, you feel like you're miles away from civilization. It's only when you get up on the heights and look down on the valley that you remember that the city is just a few thousand feet away.

The first part of the trail begins where Skyline road ends. A forestry service gate blocks the pavement to keep out four-wheeled vehicles. That's probably more for their safety, though, as the trail just isn't passable in most places by anything not on foot or two wheels. The pavement that begins the trail is steep. And, there's really no warm-up. So, you take it easy.

Actually, I can cheat here. This is a pic of the same spot from a year ago that I took...


So, we rode up the pavement, huffing and puffing. CC commented that it was an all Specialized ride. And, yeah, it was like three generations of Specialized bikes... the Epic, the Stumpjumper, and the FSR. The sun shone weakly through the morning haze and set a halo around the surrounding hills. We finally made it to the dirt, though, paused to catch our breath. It was a mile and half up to the fork in the fireroad. At this point you can continue up the trail toward San Sevaine. Or, you can head downward into the heart of the canyon.

Now, I'm going back to the this trail again really soon. I think that some of the hillsides in there remind me of Yosemite and King's Canyon. Seriously. So, I have to take the pictures to prove it. But, there are some really beautiful spots down there. The creek cuts through the rock and creates jagged crags of jutting granite and sandstone. Amazing. The fireroad winds down through the chapparal. Some trees show evidence of being burned three years ago (wasn't it?).

At the bottom of the fireroad, the trail crosses the creek and curls up the side of the hill. We were at the very foothill of Ontario peak, on the southern face. We began winding along the singletrack. It used to be fireroad, as EMB pointed out, but has now become so overgrown that it's now a very fun, flowy singletrack. Rocks and babyheads abound! it keeps you sharp and adds to the enchantment.

After a bit, the trail drops down to cross a second creek. We hike-a-biked over it and started up again. Now you're on the north side of a different hill. There's some exposure, here. Nothing very remarkable, but yet, if you were careless it might make for a memorable story, if you lived. The trail then ascends and is partly washed away, a deep rut scarring the tread. You must push your bike carefully past the edge. After this, loose babyheads and marble-sized rocks skitter under our wheels. It's never very steep but it makes you heart pump.

Finally, a large clearing marks the fork in the trail. Continuing northwest will take you, eventually, to Mt. Baldy Road. We went southwest on the Frankish Peak trail.

Did I mention how fun this trail is? Do you hate trail sanitizers? Then you have to ride this trail. Rocks everywhere! Some riders, like me, might have to walk a section or two, but most of it is totally rideable. But, pay attention and pick your line. It's not always obvious where the best line is.

We stopped again to rest for a moment and I noticed a couple ticks on my ankles. Warning, they're in the grass! We saw a lot of deer tracks on the trail so the deer ticks will follow. Wear your insect repellant.

Without too much more difficulty we made it to the top of Frankish Peak. Here's a couple shots EMB sent me...

This from atop Frankish Peak looking toward Claremont Wilderness Park and Potato Mountain.


And this is from the same point but looking out over the valley below Ontario Peak.


Now, for the fun part. We pointed our bikes downward and began about five miles of rocky, flowy singletrack. I was glad to have my Weirwolf on the front as it helped me float over a lot of stuff that EMB said his Fire XC Pro was bouncing off of. All the climbing payed off as we headed back the way we came. It's amazing how much easier stuff is to ride down than up.

We took the fireroad up out of the canyon and then started back down the main road and hit the pavement. After a series of little humps in the road you get a long (about a 1/2 mile) of straightaway. Let go of the brakes and watch the speedometer climb! I hit 45 mph before I chickened out and pulled on my brake levers. EMB got it all the way up to 49.5! On knobbies!

In all, this was a great ride. I can't believe I enjoyed it as much as I did. If you're tired of saying hello to all the hikers you pass on your weekend trail, you have to hit this ride up. Besides two people we passed on the pavement, we were alone on the trail out there. I'm definitely going back on this ride and hope some of you will join me.

[Pain Freak]

Yep, I'll make it next time. Excellent RR.

[gurp13]

You should. You would have liked this ride. Not too long, either. I think total miles was like 12 or something.

[NumbCheck]

I may be in next time if possible. I originally thought it was a 25 miler. Too much for me. 12 is doable.

[gurp13]

The 25 miler would be if we rode the fireroads around to the other side of the hills and went up the Lytle Creek side fireroad to the top then rode to the antennas and down the singletrack. The singletrack alone is 4 miles. Then, I'd say another 8 miles comes from pavement. So, you'd only have to worry about 10 miles of actual climbing I imagine.

But, when we ride Cucamonga Cyn again with Frankish peak, that's only about 12 miles. I'll try to be clearer about that next time I post a ride.

[Waldo]

Don't know how many words that was, but it was worth a bunch of pics: Well done! Sounds like a great ride.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Great Ride!! I had a blast doing this ride. i was amazed how all that singletrack used to be fireroad 10 years ago.

We're definitely going to have go up there again. hopefully we can get a bigger group to enjoy this fun ride.