CC ~ All Alone at Mount Baldy

[CC]

Well my plans to go away with my son for the weekend fell through the cracks. So I just decided to do a local ride. While contemplating what trail to ride, I wanted something I don't do all the time. And I decided to go up to Mt Baldy. On the way up I was behind some other mt bikers that turned up to Glendora Mt Rd to hit up Sunset Fire road. I seriously thought about hitting it up but since I didn't have a pre-arranged shuttle I just kept heading up the hill.

I got to the trail head and there were a lot of cars. I could tell there were mostly hikers. So I got my rig together and started head up the Maker Flats trail.

This was my 3rd time up the trail, and although I was riding alone, it was by far my favorite time up. The first time was about a year ago, and I was still a nubb, so it was slow going up. The second time up I went with Dean, Lynn, Mike and Glen. It was a great crowd but i was having severe back pain, so I had to stop several times. This time I had very minimal back pain, barely noticeable and the pace was nice and steady.

The temp was about 86 degrees and there was a cool breeze all the way up. Only felt the heat a few times so it never really had any effect on the riding. To my surprise there were very few people on the trail. I think I may have come across 10 on the way up coming and even less on the way down. And I was the only mt biker on the trail the whole day. There were a few riders that came off the lift when I got to the top, but I never seen them on the trail. I think they check out the scenery for awhile before heading down.

Well I left at 10a.m. and made it to the top in less than an hour. I didn't do any extra credit because my son wanted us to do lunch. So after only about a 5 minute break I headed down hill. It was only 15-20 minutes dh, but it was a fun hitting the trail at high speed. So by 11:30 I was already back on my way home to hang with my son.

For those of you who are not familiar with this trail, it is a fire road climb to Mt Baldy Village. There are chair lefts that take you to the top if you want to go that route, but IMO the trail is fairly easy and the dh wouldn't worth the cost of $15 to ride the chair lift. The extra credit is a trail going further up past the village (Dean remind me of the name) and make the total ride much more worth the drive.

All and all it was a great day for a ride!

Here are a few pix:

Parking area ~ on the other side there were a lots of hikers
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 001.jpg

Looking back down the beginning of the trail
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 003.jpg

Waterfall, with very little water
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 004.jpg

Hi Lynn, Dean...the coast was still overcast
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 005.jpg

view looking down at the chair lift area
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 006.jpg

Chair lift in full force today...this is the most I've seen it used
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 007.jpg

Handle bar shot ~ Alison I need you professional help...but I'll get better
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 012.jpg

Baldy Village
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 013.jpg

Back at the car
Manker Flats _ Mt Baldy 014.jpg


No pix coming down ~ good times!

[allison]

Nice!! Looks like a great day.

[LBmtb]

Looks nice and peaceful. Some would even say zen-like. Thanks for the pics.

[sheclimbs]

Glad you got a chance to make it out Saturday. The sun actually made it's way out down at the coast, I've got the sunburn to prove it.

[CC]

Oh...I went on this ride Sat...I was thinking about you and Dean down by the beach.

[Wrecker]

Puhlease, sunburns mean nothing to me; I can burn on a rainy day

CC, sounds like a nice ride! and, a great report, thanks

[sheclimbs]

Originally Posted by Wrecker

Puhlease, sunburns mean nothing to me; I can burn on a rainy day

so true, but the sky actually was blue.

[OMR]

I'm impressed... a young female grasshopper riding by herself... an excellent RR, BTW.

My best,

OMR

[J_Sims]

SCHWEEEET... .... Looks like a great morning on the hill.

Glad you had fun and r back in one piece

[genusmtbkr5]

Nice RR and pics CC. I've never ridden there, maybe I'll make the drive and try it someday. I'm always up for a climb. I'll need a guide though, interested?

[PacMan]

Nice RR. I need to stop and take more pics on my rides.

[Dino Brown]

You Rock! Curious: Better ridden in the cooler months? Trail conditions OK?

[guero]

thanks for sharing cc. that is really cool that you headed up there solo! i want to check that area out sometime soon.

[Tighe ridr]

Looks like a cool place to ride. You'll have to kidnap Gene and I one day and take us up there.

[CC]

Originally Posted by Dino Brown

You Rock! Curious: Better ridden in the cooler months? Trail conditions OK?

Yes, normally cooler months are better, but because it's higher up in altitude you sometimes get a nice breeze as I did on this ride. The trail itself was in great condition, but it's all fire road until you get past Baldy Village.

Originally Posted by genusmtbkr5

Nice RR and pics CC. I've never ridden there, maybe I'll make the drive and try it someday. I'm always up for a climb. I'll need a guide though, interested?

Gene/Ty any time you head up this way I'll be happy to show you the trail, but there are a few nicer trails that have some ST that would be better to explore. One that comes to mind is Monroe Truck Trail.

Lemmeno ~ cc

[andy aka rut]

Very nice CC. Some of my best rides have been when I'm out by myself exploring. Glad you got back safe.