RR: Cannel, Just Outstanding -> Dutch Flat 07/21-22/07

[GOGrannyGO]

Bombed up Friday night and hooked up with a couple friends in Kernville. Actually it was a 5+ hour slog thru lots of traffic. Got some Z's and got up and coordinated the shuttle up to Sherman Pass.


The obligatory group at Sherman Pass. A-Dogg, Jon, John, Yo, Jeff, Jeffry. Yadayadayada, Whitney, Langley, Olancha Peak.


First time for me on this trail and I wasn't feelin' it right away. I'm sure it was altitude and butterflies, plus I hate heat. But into the ride a ways, things got nice.


There's a fair amount of up and down, and we eventually topped out at 9445 by my gps. The scenery was sweet.


A picture of my bars.


More beautiful trail. We go thataway!


And came from thataway!


Water! I need water!


Oh yeah baby.


Well we were close. I could feel the cool water of the river putting out my scorched brain. I was making sweetbread as we descended into the valley. Jon developed a strange tape issue/tube migration and proceeded to rip the stems off 4 tubes about once a half mile to mile. So the last 5 miles was agony for Jon mostly, but I was waiting for him. Heh. Overall it was a good ride. No mechanicals, and no blood. We agreed on 26 miles for the trip, and that's not too bad times 6. Jons tape issue really threw off the curve.

We got down and cleaned up for dinner. When we were all clean and cool, we tailgate partied for appetizers. Mirror Pond, Sierra Nevada and Margaritas ensued, with wahoo, bluefin and yellowtail sashimi on the tailgate. Went to Jacalito for dinner and were the last seated for the night. 3 out of 5 stars for Jacalito.

Crashed again, late, and got up for Round #2. We arranged the shuttle, and went up to Shirley Meadows to the Just Outstanding trailhead. It seemed hotter, but we were lower so I don't know. Just Outstanding was billed to me as "all joy", by my friend Jon. It was. I was so psyched, cruising along the trail in perma-grin, I didn't stop to take pix of stuff I thought was pic-worthy. My bad. I got a couple. Prior to this section the tunnel is spruce and cedar, with tricky s/t bobbing thru the saplings. Awesome! Then came the manzanita.


A-Dogg, the Lone Hard-Tail.


I was thoroughly wasted by the end of JO, and the hellish steep HAB/climb to link with Dutch Flat. I am not a heat horse, and I was paying. Dutch is steep and techy mostly, with real deep bumpy ruts. I was paying for my fun. I washed out and went OTB several times, even getting caught turtled upside down in a bush, under a boulder. I needed the next rider to free my boot as the key, to release me. Jeff, one of the riders in the group saw me suffering and said, "do you want some ice to put on your neck?"
My sarcastic mind says, "Where the F are you gonna get ice, 7-11?" He pulls out a bag of ice from his pack and hands it to me. Nice boost, but the damage was done.

Here's a pic Jon took, pre-ice. I knew it wasn't my best side.


I was not 100% and not gonna push. It's a shame I was dying. The lower stuff was domey, and fun, with several long roll-overs. This one was techiest. I was spotter #2, so this was the last pic before I got my hands up.


Here's me coming in on the home stretch. Looooooose.


We dropped down to the Lower Kern and soaked to get the core temp down. After a lazy beer or 2, we cleaned up and hit the road. Travel home was a breeze, even with some touristy stops at the major rapids.

Theme was it was hot, and dry. It needs rain desperately. Everything was crunchy, and brittle and just prime to go up. Be careful. Additionally, the trails could use a little moisture. Lots of dust and soft shoulders. Stay in the center 6"! The traverses coming down the Plunge section of Cannel was hairy with that soft stuff.

I may add some more pix as I get them, but these are my perspective.

Edit: A couple more from the trip:

[allison]

Nice! Resembles our ride from about a month ago. Was probably warmer and drier for you, though. The river is AWESOME to clean up in after the ride.

[jeffj]

You know what cracks me up?

It seems like every ride report for JO has nothing between the top and the manzanita tunnel, but always has the manzanita tunnel.

I understand why because I did the same thing.

Thanks for sharing.

[GOGrannyGO]

Thanks for the thanks.
I added some more pix to fill in gaps.