Mt. Pinos question . . .

[JoeTruth]

[SIZE=3]I'm going to be in the Frazier Park area for a good part of the week next week starting Sunday. My kids are there for a week camp and I'm volunteering and will be there a few days. The Camp is off of exit "Frazier Mountain Park Road" and near Cuddy Valley Road and Darling Ave.
How close is that to Mt. Pinos and how easy is it to shuttle it? I'm most likely taking my 14 year old boy and his friend and will be limited on time due to camp curriculum and schedules.
I've done Mt. Pinos a couple of times (no shuttle) but it's been 5 plus years and I'm not too familiar with the area.

Thanks![/SIZE]

[Big Dick]

Joe TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

[SIZE=3]I'm going to be in the Frazier Park area for a good part of the week next week starting Sunday. My kids are there for a week camp and I'm volunteering and will be there a few days. The Camp is off of exit "Frazier Mountain Park Road" and near Cuddy Valley Road and Darling Ave. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]How close is that to Mt. Pinos and how easy is it to shuttle it? I'm most likely taking my 14 year old boy and his friend and will be limited on time due to camp curriculum and schedules.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]I've done Mt. Pinos a couple of times (no shuttle) but it's been 5 plus years and I'm not too familiar with the area.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=3]Thanks![/SIZE]

What you are looking for is McGill Trail. Yes is highly shuttleable. The trail cross the pavement two-three times on it's way up Mt. Pinos. Great trail have fun.

Dean

[STP]

Hey Joe,

STP here! I just rode Mt Pino's last Saturday and you will not be disappointed. It's a nine mile climb up to the top, with much of the elevation gain on the second half.

Park at the Caltrans snow-cinder parking lot, as this is where the S/T starts (and not only that, when you're done, this is some seriously twisty and smooth fun right before you get back to the car).

The singletrack has no turns, but instead, as previously mentioned has paved interruptions. At the campsite, go right and upwards to continue the trail.

The second paved section is the paved road, where a short downhill will dump you out. Turn the bike around and head to your left on the paved road for about two-three hundred feet to catch the continuation of the trail across the road.

The final paved, is a parking lot. Head straight across to the high bermed area, where a fireroad starts for a short bit, before coming to a gate. This is where the real tough climbing starts !

The top is obvious! The downhill is unbelievable and there are numerous jumps that are not only smooth, but sometimes, quite large! You can really air it out on some of them! You will lo-oo-oove this!

Sincerely,

STP

[JoeTruth]

Hey Regis, thanks for the info. I know it kills you to hear this but I won't be climbing McGill/Pinos. I'll have my 14 year-old son and his friend along and they're not frequent riders. Plus, I'll be short on time. I've ridden the trail a couple of times and kind of know what to expect (turns, reconnects, etc). I was merely trying to work out some logistics in comparison to where I’m going to be so I can arrange a shuttle or a drop off.


You’ll get a kick out of this; here's a funny flash back for you. Included is a pic of Alen and Ron on top of Pinos the last time I rode it back in 2000 or 2001. Those little fockers kept pedaling away from me as we were climbing and when I'd reach them, they'd be acting like they've been waiting for me for ages. I got them back on the way down and paid Ron back on the ski lifts in Big Bear.

Also, how time flies. You might or might not remember me posting some pics taking my boy out for a ride when he was about 9 on socalmtb.com. Well, fast forward to now. Here he is all grown-up. His head is so big that he's actually convinced his shiat don’t stink :-)




Aosty and Endo on Mt. Pinos, circa 2000-2001...




Ricky (my son) in 2001 @ 9 years old...


Ricky now...


Punk thinks he's cool :-)

[STP]

Waaaay cool! Yes, those are some flashbacks and I am stoked that you got the lil' guy, brung up so well!

Good talkin' at ya and I understand about the climbing part. Have a great time!

Regis

[Endo Verendo]

This is just great. There goes the website.

[Hollywood]

Originally Posted by Endo Verendo

This is just great. There goes the website.

is that your dad's shirt?

[Endo Verendo]

Originally Posted by Hollywood

is that your dad's shirt?

No, it's not. It's called a cycling jersey. I just threw it away, as a matter of fact. The elastic had dried out and cracked.

[Pain Freak]

I've been around to long, I remember that posting. I tried to get my son to do the same as they are close in age and I read him that post, thinking he may get interested if he seen other kids his age riding....It didn't work out for me, but I'm glad yours is still riding, even if it is gravity assisted.

[Tortuga]

wore that jersey the last time we rode together. Been a long time, but i remember that post, too, Joe! Good times...Pinos is an easy shuttle...go up that paved road to the cross country ski lodge and leave a car down in the gravel lot that Reg was describing. Have fun!

[JoeTruth]

Originally Posted by Tortuga

Been a long time, but i remember that post, too, Joe! Good times.

Hey Art, nice to see hear from you. How is the family. Last I heard, you had 1. I bet that's changed now. What's the scoop???

[aosty]

Originally Posted by JoeTruth

You’ll get a kick out of this; here's a funny flash back for you. Included is a pic of Alen and Ron on top of Pinos the last time I rode it back in 2000 or 2001.

Hoooooottt!!!

I got them back on the way down and paid Ron back on the ski lifts in Big Bear.

*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!
*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!
*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!

And.... three feet!!


Hi Joe!
Hi Ricky!
Hi Regis!
Hi Art!
Hi Mike!

[STP]

Heya Aosty! Good to hear from ya! I love to see the whole former SoCalMTB thing gelling together here.

Gawd, am I stoked!

[JoeTruth]

Originally Posted by aosty

Hoooooottt!!!
*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!
*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!
*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!

And.... three feet!!

[SIZE=3]Oh man, I almost forgot about Ron and his big 3-feet of air (so he thought) in Big Bear. "*bonk!*, oops, sorry Ron!" LOL! Good times indeed, even if Ron doesn't think so!

Nice to hear from you A.L.![/SIZE]

[JoeTruth]

[SIZE=3]I took my son down The McGill Trail (we shuttled it) and he absolutely loved it! This was his first long ride with such altitude and he did great! There's nothing on the descent that's that technical but I was still surprised at how well he did. He rode my old Truth with V-Brakes; I slapped on some regular pedals for him so he can wear his tennies.
The little punk was flying up what little climbs we had out of the saddle and way faster then I. I guess there's advantages of being 14.

Ironically, where we were staying was almost directly across the street and back from the first trail head (big signs). When we were done, he said to me that this was a lot more fun then he thought it would be and he can't wait to do it again. Mission accomplished...he's now hooked! Let alone the great father and son bonding time we had.
His only subtle complaint was that his fingers were getting sore from braking. Maybe I'll start considering upgrading the ol' Truth with some discs, which would also mean a new wheel set. Ouch!!!


[/SIZE]