RR: Sherman pass to Rincon

[jfsh]

Last Friday Aaron, Bill, and I did a killer ride off of Sherman Pass. My friend Bill came up from Santa Monica and he likes to do stuff that is off the beaten path. This ride is definitely that. It does not get much motorcycle traffic and almost no bike traffic. The lack of bike traffic has to be because it starts at the same place as the famous Cannell Trail. Compared to Cannell it is less miles and less vertical, but it feels more epic. It takes longer and is more technical. There is a little more suffering involved. I can't believe it has been two years since I rode this trail last. Well on with the pics and the report.
The ride starts at 9200' at Sherman Pass. We took the Sherman Pass trail down to Trout Creek. We then climbed Trout creek to the top then down to Corral meadow. We then went down Schaeffer Trail to Cedar Creek. Down down down Cedar Creek to Rincon then out to Sherman Pass road and the truck. None of us had a bike computer so we are guessing that it took us between 5 and 6 hours and we went about 20 miles.
Crossing a bridge over Trout Creek





Some great trail between Trout Creek and Corral Meadow







Miles of great flowing trail continue







Then we got to Cedar Creek and things got a little steeper!









After dropping a lot of vertical the vegetation began to change.



We were treated to this great view of The Needles



Once we got down to the Rincon the suffering really began. There is no easy way out of there. The trail makes its way across many drainages. You basically ride down to the bottom of a drainage and back up the other side. You do that about 7 times. It was some work but not as bad as I remembered it being. These last pictures are from a great downhill section at the end of the Rincon. It made for a nice finish.














Hopefully I will be able to do this ride again before the snow flies. It was awesome!

[foofighter]

wow that's a great ride...great terrain as well...how long was the ride time/miles?

[jfsh]

Bill had not ridden Just Outstanding before so on Sunday Scott, Chris, and I had to take him on JO to Whaggy Ridge to Dutch Flat. As anyone who has done it knows this is one of the best rides around. Although a little dry, it is in great shape. Here are a few pics.









Scott had a little dab. It wasn't as bad as it looks.

[dstepper]

Jeff your killing me, I am way depressed after being it Tahoe two weeks and now being back at work. You suck!

Anyway I hear Kernvile Fat Tire is cancelled, I hope my info is wrong. Was planning on coming up. I need to start planning another road trip before my mental health deteriorates any further.

Dean

[jeffj]

"Scott had a little dab. It wasn't as bad as it looks."

Hehehe. Whaggy will do that to you.....

Thanks for sharing.

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Jeff your killing me, I am way depressed after being it Tahoe two weeks and now being back at work. You suck!

Anyway I hear Kernvile Fat Tire is cancelled, I hope my info is wrong. Was planning on coming up. I need to start planning another road trip before my mental health deteriorates any further.

Dean

Hey Dean, I didn't mean to cause you any pain. If anything, my post should make you feel better. This is just your type of ride. We didn't see anyone the whole day. This will give you an idea of how much use this trail gets.
On our way out of Schaeffer Meadows we followed a perfect and rather large set of mountain loin tracks for about 3 miles. They were undisturbed right down the middle of the trail. We guessed that they were at least a week old. Further down in the Cedar Creek drainage we followed a fresh set of bear tracks for several miles as well.
You and STJunkie should plan a trip to ride this trail in the Fall. Start planning today! It will make you feel better.

[Fired Yo Momma]

real nice pics!

[allison]

Jeff - sweet photos! Can't wait to get back up there and ride with you again next spring.

[jfsh]

You should not wait until next spring. The Fall is one of the best times to ride around here.

[allison]

Originally Posted by jfsh

You should not wait until next spring. The Fall is one of the best times to ride around here.

No vacation left this year. What about Thanksgiving weekend??

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by allison

No vacation left this year. What about Thanksgiving weekend??

No vacation left? I didn't think you guys even worked. Thanksgiving can be great if there hasn't been a big snow storm yet. Even if there is snow up high there is some cool stuff lower that will be doable. We will know more as the winter starts.

[dstepper]

Oh Scott, I sense a upcoming a road trip!

Dean

[Pain Freak]

Well, with MRA cancelling for this year why don't we change our annual Fat Tire Festival to this? I got an email from John that they are cancelling for this year. Jeff do you think we should plan a big group ride for this or is it a little bit more then some can handle.


The entire month of October 2007 is being dedicated to providing you with great access, by shuttle, to some of our spectacular trails on the Sherman Pass, Alta Sierra, Kern Canyon and surrounding mountain areas. We are taking a small "hiatus" this year from our regular three-day Kernville Fat Tire Festival event and will resume our family-style Festival atmosphere in 2008.

We just need a little break from all of the 2006-07 changes here at MRA (new river permit and new addition to the Stallone family) yet we also want you all to have access to the great trail rides that you've come to expect each year from our Kernville Fat Tire Festival.

[jfsh]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

Well, with MRA cancelling for this year why don't we change our annual Fat Tire Festival to this? I got an email from John that they are cancelling for this year. Jeff do you think we should plan a big group ride for this or is it a little bit more then some can handle.

Mike, if you guys come up I will not disappoint you. With a bit of notice we could put together more than enough riding. One good thing about it not being an "official" ride, we can ride anything. During the festival we can only ride the trails that John has a commercial permit for. You can bet your a$$ we won't do a 70 person 1/2 Cannell ride. If it gets too big it could be hard to deal with but if it turns out like the STR trip in June it would be no problem. I'm into it.