RR: Blue Ridge & Acorn Trails

[GP_pilot]

Occassionally work pays to send me to a place in the middle of BFE between Palmdale & Victorville to test the latest airborne systems unleashing fire power on unsuspecing insugents in Iraq. Of course the San Gabriel Mountains shadow nearby in the distance to the south and the last few times I've been thinking of taking the bike w/ me just in case. Well, Wed was one of those days and I got to punch by mid afternoon.

Now most of the RR reports I've read talk about the Blue Ridge Trail, but no one ever wants to venture down the Acorn Trail above Wrightwood. Me being one of those who doesn't like to do out & backs I decided to do the 13 mi loop I found. So I park in Wrightwood, pump the tires, drop the forks, hit the lockouts and start out at 6,000'. The first 4 mi sucks on road, but does get the legs warmed up in the cooler temps. Half hour and +800' later, take a left just before Mtn High West Ski area and you're at the bottom of Blue Ridge Trail.

Most folks at this point would continue 2.2 mi on Rt 2 to Inspiration point and pickup forest road 3N06. Instead I deflate the tires and begin the 2 mi climb that begins out rolling but increases in slope all the way to the end with good traction. Popping out +1050' later at the bottom of Mtn High East Ski area Lift #4, you now pick up 3N06 and continue climbing. I stop for a few photos along the way, but with the sun setting, increase in elevation, and wind moderate wind I keep moving to keep up my heat and peak out at 8,500'.

Darkness settles in and from other folks accounts, finding the Acorn trail off 3N06 ain't easy. I have no choice but to pick up the perfect crosscountry trail which I know will cross it's path that rolls along the ridge line. Although , I see tracks from a few other wheeled folks and even hit some small patchs of snow left over from weather two weeks earlier. Nearly an hour later I finally hit two cairns that mark the trail intersection. Sure enough there's no markings by the road to signify a trailhead.

It's time now to tranfer potential energy into kinetic form. For those not having been on Acorn, the topo shows a 1,200' descent in just over 1.5 mi that puts it in brake scorching DH territory. If you're accustom to the exposure on Blue Ridge trail, step it up a notch. Some trail portions are only 4" wide, with a penalty of tumbling several hundred feet if you get off line. I guess it reminded me of a mini version of Mammoth's Off the Top w/ crushed granite substituted for pumice and a sprinkling of 2' diameter ponderosas about. The trail has sharp switch backs that DH bikes won't be negotiating without dismounting. Based on what I saw (at night), it's not used much but is clean nearly the whole way with no water bars. (I also wouldn't suggest trying it at night either.)

Once near the bottom, the trail flattens into a service road past a water tank and turns to pavement at a gate. It's now another 800' decent through the back streets of Wrightwood to where I started 3 hours earlier. Not bad for an afterwork, high altitude ride.

[bjammin]

nice.

[nappyt]

My brother lives in Lancaster. You can see lights at Mtn High at night from his drive way. I never thought of looking up trails out there. I only went skiing when I was a kid so I think numb @$$ when I look at that hill not possible trails. I might have to check that out sometime. Sounds like a brutal ride for a part-time weekend warrior like me but someday...

Thats for the post and the pics.