Thursday -Lower Merrill to Sunset and El Prieto Trail

[scottay]

ooohhh, thats a bit longer.....So you wanna hit Middle Merril, right? I've climbed lower Merril, never climbed the FR. Have climbed the FR from Sunset up to Middle Merrill.......never really liked the middle section, cant seem to get my flow thru there.
I am guessing that the FR climb from the bottom is easier/faster than climbing lower Merril??/

scott
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[JoeTruth]

A suggestion would be to park @ Lake Ave. & Altadena Drive instead of JPL. Start by climbing up Lake for less then a mile and to the trail head of Lower Merrill and to get back to your car, as you're coming out of the Arroyo and see JPL on your right, there is a little fire road that goes left on the opposite side of a paved road going into JPL. Take that for 300 yards and you'll be at the very west end of Altadena Drive. Cruise flat streets back to your car. Don't know why but I always liked this loop better then parking at JPL.

Also, depending on how fast you climb, not sure if you all will have enough time to include Middle Merrill in your loop. Lower Merrill/Sunset/EP is about 3k in climbing and roughly 14-15 miles. Include middle and you've added another 6-7 miles and roughly 1700 feet.


Enjoy your ride. Should be a gorgeous day!

[epicriderat]

Originally Posted by scottay

ooohhh, thats a bit longer.....So you wanna hit Middle Merril, right? I've climbed lower Merril, never climbed the FR. Have climbed the FR from Sunset up to Middle Merrill.......never really liked the middle section, cant seem to get my flow thru there.
I am guessing that the FR climb from the bottom is easier/faster than climbing lower Merril??/

scott
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(guessing that the FR climb is easier/faster than climbing lower Merril?)
That is what I was thinking also. I figured climb the FR road for quickest route to upper trailhead, is that middle merril? And then a nice long ST descent. Like I said, open to other ideas.

[scottay]

okay, as long as you know the way up, I know the way down! If we need to, we could always bail out at HorseyTrail to get to the cars faster......skips El P tho.

scott

[bighit8]

Hey someone was saying the trail might be closed. any idea?

[scottay]

There's no bridges, unless its the ones at the bottom by JPL???

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=385522

[epicriderat]

Originally Posted by scottay

okay, as long as you know the way up, I know the way down! If we need to, we could always bail out at HorseyTrail to get to the cars faster......skips El P tho.

scott

Horseytrail could be a bail out. I wonder how wet El p is in the cyn. See ya in the AM.

[JoeTruth]

Originally Posted by epicriderat

I wonder how wet El p is in the cyn. See ya in the AM.

It's actually not bad at all and trail conditions are as good and as tacky as ever. A great time to hit EP, actually. Was just there yesterday and it kicked-arss.

[bighit8]

Im liking this, my first ride in the San Gabs.

[bighit8]

Please help, what is the easiest way to get here from fullerton? Can I take the 57?

[VTVic]

Yes, take the 57 to the 210west. When you get to Lake Ave stay on your right and make sure you continue on the 210 and not the 134. You'll then see your exit about 3-4 miles up...I envy you guys. Sounds like its going to be a fun one. My two cents...I would rather climb up Lower Merrill than start on the fire road at the bottom. More fun and pure single track. Either way you'll have lots of fun...

[JoeTruth]

Originally Posted by bighit8

Please help, what is the easiest way to get here from fullerton? Can I take the 57?

really easy, actually.

57 north to the 210 west. when u reach Pasadena, just before Lake Ave., start getting into the right lanes as the left lanes turn into the 134. After transition, 3rd exit is Arroyo/Windsor. exit & go right (north). pass the light & after 1/2 mile, you'll notice a parking lot which overlooks JPL. park there. that's it.
P.S. lookout for poison oak on sunset & el prieto. especially E.P.

[bighit8]

Thanks, I posted help for directions on a separate thread, wasn't sure if people were going to check this thread. My first time there, looking forward to it.I will post a rr with pics.

[scottay]

Was a good ride.....see the RideReport in another post.....

scott

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by scottay

Was a good ride.....see the RideReport in another post.....

scott

Thanks scott, I posted the RR,one step ahead of ya.

[scottay]

OK, lemme know when you're out this way again....for round two~!



scott
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[epicriderat]

Next time let's try the lower Merrill climb and avoid the pavement of death. I think if lower Merril doesn't wipe ya out on the climb, the cut over to Sunset and then the FR climb to middle Merrill shouldn't be to bad.

[Rossage]

I prefer the climb up the single track over the "pavement of death" anyday. The bonus is you get to try and clean all the switchbacks going up. I still cant get those rock steps under the powerlines after all these years...
Later