Feb 5th - Inspiration Point

[DtEW]

What: A group ride of a classic trail. 13.2 mile loop w/extension option (see below). ~3100 feet of cumulative ascending between 1900 to 4500 feet.

Where: Coordination at "JPL parking lot" in Altadena, CA.

When: 9:00AM Sunday, February 5th, 2006

Who: Intermediate and above MTBers. Must be self-sufficient and sure-footed on narrow trails.

Why: Because it rocks! (For history buffs, it is also an interpretive trail that leads to ruins of the Mt. Lowe mountain railway and an equally old/ruined observatory.)

This ride takes the form of a road/fireroad climb to peak elevation, and a descent down a series of singletrack trails of moderate technical difficulty. The sequence is as thus:

1. Ascend FS 2N50 - a steep asphalt climb that transitions to a mild fireroad climb.

2. Ascend Panorama Road - a short fireroad linker to the intersection of Sam Merrill trail and spurs toward Inspiration Point and Panorama Point. Visit(s) to either point(s) is optional.

3. Descend Sam Merrill Trail - a somewhat rocky singletrack of moderate difficulty, but often with high exposure. The trail is not hard, but the price for over-aggressive behaviour here is seriously unaffordable. Considering paranoia over the supposed hazards of Josephine Saddle/Strawberry Peak, I will say that this is more/truly serious.

4. Ascend Echo Mountain Trail - a doubletrack-ish flat/climb along the ruins of the old railway.

5. Descend Sunset Ridge Trail - a rocky singletrack of slightly higher difficulty than Sam Merrill. Technical switchbacks with rock steps.

http://www.ronbigelow.com/trails/sam...am_merrill. htm

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

I'm in.

[Tom Cosgrove]

armondo, we will ride the street to Lower sam Merril, climb the singletrack to the fireroad, then up the fireroad to Insperation saddle , continuing on the fireroad about another 4 miles to upper single track back down to insperation althrough the singletrack to el prieto.
Balllllllls babby.
I'm In with my Brother.
Mike will be doing this at 7am he is a football fanatic, I' m going to tape it.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by Tom Cosgrove

armondo, we will ride the street to Lower sam Merril, climb the singletrack to the fireroad, then up the fireroad to Insperation saddle , continuing on the fireroad about another 4 miles to upper single track back down to insperation althrough the singletrack to el prieto.
Balllllllls babby.
I'm In with my Brother.
Mike will be doing this at 7am he is a football fanatic, I' m going to tape it.

Sounds good to me, i only like to watch the 4th quarter of the game anyways, so no problem on the route

[hecandsonbikers]

I'm planning on being there but if this weekend is like the last; I wont be there. so I will tell this chick to come over on friday.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by hecandsonbikers

I'm planning on being there but if this weekend is like the last; I wont be there. so I will tell this chick to come over on friday.

[FONT=Arial]Condom: $
Dinner date: $$$
Going out and riding a new trail with your MTB buddies: Priceless[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial]just messing with you Hec, do what you have to do, but becarefull with the tail management [/FONT]

[hecandsonbikers]

Hey Galvez.
I have this tail managed, she's comeing over here and she will bring dinner. All I have to provide is CHORISO!!!!! AND A JIMMY HAT !!! But i will try to get her here this Friday.

[DtEW]

Originally Posted by Tom Cosgrove

armondo, we will ride the street to Lower sam Merril, climb the singletrack to the fireroad, then up the fireroad to Insperation saddle , continuing on the fireroad about another 4 miles to upper single track back down to insperation althrough the singletrack to el prieto.

Sounds better. What is the total mileage on that?

Is the "climb the singletrack to the fireroad" Sunset Ridge?

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by hecandsonbikers

Hey Galvez.
I have this tail managed, she's comeing over here and she will bring dinner. All I have to provide is CHORIZO**!!!!! AND A JIMMY HAT !!! But i will try to get her here this Friday.

Good job , as long as it's not Chef Boyardee !!!

[Tom Cosgrove]

The singletrack climb is lower sam merril.

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by Tom Cosgrove

The singletrack climb is lower sam merril.

I was told by a very credible and experienced MTB'r that this is the best way/route to climb on this ride

[Tom Cosgrove]

Wth the s/t at the top it adds about 6 miles. Should be about 28 miles.

[DtEW]

I have friends coming who I don't think would be comfortable with a 28-miler. It's even kinda iffy for me right now, to tell you the truth. I think it might be a good idea for those of us interersted in reduced milage to use a secondary start/end point at the entrance to Lower Sam Merrill and lose the road approach (from JPL) to Lower Sam Merrill and the exit back up the fireroad to El Prieto. Is the start/end of Lower Sam Merrill at the end of Chaney Trail? If so, is it at the top (FS 2N50) or the bottom (parking lot) of the steep road switchbacks?

Come to think of it, the secondary group could gather at the secondary meet point about 10 minutes later than the planned start time (I'm guessing that's about how long it would take for the road approach from JPL) and start with the primary group's arrival. We could get in touch by radio. What frequency is your radio currently set to, Tom?

[hecandsonbikers]

Hey Galvez, I will need dierctions to the site. Hope to see you guys there.

[Tom Cosgrove]

Dave 2 options, you can meet us at the top of lake and Loma alta where lower sam merril starts or we can forgo the singletrack at the top, or for a third option you can shuttle from jpl to lsm.
freq will be 22.12

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Originally Posted by hecandsonbikers

Hey Galvez, I will need dierctions to the site. Hope to see you guys there.

[FONT=Tahoma]Take the I 210 Freeway towards Pasadena to the Arroyo/Windsor Exit. Travel north from the exit off ramp on Windsor Avenue for about 1 mile. There is an unsigned parking area to the left, just [/FONT][FONT=Tahoma]northwest of the intersection of Windsor Ave[/FONT][FONT=Tahoma] . and Mountain View Street, just before the road takes a sharp turn to the right. Park in this parking lot.[/FONT]

[klutter]

[FONT=Arial]I think I'll tag along with you guys on this ride. See you at the parking lot @ 9[/FONT]

[outlaw]

count me in also, I'm good on directions now, thank god for mapquest. see you all at 9.
mark

[Tom Cosgrove]

You guys rock!
Lets ride!

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by Tom Cosgrove

You guys rock!
Lets ride!

Hey Tom did u find your radio? Thanks for letting me use it!! And Thanks to all that rode the killer ride!! Ohh whoah!! WHATTAA freaking CLIMB!! It was a great ride and was happy to have my bike intact and nothing broken on my body!! Hopefully I can do better on the next try!!

I'm surprised my old bike did as well as it did!! Hope to ride w/u all soon.