Monster Endurance Ride

[S54MCoupe]

Who would be up for this ride? It's been something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Here's the general Idea.

First Mountain Pass: Verdugos
We would start in Burbank (elevation: approx. 870ft) and climb the Fire road to the top of the Verdugo Mountains (approx. 3,000ft.) We can take a nice break at the top, take pictures, whatever, I'm in no hurry. We'll descend down Hostetter Fire Rd. and end up on La Tuna Canyon, near the 210 freeway (elevation 1660ft.)

Second Mountain Pass: Mt. Lukens
We'll head North to Haines Canyon and take another quick stop at the Trailhead near the Reservoir (elevation 2200ft.) and make the hot, tedious climb to Mt. Lukens (elevation: 5060ft.) We'll take another stop to eat, hydrate, take pictures, etc. Like I said, I'm in no hurry on rides like this. We'll descend the fire road down to the Ranger Station on Angeles Crest Hwy (elevation 2260)

Third Mountain Pass: Mt. Wilson
Everyone will put their badass roadie skills to work and climb the tarmac up to Clear Creek (elevation 3650) for a regroup, and a place to refill waterbottles and camelbacks. We'll continue on over to our next regroup point, which is Red Box (better known as the turnoff to Mt. Wilson Rd, elevation 4600) and ride up to Mt. Lowe Rd. (elevation 5100).

We start the descent on Fire Road, but my plan would be taking as much of the single track as possible (especialy after all the fire road we did at the start of the ride) I don't know the names of all of them, but I know it includes Sunset Ridge and a lot of the other classic Single Track that snakes its way around the Fire Road.

We would eventualy end up back on the paved section of Mt. Lowe Rd, which would lead us to a short section of singletrack that leads to the Millard Campground. We would climb up the fire road from Millard for the final stretch of single track El Prieto.

From there, we would get a shuttle back to our cars in Burbank (I'm not sick enough to ride back there, sorry) and call it a day. If everyone wants, we can stop by my place in Pasadena for some pasta and refreshments (on me) since I am assuming we'll all need it.

I have no idea how long this ride will take, or when I want to do it. I just wanted to throw the idea out there for anyone who might be up for a good endurance ride.

Opinions?

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

I would hesitate doing the singletrack descent (Upper Merrill / Middle Merrill) from Mt. Lowe after that much riding. I'm just looking at the safety factor on that singletrack when one is fatigued. I would be interested in this sort of ride in a couple of months.

I've been building myself up for an endurance ride that is going involve climbing up to Mt. Lowe then riding to red box and do the Strawberry Peak loop from there and then return to JPL by descending again from Mt. Lowe.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by S54MCoupe

Second Mountain Pass: Mt. Lukens
We'll head North to Haines Canyon and take another quick stop at the Trailhead near the Reservoir (elevation 2200ft.) and make the hot, tedious climb to Mt. Lukens (elevation: 5060ft.) We'll take another stop to eat, hydrate, take pictures, etc. Like I said, I'm in no hurry on rides like this. We'll descend the fire road down to the Ranger Station on Angeles Crest Hwy (elevation 2260)

Question: After climbing and decending Luken, at Grizzly Flats are you dropping down to the Highway 2 there, or are you taking the singletrack over to Clear Creek Ranger Station at Angelus Forest Highway?

I also agree that taking Upper and Middle Merrills down after that much riding could be a recipe for disaster...those are tough trails, with extreme exposures.

My opinion is: that it is alot of fireroad...needs more singletract... and not something I would consider doing until it was cool out.

Dean