Camp Nelson - Quaking Aspen

[dstepper]

Geno started this idea and I will expand on it....his thread is here. Camp Nelson freeride this weekend

Camp Nelson is in the Sierras above Porterville, I think it took me about 3-4 hours to drive there from Orange County last month...well worth the drive. Besides there may be no where to ride here except Fully Loop.
Scott (stjunkie) and I are heading up Friday afternoon and camping at Quaking Aspen...riding Saturday and Sunday.

Scott will work on routes we have some new ideas but also will be riding Camp Nelson Trail and maybe Jordan Peak.

Here is a link to our last ride up there. RR: Quaking Aspen Weekend

[mhughes]

Getting out of the smoke in SD sounds great, but I'm afraid I'd hold people up on these rides. Just for reference, a warm-weather paved climb up Noble leads me to a (fun overall, but ugly at the end) bonk towards the bottom (extra credit is ugly).

I'm OK with a 3 hour ride if moderate pace, but this sounds over my head? If anybody thinks a slower pace ride is in order, maybe Sunday, please chime in! Technical isn't a problem, let me know if pads and a full face are in order ...

I'd likely be up with the wife staying someplace other than a campground (anybody been to http://www.campnelsonlodge.com/ ?), after hours fun is all good by us!

--Matt

[dstepper]

Give it a try and don't worry about holding anyone up, I am old and slow. Pads and full face hemet if you plan on hitting the stunts. Pads for me no full face as I don't hit anything big.

The Lodge looks way nice from the outside, I have never been inside. We will be camping 9 miles up the road. If you come up we will be in my white 2001 Toyota Prerunner. I do not think many will be camping so we should be easy to find, it is a small campground. Hoping for campsite #25. Nick will not be up until 9-9:30 on Saturday AM so come find us.

Note: Cell phones do not get reception up there.

Dean

Originally Posted by mhughes

Getting out of the smoke in SD sounds great, but I'm afraid I'd hold people up on these rides. Just for reference, a warm-weather paved climb up Noble leads me to a (fun overall, but ugly at the end) bonk towards the bottom (extra credit is ugly).

I'm OK with a 3 hour ride if moderate pace, but this sounds over my head? If anybody thinks a slower pace ride is in order, maybe Sunday, please chime in! Technical isn't a problem, let me know if pads and a full face are in order ...

I'd likely be up with the wife staying someplace other than a campground (anybody been to http://www.campnelsonlodge.com/ ?), after hours fun is all good by us!

--Matt

[Kiehacker]

Originally Posted by mhughes

Getting out of the smoke in SD sounds great, but I'm afraid I'd hold people up on these rides. Just for reference, a warm-weather paved climb up Noble leads me to a (fun overall, but ugly at the end) bonk towards the bottom (extra credit is ugly).

I'm OK with a 3 hour ride if moderate pace, but this sounds over my head? If anybody thinks a slower pace ride is in order, maybe Sunday, please chime in! Technical isn't a problem, let me know if pads and a full face are in order ...

I'd likely be up with the wife staying someplace other than a campground (anybody been to http://www.campnelsonlodge.com/ ?), after hours fun is all good by us!

--Matt

There is also lodging at "The Ponderosa" which is walking distance from the campsite. I am not sure if they have a website or anything but its a cool rustic lodge: hotel/diner/store all in one. We usually go to the bar or eat dinner there when we camp in the area. Here is their phone number: BREWER'S PONDEROSA LODGE - 559 - 542-2579 / Ponderosa

I have never stayed at either so I cannot compare.

As Dean said: Full face and pads are definitely in order for some of the stunts.

[mhughes]

I'm afraid it's just not going to work this time - I can't take any time off work at the moment, and my wife doesn't want to drive
the mountain roads at night ... so we'd be stuck driving up Sat. and back Sunday - too much driving too close together.

Have fun - looks like a blast, I'd like to make it at some point!

--Matt

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by mhughes

I'm afraid it's just not going to work this time - I can't take any time off work at the moment, and my wife doesn't want to drive
the mountain roads at night ... so we'd be stuck driving up Sat. and back Sunday - too much driving too close together.

Have fun - looks like a blast, I'd like to make it at some point!

--Matt

Bummer maybe next time...if things remain closed around here we may head up again soon. This was the closest good riding I could think of and it has not snowed up there yet.

Dean

[SheDevil]

I'm still considering it...I'm just paranoid as my place backs up to a brush hill and the fire is 5 minutes away. If the wind is gone I'm safe...unless one of those arson idiots manages to come this way....sigh.

[Pain Freak]

I'm not even sure if I could ride and seems like a long way to go to find out I can't. The smoke is killing me. We are talking about just driving north to get away from the smoke.

[dstepper]

Anyone coming up...be sure to bring lights...the moon is full and maybe we can get in a night ride Saturday night. I will bring both my lights in case someone needs to borrow one.

[Kiehacker]

Originally Posted by SheDevil

I'm still considering it...I'm just paranoid as my place backs up to a brush hill and the fire is 5 minutes away. If the wind is gone I'm safe...unless one of those arson idiots manages to come this way....sigh.

Living in a extreme fire zone, Fire has ripped thru my neiborhood in the past. There is actually the remains of a burned out building still. I have learned to live with it. There are a couple things I do to help keep from getting stressed out about it....

1 - make backups of my important pics/docs and keep them at a different location. I have a spindle of data DVDs at my folks house.
2 - good insurance.
3 - Defensible Space (most important). Help the fire fighters help you. Clear as much brush as you can as far as you can from your house. For a small lot a weed whacker or mower will work for bigger lots a small tractor with a box blade is awesome...of course be careful of dry conditions and sparks.

[SheDevil]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Anyone coming up...be sure to bring lights...the moon is full and maybe we can get in a night ride Saturday night. I will bring both my lights in case someone needs to borrow one.

I don't have a light....I call dibs on your extra!!!!!

[ApexMan]

Originally Posted by SheDevil

I don't have a light....I call dibs on your extra!!!!!

This sound like a great weekend but I have a big party to attend Saturday, this will be one where I'll get to hang with my old west side crew and tons of other folks that know my friend Matt and his wife Sonja. Plus it's their first party in their new house and they are also celebrating Sonja being pregnant, so, can't miss this.

I get home about 4pm today, if you are rolling by my place at that time you can borrow one of my lights.

[SheDevil]

Originally Posted by ApexMan

This sound like a great weekend but I have a big party to attend Saturday, this will be one where I'll get to hang with my old west side crew and tons of other folks that know my friend Matt and his wife Sonja. Plus it's their first party in their new house and they are also celebrating Sonja being pregnant, so, can't miss this.

I get home about 4pm today, if you are rolling by my place at that time you can borrow one of my lights.

One thing I can say for certain...I've never rolled by Eagle Rock in my life!!!! Thanks tho....and since my poor dear AL is broken...I could steal his killer new price one too....it didn't break in his crash. (going straight to hell for that one)

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by SheDevil

I don't have a light....I call dibs on your extra!!!!!

Yours!

[SheDevil]

I called the campground directly too...they are wide open with only one reservation. We're clear to pile in

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by ApexMan

This sound like a great weekend but I have a big party to attend Saturday, this will be one where I'll get to hang with my old west side crew and tons of other folks that know my friend Matt and his wife Sonja. Plus it's their first party in their new house and they are also celebrating Sonja being pregnant, so, can't miss this.

I get home about 4pm today, if you are rolling by my place at that time you can borrow one of my lights.

is that the MAtt we did those rides with? tell him guass up for me EH!

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by ShinKen

is that the MAtt we did those rides with? tell him guass up for me EH!

Get your arse up there meng and tell him yourself.. Come ride with us.

[ShinKen]

Originally Posted by Shannon

Get your arse up there meng and tell him yourself.. Come ride with us.

i would but I'm doing some pain this weekend!! havent done the Palm Canyon since 05 i think its calling my name!!!