Angeles National Forest openings expected soon

Discussion in 'Trail Conditions' started by kanga, May 9, 2011.

  1. battleaxes

    battleaxes New Member

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    Lower Brown Mountain is open and it looks like El Prieto is open. I rode Lower Brown Saturday and passed by the beginning of El Prieto (trails open, no markers indicating that it was closed).The current trail uses the same road that it use to, except the trail is a single track instead of a fire road. It would be tough to have more than one person on the trail at a time, not enough room, at times the trail is using the same channel that the water used to go down the trail. Since there are no trees you can see pretty far back and see parts of the trail in the distance that you could not see before. Overall the trail is in good shape, a bit technical in places now especially in the turns where the water runs off the mountain. The part of the trail that is really torn up is the section between the saddle and El Prieto, the single track is right next to a very steep drop on some parts, it was a bit scary.

    Here are some pictures
    https://picasaweb.google.com/cnmhoward/BrownMountian?authkey=Gv1sRgCOrug62G-rypqAE&feat=directlink
     
  2. rjrbignell

    rjrbignell owed a living

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    Rode brown mtn to el prieto on sunday.
    It was a blast, personally a little sketchy as its the first time ive done either on a short travel ht with clipless pedals, but fun none the less.
    On the brown climb though, theres defiantly some high grass that takes you deceptivley close to some steep exposure; be careful, a friend of a friend already has fallen like 18' and had to be airlifted out of there.
     
  3. XCRider

    XCRider Member

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    Rim trail (Wilson to/from Newcomb)??

    Has anyone recently ridden between Newcomb and Mt Wilson on the Rim trail? Looks like it's on the list of newly opened routes.
     
  4. kanga

    kanga Active Member

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    I saw the Rim trail last year before the winter, and it was mostly intact with a few washed out drainages. The poison oak was doing well. The switchbacks near the start of the trail were still just as bad as before the fire.

    This Sunday I rode Lower Merril, Mt. Lowe Fire road, Mt. Lowe West, Sam Merrill, Sunset Ridge and El Prieto. It was nice to connect some of the old loops together again.
     
  5. stjunkie

    stjunkie New Member

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    I rode from West Fork road and Hwy 39 all the way to Redbox this weekend and it was all in good shape. This was mostly on Rincon road. Two different groups of people we talked to said they saw a bear. One group near West Fork road and the other group was camping at West Fork CG.
     
  6. charlesinoc

    charlesinoc Hello.

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    Do you have any pictures of the Rim Trail you can share? :) It's my favorite trail!

    re-posted without permission from...
    http://www.kcet.org/events/socal_wa...onal-forest-expected-to-open-late-spring.html


    [​IMG]

    One of the most important access points to the Angeles National Forest has been cut off since a winter rainstorm washed away a slope after the 2009 Station Fire. Nearly a year and a half later, the Angeles Crest Highway is close to reopening.
    Caltrans officials said today that State Route 2, as it is officially dubbed, is expected to open in "late spring," which, of course, is subject to change. The damaged slope 2.5 miles east of La Cañada Flintridge has been repaired, but workers still have to install new piping, rebuild asphalt berms, and repave and oil the highway.
    The news comes on the heels of Monday's reopening of over 100 miles of trails and several recreational areas of the forest, also damaged by the Station Fire. SR-2 is currently closed between La Cañada Flintridge and the Angeles Forest Highway, but another major roadway, Big Tujunga Canyon Road, remains open.



     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2011
  7. Schecky

    Schecky SoCalMTBubbs

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    Planning on a West Fork/Rincon loop.
    There is a singletrack West of Glenn canyon that goes from just past the dam to Rincon (between clamshell/2N31) in a North/South direction.
    It looks like it follows the ridgeline.
    Is it doable? A horrendous slog?
    Mostly looking to save some time/miles.
     
  8. roach

    roach Full Singletrack Tuck

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    The Gabe trail from Switzer's to Redbox is a total nightmare. Surprised they even bothered to open it.
    What a joke. (Picture taken on the upper section near Redbox that used to be wide open)
     

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  9. b3rnard

    b3rnard Member

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    "Open" does not usually mean it is maintained, recently or continuously. We run into a lot of trail like this all over. Sign up for trail-work day if you want to make sure the trail is maintained the next time you hit it ;)
     
  10. psyclerider

    psyclerider Member

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    Thanks for the report. I'm hoping to park near JPL and ride up to El Prieto on Memorial Day.
     
  11. hill^billy

    hill^billy KICK YOUR OWN A$$!.......

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    Acton Side

    Does anyone now if the Acton side of the Angeles Forest is open yet? Suppose I should know that since I live there.
     
  12. nightops

    nightops Lurker

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    Switzers to Redbox

    Any updates on this? i'm dying to do this one again but the last i heard it was a hike a bike...weather should be nice now...
     

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