Angeles National Forest openings expected soon

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

  1. kanga

    kanga Active Member

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    Fixed the list.... El P is in the column we want it to be!
     
  2. charlesinoc

    charlesinoc Hello.

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    Thank you Kanga!



     
  3. roach

    roach Full Singletrack Tuck

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    Shuttle Redbox to Switzers again and again.

    From what I've seen from the road, the lower half towards Switzers is a total mess!
    Massive shuttling may actually help that trail.:bang:
     
  4. dbboy

    dbboy New Member

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  5. kanga

    kanga Active Member

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    Sunset Ridge trail is the trail from Mt. Lowe road back to Millard Campground. Some people call it Sunset trail, but its official name is Sunset Ridge. It is open as of today.

    In the LA Times article the story infers that Strawberry Peak will be open, but it is definitely in the closed area. I wish I could go and ride today! (I'm in Hawaii until Saturday).

    A little more info:

    -The Santa Clara Divide Road (3N17) is open only to non-motorized traffic.

    -The Angeles received money from the Federal Highway Administration to repair the Mueller Tunnel. Hopefully, it will be open by the end of the year. No promises, though.

    -Switzers remains closed because the contractor rebuilding it is putting in the finishing touches and then the Forest Service will have to accept it from him. Last I heard, it will open this summer, though.

    You should also pay attention to what the message above says about the conditions of the trails. Many have been substantially altered by the Station Fire. Throughout the forest on the trails that are re-opening you’ll see bright yellow signs posted at the beginning that warn you of the potential issues that may encounter in a burn area. Take the time to read them and even more importantly, pay attention to them.

    If you want more information or want to learn more before you go, I recommend that you call the Los Angeles River Ranger District office- 818 899 1900.
     
  6. MattRock

    MattRock New Member

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  7. EMrider

    EMrider New Member

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    Got lucky and had a meeting cancelled this afternoon, thereby freeing me for a return to Brown and EP.

    In short, they are very different, but better, than before the fire.

    Brown actually feels like a legit MTB trail, not a typical fire road. Lots of growth and erosion. In some places it is less than a foot wide. Really liked the feel while climbing.

    Fron the saddle to EP is also very overgrown and narrow. But again, more fun and challenging than pre fire.

    And EP? Recent trail work is evident and much appreciated. The entire canyon looks very different. Fire and water are incredible powrers. But IMHO, the "new" trail flows well. I had to walk several sections, as before, but fewer than before. The trail is in better shape than I expected. Some real sketchy exposure, though, so watch your speed and control.

    I was great to be back out there!
    R
     
  8. Duke

    Duke New Member

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    I rode Sunset Ridge Trail and El Prieto today.

    Sunset Ridge conditions: It is in EXCELLENT shape except for one minor annoyance. It is WAAAY overgrown in spots. People, lets give this trail some machete love!! :)

    El Prieto conditions: FYI, this is the first time I've ridden it since the fire...I'm really gonna miss some of the sections that seem to be permanently gone (especially 1 flowy section towards the top)....but, that being said...the re-routes are nice and the trail is in pretty decent condition. It's a little overgrown but I can tell that people have been riding it a lot (it's a lot less overgrown than Sunset). Basically, it just needs to be ridden more and would probably benefit from a little more trail work in places. But the bottom line is, it's still very fun! :)

    Yay!
     
  9. Radical Rich

    Radical Rich New Member

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    Time for BIONICON's to hit (i.e. RULE) the trails!!!
     
  10. mottmcfly

    mottmcfly New Member

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    This is awesome news. I'm going to hit Brown Mt./EP tomorrow. I'll take some pics.

    Marty
     
  11. GeoRob

    GeoRob Member

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    Any word on the Middle and Upper Sam Merrill Trails?
     
  12. SeanC

    SeanC Active Member

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    what about Brown Mtn road up to Ken Burton? Is Ken Burton trail Open? Conditions?
    Thanks.
     
  13. Duke

    Duke New Member

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    Brown Mountain is only open up to the saddle. You can't go higher than that (well, not legally at least...). Ken Burton trail is also closed and from what I know, it's absolutely trashed and will need to be rebuilt.
     
  14. kanga

    kanga Active Member

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    I'll post the link again. This is a current list of trails that are opened and closed, verified by the FS. I will keep this list updated if anything changes.

    http://corbamtb.com/news/2011/05/13/angeles-national-forest-trails-to-open-may-16-2011/

    I've surveyed the damage on upper brown for the FS, and it is in bad shape. There are a few places where you have to climb down about 8' into a trench and climb out the other side to continue on the trail. Ken Burton is essentially gone, with little evidence of the old trail tread. Gabrielino, where the bottom of Ken Burton comes out is also gone. These areas probably won't open for another year or two at least.
     
  15. erikqjames

    erikqjames Member

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    Yesterday 5/18 I rode up Mt. Lowe Fire Road up to Inspiration Point. Gobbled lunch there in Freezing Cold, rode down Merril Trail to Echo Trail up to Sunset Ridge, rode down Sunset Ridge back to my car at the Fire Road Gate.

    Paved fire road is of course still the same, but bordered by burnt trees. After Sunset Ridge the road turns to gravel, and is in fine shape. Of course the cute hikers bench just up from the end of Pavement is gone. Inspiration Point, where the sighting scopes are, was undamaged. That's probably common knowledge here, but I didn't know and was glad. Merril seems unaffected by fire. Echo Trail is only slightly overgrown in places. Sunset Ridge is still fantastic. Yes it is slightly overgrown in places, and WAY overgrown in two short spots right in a row, but absolutely rideable and still fun as hell. Next, Chilao!
     
  16. eruizela

    eruizela mountain bike addict

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    Yesterday 5/18 I rode up Mt. Lowe Fire Road up to Inspiration Point. Gobbled lunch there in Freezing Cold, rode down Merril Trail to Echo Trail up to Sunset Ridge, rode down Sunset Ridge back to my car at the Fire Road Gate.

    Paved fire road is of course still the same, but bordered by burnt trees. After Sunset Ridge the road turns to gravel, and is in fine shape. Of course the cute hikers bench just up from the end of Pavement is gone. Inspiration Point, where the sighting scopes are, was undamaged. That's probably common knowledge here, but I didn't know and was glad. Merril seems unaffected by fire. Echo Trail is only slightly overgrown in places. Sunset Ridge is still fantastic. Yes it is slightly overgrown in places, and WAY overgrown in two short spots right in a row, but absolutely rideable and still fun as hell. Next, Chilao!

     
  17. mottmcfly

    mottmcfly New Member

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    Rode Brown Mt (singletrack) to the saddle and back down (singletrack) to El Prieto.

    I have to say this, the way that nature rebounds is absolutely staggering. Some of this is like riding through a flower garden. As for EP, the trail is more fun than it ever has been. I have never seen trail work like that before. I am in awe of what was done here and my most heartfelt thanks goes out to everyone who played any part in it.

    Here are the pics. Please keep in mind they do NO credit to what it looks like in person.

    Have a great weekend everyone!

    Marty

    http://mottmcfly.smugmug.com/Other/El-Prieto-5-19-2011/17151737_HXhMRj#1299892711_Fjn6bSF
     
  18. charlesinoc

    charlesinoc Hello.

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    Pictures of El Prieto, low quality camera phone.

    Thanks to the hundreds of Volunteers who have shared there passion for our local trails buy rebuilding so hundreds more can continue to enjoy. I really, really, really appreciate it!.

    FYI I wasn't able to take picture of the over grown conditions from the saddle to the entrance of El Prieto and also the over grown conditions in El Prieto. Really, technical primitive conditions. So fun!




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  19. Bruin

    Bruin New Member

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    Rode Brown Mtn "fireroad" (now singletrack/doubletrack at best in some places) 2 weekends ago. Very interesting experience: felt familiar, but also very unfamiliar. Where fire trucks and other 4-wheel drives once could drive the fireroad, some of it (closer to the first saddle) is now singletrack and difficult to get through due to very tall weeds. The trail is nonetheless still beautiful, but more attention now must be focused on some effects of the damage the fires and floods created. Also, with some of the trail being singletrack and thus narrower, it is a little more difficult to stay out of the way of rattle snakes and visa versa; so, beware. I came across one on my descent, threw a rock in it direction so that it would hopefully move entirely of the track, but instead it just went a little further into the weeds, which I passed by very closely due to the narrowness of this trail.

    I saw some hikers ascending El Prieto, which I was curious to check out, but figured that it would be in much worse shape than the Brown Mtn "fireroad."

    Still, I am not deterred to ride Brown Mtn again - I'm going tomorrow morning. I believe that CharlesInOc told me that the trail from the first saddle to the Burton Trailhead was impassable at some point up the trail, but I'm interested to see exactly where and still put in a little more mileage.

    Thanks for the trail reports, all.
     
  20. dstepper

    dstepper (R.I.P.) Over the hill

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    Rode Lowe Toll Road form Chaney Gate up to Middle Merill, Echo, down Sunset. Middle Merrill just like it always was, just a small section that got burnt, no fire on Echo. Sunset is in good shape but if you catch poison oak you may want to stay off it until the brush gets cleared back. The poison oak is in the trail and you will get into it.

    Dean
     

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