Who here is loving the "new" version of this classic San Gabes loop as much as I am? For an hour long ride I don't think there is any other local trail that I have as much fun on as this one! I'm especially loving the fact that the fire-roads are now single track and double track! Also has anyone seen that new micro pump track next to the parking lot? El-P has everything now!:bang:
Brown is very cool. I rode it 2 days ago and the temps were in the high 80's, low 90's. There's no more trees for shade. That part is going to suck, as it gets hotter. I hope they put off the planned blading of the lower FR. EP is coming along very nicely. It's getting back to it's sandy summer glory. Steve, Banner and company have put in lots and lots of work to bring it where it is today. Big kudos to those guys. Otherwise, it would still be a huge mess. Mini-pump track is Cody and some of his buddies work.
Tried to find a map of the actual loop but have seen maps with different entry points to this trail - none were loops. Is the trailhead at Loma Alta?
No, not on Loma Alta. To do the Brown-El Prieto loop the Trailhead is at Windsor Ave & Ventura St, Altadena, CA
Here's a map of the loop that I captured on my garmin last week. I park at oak grove park instead of windsor ave as its closer to the freeway ramp and I get a little warm up/down going through the park before hitting the main trail at JPL. http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/37349742
here are three videos of how much I am loving it http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/58839-el-prieto-conditions-videos.html#post849148
Plus you don't have to worry about your car being vandalized in the WIndsor/Ventura lot by the local hooligans. No, not you Cody ;-)
I followed a couple of awesome riders this morning with long travel bikes descending towards El Prieto and I think I may just had the best time ever in my history of riding! I love how the trail Zigs n Zags left to right, up n down ruts, jumps and whatever else fun stuff the destructive rainstorms of 2010/2011 may have thrown in at the trail and this continues on until the beginning of El Prieto trail. I am seriously contemplating on defending this section of single track from the annual blading of brownie fire road in the near future. The protesters of Tienanmen square inspires me. The lone man who stopped a tank. Only problem is, I'm out of vacation days. 8-[ If I thought that was fun, well El Prieto blew my mind. I had imagine after riding this on opening day that it would take years to regain it's flow. I've read the numerous post on socaltrailriders.org on El Prieto on how "I'll never return to this trail, ever". One after the other. Even a friend of mind said something similar. It really left me confused. Why on earth would people complain??? It looks like someone had other plans. Flow is back. I don't know who you are, but you've really made me very happy today. I haven't had a lot to be happy about lately. ..Seriously thanks. And to the two guys who took me along for a great ride, you have no idea how happy I was. Thanks, I owe you guys a brew.
A few of us did that trail this morning (as well as Sunset). The flow and most of the features are still there, but man those trails need rain, or less sand in many of the switchbacks. Still a blast, and everything that gave me trouble in the past, still does!
Are there markers for El Prieto trail head at the top of (lower) Brown? I would like to ride up from lower brown, then drop into El Prieto. That would be the basic loop, right? I checked geoladders for the loop and holy C##P! There are THIRTEEN trail turns for this loop, which apparently are not marked! So one wrong turn and I'm lost! http://www.geoladders.com/gmap_display.php?route_id=36&walk_thru=1
I decided to just ride all the way up El Prieto and back down. Some really fun drops and technical sections. :bang: El Prieto Minute MUni is up in PUB.
As I was about to ride lower Sunset Ridge today, someone told me that they had just spotted a mountain lion on El Prieto. Can anyone confirm this?
Let's see.... saw a mountain lion on the fire road above El P, (not brown, but the dead-end fire road up to Rising Hill) two weeks ago. Two bobcats the week before that, and a bear in December. El P has it all! I just posted video footage from a wildlife cam in the Verdugo Mountains of a mountain lioness and cub that was shown to us at the Burbank Trails Council meeting. There's no shortage of wildlife.
Yes, I was aware that there was wildlife (mountain lions, etc) out there, but I was asking specifically about yesterday. Did anyone else see a mountain lion on E.P yesterday?
A BEAR??? That's scary. Especially if you happen to see babies! That's one time I'd rather have a bike!