Saw this thread on MTBR. Apparently somebody has been deliberately damaging features in Gatos Ravine: Was out there with a group ride last Sunday (July 3 ), and a couple people went down hard on some log piles that have been sabotaged. First one had a middle log placed so that it would move when you placed your front tire on it, resulting in an endo. The second one had a nice log placed right after you go over (can't see it from the entry point) placed to take out your front wheel, a rider went down very hard and ugly, he was lucky he didn't break something. Both riders came out with nothing broken, but this is getting extremely dangerous to riders, really it's borderline criminal activity (intent to harm). If you ride these check all of them for stability and that the exits are clear. and You will also notice that all the stunts on the Big Laguna Trail are gone, they have been removed by the new USFS Trails & Wilderness Ranger. Please do not rebuild these or build anything new (anywhere) as you will just undo everything we have achieved and jeopardize further advancements. Back to Gatos Ravine, the current game plan is to rebuild features more solidly and hopefully build new features but, it will have to wait until the new Ranger has caught up to the 2 years+ backlog of work. So let's not add to his work load. Getting those downed trees cleared off of Noble Canyon Trail is high on his to do list. __________________
Thanks for the update Doug...as if Noble needed more of a challenge, arsehole sabotaging, does not help
Thanks for the update Doug. I replaced the old thread with this one in the Trail Conditions "Sticky" here: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-conditions/55425-2010-2011-trail-condition-sticky.html
The conditions were good last friday. We avoided the very top section because of patches of snow and mud. The streams are full of water from the snow melt. Here's a vid of my ride. I was doing a different cam angle so overall the vid wasn't my favorite. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTi6a2ZcaRs&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Nobel Canyon update? Has anyone been to Nobel Canyon since the storm this week? If so, does the upper part have snow? I looked at the Mt. Laguna webcam and it shows patchy snow.
Mount Laguna got a fresh dumping of snow with the recent storm. There will definitely be snow and ice up top.
There was definitely lots of snow up on the top near Sunrise Hwy. We bailed on trying to get to Laguna Meadow when we got to where there were cross country ski tracks (at pine creek rd near gate that goes up to junction with BLT). The lower portion was good. Passed lots of hikers and three people that were backpacking (excited that the forecast would be cold enough for them to fully utilize their 10degF sleeping bags).
I rode Nobel yesterday, the top section about 3 miles worth had 8" of HAB snow, the rest of the trail was Awesome nice and tacky riding. Enjoy
I have ridden it before it conditions like this but not quite that much snow. the lower half is usually great. If the snow is packed or deep enough at the top then you won't damage the trails. But I'd stay out of the BLT when it's like that, either just too much snow or to muddy. but it's pretty cool to start in snow and end up in sunny desert, although that climb at the end in the sand still sucks.
Anyone know the current conditions for Noble Canyon? My buddy and I have the upcoming weekend free and are looking visit someplace that we have never ridden. Thanks in advance.