SART Lately?

Enjoyed the upper part of SART, P.O. Loop to S.Fork and was very grateful to see the big timber cleared since last month I rode it. THANK YOU to all people involved, that can be laborious work.

Anyways, the uninterrupted flow was a restored/surprising delight to partake of. Because of the removal of trees a friend whom I took enjoyed the p.o loop for the first time with no impediments. Such a jewel of a moment to see the stoke meter get busy for his virgin encounter, He's in love.

Steve

MOD Edit: New thread here: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/for...ail-conditions-merged-updated-11-27-12-a.html

 

SART Trail Conditions(merged-updated 8-4-14)

Does anyone know if Santa Ana River trail is in good condition? (not the bike path) Thinking about doing the out and back post office to south fork 32 mile version in a week of two and looking for people to carpool from OC.

 

I was on store loop a few weeks ago and it was in fine shape. I've heard that there are a few downed trees east of middle control rd.

 

These guys rode it on 5/4 and 5/14 and are reporting that the trail is in good shape with no downed trees....

http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=40593


Also note there is a sticky under Ride Reports, Trail Conditions

http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/trail-conditions/58292-sart-lately-2.html#post898445

 

I did Old hwy 38 + PO loop last sunday and it was PERFECT! 0 downed trees on the PO
I might go back this sunday for more

 

Thanks, thread merged to update "sticky"

 

Did the Loch Leven to Southfork and back route last a week ago. Trail is in delicious shape!

 

agreed... we did post office to barton flats and back this past weekend. some of the best conditions i have seen this trail in!

 

We are doing this Monday if anyone is interested in joining our carpool.

 

Just did the SART today. The whole trail is cleared from PO to Southfork. Temps were in the 90s at 1PM-4PM so make sure to bring double the amount of water you think you will need.

 

SART Trail Conditions

I will coming over from Phoenix to visit with a buddy in Forest Falls and we plan on taking two days to ride SART from top to bottom plus some of the extra credit top stuff. I searched the site and could't find any recent trail condition report for SART. Is the bottom half still over grown? it was a couple of years ago when I last rode it.

Thanks!

 

Check this one out:
http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/66107-2012-bike-bender-hell-ride.html

 

Rode the bottom half a few weeks ago, it is in good shape. Are you bike packing?

 

I was just up there today and rode PO loop and up to South Fork and back. Most of the trails are in perfect shape, I walked a couple of sections due to loose dirt and exposure but I was by myself and I play it pretty safe. One part of the trail is pretty bad where scree has totally covered the trail, I don't know the name of it but it's the section of SART that starts near the end of the PO singletrack. It's all safely walkable and I'm sure there are people who could ride it, but I wouldn't try it even if I wasn't solo. There is a tree down on the PO loop singletrack, it looks pretty recent and it's not too hard to climb over it.

 

Thanks for the update. Good to hear the bottom is not overgrown. Weather this weekend will determine which section we will ride. If it gets to wet in the high country, we'll just head over to Palm Springs. We are not bike packing, my buddy has a cabin in Forest Falls below Angelus Oaks. Perfect local to stage SART from.

SART in one day is definitely an adventure for sure. I've done SART top to bottom several times in one day, and had a few hell ride experiences like the one posted with snow, ice and rain. Not in shape this season to attempt in one day, but doable in two.

 

Did the Post Office to Glass Road and back. A few downed trees, including a 3' diameter one on the PO loop. It's annoying but passable. There were isolated snowy spots, mostly again on the PO Loop. Worth driving up for, for sure.

 

Thanks bro!

 

Adding a few more details: we appeared to be the first bike traffic on the PO Loop since the last snow (there was one set of foot prints). Some of the drifts were actually sketchy in the sense that I was tempted to ride through them, resulting in nearly shooting off the mountain a few times. It turns out, it's difficult to maintain control when your front wheel hits a wet, 8" snow drift. There were a couple of other people who rode it Saturday, so I would suspect there are paths through the snowy spots now. The fallen trees were really annoying and killed the flow. Would be great to get them out of there, but the big one is going to require some serious machinery.

 

Had a friend that did PO Loop/Southfork and back and he said same thing, downed trees and few snowdrifts but very rideable....we are heading up next weekend and adding Loch Leven to the mix, thanks for update!

 

Funny you should mention that......The San Gorgonio Wilderness Association holds their one-day (Saturday) annual volunteer training in mid-May. They are always looking for volunteers to work on the trails including the SART. Based on previous discussion I have had with the group, once you attend the training and get certified, they will schedule you to work on the SART based on the number of volunteers they are able to get for that trail. They will provide all the chain-saws you might need.

To sign up, fill out the on-line form:

http://www.sgwa.org/volunteer_appl.htm

They will mail you a volunteer packet a few weeks before the training. If you have any questions or if you don't get your packet contact the lead volunteer coordinator at:

[email protected] <[email protected]>

Normally, every year a Forest Service crew is assigned to numerous trails including the SART....but its been my experience the SART is usually not completey cleared of fallen trees until sometime in July So here's an opportunity to clear it up a lot sooner with your help!)

I realize it's a bit bureaucratic, but they want to make sure you know how to handle a chain-saw without cutting your limbs off, and that you know how to stay safe in the back-country...plus their machinery has spark arresters so you don't accidently start a forest fire....