Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch

Discussion in 'Ride Reports' started by EBasil, Mar 14, 2005.

  1. EBasil

    EBasil Member

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    The upper half of the Sycamore Canyon ride is open (all of Goodan Ranch), and the lower half, down toward Medina Rd. in Santee is varied. The old ranch house is fenced off and will be kept as a "ruin", and there are plans to construct a new ranch home for a docent/Ranger on some unknown schedule.

    Goodan Ranch, starting from the Poway side trailhead, is in great shape. The major trailwork performed by the Rangers and CCC on the Martha's Grove trail handled the big rains very well and weathered in enough that nobody should really be complaining about "sanitizing". With all the chaparral burned off, the mustard and other low brush are booming, very green and full of blooms. The new water bars on the trail are rutted on the high-side, but working well; the staircase is easier that pre-fire but has developed two distinct lines and is far less rutted down below; there are water crossings galore for now.

    The fireroad/singletracks down to the gate are in very good shape with some minor rain rutting, a lot of low, green brush and wet crossings at the creek. The pond is full...ever seen a lake there? West of the former ranch house, the singletrack is in great shape and not muddy except at the very sandy water crossing.

    Heading south of the gates, the fireroad alternates between very rocky and deep sand, punctuated with water crossings. It's going to really suck when things dry out, and it's not great now. The singletrack is in pretty good shape, with a few washouts to watch out for, several water crossings and increasingly muddy sections as one moves south. I actually turned around once I started sinking in more than 2", and other riders said large sections were gooey enough that they had to walk.

    If you make it a loop in Goodan Ranch or use the Cardiac climb to extend it, it's all great. Wait on the lower half.
     

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