Downhill Tower - San Luis Obispo

Discussion in 'The Adrenaline Factory' started by kentonn, Sep 24, 2008.

  1. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    I finally got around to checking out two of the DH trails in SLO. Even though there are probably many on this site that know of these trails, one of them is still a secret so I won't get into it. The other trail, Tower is a short steep and chunky DH that is a PITA to get to but worth the trouble. Hopefully someone who knows the trail can tell me a better way to get there. The way I took was a 1200' / 1 mile HAB.

    If you are interested, here is the route on geoladders http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=17945

    Now for the trail pics.

    This is what the HAB looks like, all 1200 feet of it:

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    Here is the tower:

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    The ridge Tower descends:

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    Looking up at the barbed-wire section:

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    A picture I found on singletracks.com of someone riding this section:

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    Looking back at the ridge I rode down:

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 24, 2008
  2. art23rockpile

    art23rockpile Minus Delta T

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    Looks like fun, Ken. But, I'll bet that HAB must have sucked bigtime!

    It would be nice to hit some trails up there when it's still cool & green. Maybe a trip with SB too?
     
  3. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    The HAB sucked pretty hard but I'd do it again in without question. Tower was a lot of fun and there are some other trails that are even better. I was thinking about a road trip that would could give us a couple/few days in SB and a couple/few days in SLO.
     
  4. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    Tower definitely is a crazy trail. I have yet to actually ride it myself, but it's on my to-do list. there's some pretty cool jumps right by the bottom too if you know where to look ;)

    I'm going to go out on a limb and guess the other trail you did started with an 'F'? if so, that trail is equally crazy, if not more. mandatory doubles, stupid steep loose rocky sections, rock gardens chunkier than rosie o' donnel. definitely a crazy trail.

    BTW, not referring to firebreak...

    Drop me a PM and tell me about how your ride went. I already know all the secrets up there, so it's not like you're spoiling it :beer:
     
  5. project_d

    project_d Steve Peat Wannabe

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    I was thinking the same thing. I have a friend that goes to Cal-Poly SLO, and he's told me about the "F" trail. Says that everybody has broken a bone on that trail at one time or another.
     
  6. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    I don't know, I could be talking about a trail that begins with an "F". The trail that I scouted had some serious sections on it. I hiked it this time but next time I am going back with my bike. I already know that I will not ride the whole thing but I am going to try to get as much as I can.
     
  7. Danimal

    Danimal Gary the Cat

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    Rad trail.
    I would definitely walk some sections...I need my bones where they are.
     
  8. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    ya know, most of the people I know who've rode it HAVE broken a bone there :lol:

    its a cool trail though, and on my list of stuff to do.

    If anyone wants to take a look at it, there's a section (albeit badly filmed) in chainsmoke 2.

    also i have some pics from a race we had up there.

    [​IMG]

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    hey project D, who do you know in SLO?
     
  9. IDY-Craig

    IDY-Craig Lake Arrowhead

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    SLO is the spot

    I used to live there for about 3 years. Now I go back once a month for work. I didn't have a big bike back then, but I tried Red Trail on my GT Avalanch (more like Ava-launch...me OTB).
    If a ride comes together on the down low...I'd love to get a PM.
     
  10. tkblazer

    tkblazer Zack Attack

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    how is your boy there doin... i remember riding with you guys and your boy freakin rips
     
  11. jonathan_sykes81

    jonathan_sykes81 GET FORMULA

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    What is the name of the DH trail in SLO that was in the older video "Chain Smoke 2"?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 25, 2008
  12. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    we don't speak of that particular trail publically ;)

    but we can show you a video (it's actually chainsmoke 2)

    [youtube]8BCVcQxs4KM[/youtube]

    Richard Lancaster is the dude that built it. Here he is in the previously mentioned race :bang:

    [​IMG]
     
  13. jonathan_sykes81

    jonathan_sykes81 GET FORMULA

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    Word
     
  14. project_d

    project_d Steve Peat Wannabe

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    He's doing good! He just finished interning at Apple, and he moved back to SLO this past weekend. He'll be racing up at Parkfield, then he might come down for a bit. If he does, let's hook up for a ride!:beer:
     
  15. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    Are you heading up to Parkfield? I'll have room in my car if you want a lift. Also, who's your friend? I was up at cal poly the last 2 years, just curious if I know him :?:

    Drop me a line though. I'm probably heading up friday morning, hanging out with some friends/testing out one of the session 88 demos at foothill cyclery :bang:
     
  16. reflux

    reflux New Member

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    Speaking of which, how is Josh these days? I don't think I've seen him in about 4 or so years, not too long after he moved from the old location adjacent to Mickey Dees.
     
  17. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    He still acts like he is a 20 year old :lol: I swear, I thought he was a college student that just worked there for the longest time. He's cool though, and definitely a good guy to waste time in a bike shop talking to.
     
  18. Rockinthecasbah

    Rockinthecasbah A.D.D. Unleased

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    that trail in the video looks way fun
     
  19. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    Yeah it looks fun but the trail in the video looks nothing like the real thing. Lancaster is also riding the trail so smoothly that he makes even the tough parts look like San Juan trail. Make no mistake, some of that stuff could seriously tweak you if you screw-up. :D

    Check out this rock garden which was not shown in the video. This is what it looks like from the top and looking up at the bottom half. Oh yeah, this section is pretty steep.
     

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  20. Bryguy17

    Bryguy17 A little Shaggy

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    Ken really isn't lying on this. It's one of those trails that you really need to see in person to appreciate.

    If you like, though, ricky, I'll take you on it sometime.
     

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