Trail Work Aliso Woods/Car Wreck 8/7/2010

We obviously don't understand each other. I'm honestly not trying to be argumentative.

The only reason the trail is unsafe for hikers is because of the bikes. Bikers don't like it when hikers tells us what we should do. Likewise, we shouldn't decide what is safe for the hikers. I'm sure the trail is child's play for free climbers.

I agree that if the trail is as gnarley as you say it is, it should be either bikes only or hikers only. However, right now it is a multiuse trail and bikers need to be in control and hikers need to be aware of other traffic.

There are also going to be a lot of underskilled bikers coming to the park to try the new trail they read about in the paper.

 

People will hike up it, I have seen dedicated bird watchers do all kinds bushwacking, hiking, going off-limits to get their fixes. So what if you are going to fast, they have their ipod on and don't hear ya and you end up stuffing your bike into a cactus or bush to not run them down. The trail does not have shear cliffs, narrow trails with big exposures. This whole uphill issue is much to do about nothing.

 

Just to add a little support to this statement... its kind of like driving a car.

If you're just driving a long and some a-hole pulls out of a street without stopping at the stop sign, are you going to yield to him despite having the right of way? Obviously you would because if you didn't, a crash would most likely occur and both parties would total their cars. This can work many different ways where either party is at fault. But, in the end, both parties suffer the consequences and losses are had on both sides. That being said- all everyone needs is a little common sense and then theres really no issue about whether or not it should be a multi-use trail or whether or not its a one way trail. And on a final note, when both parties "total their cars" thats when trails get closed down.

 

We'd all take cactus for a birder w/o knowing their induldgence no problem on a steep downhill, noooooo problemoooo.

Yield to birdbrains and endanger your life. NOT!!!!!!!



Steve

 

If you don't think that Car Wreck is that technical of a trail then you're an above average rider. Yah, I used to ride Car Wreck on a hard tail with cantilever brakes way back in the day too. But you can't rate trails on if an experianced rider thinks it's difficult or not. You have to rate it to the skills of the common rider. Granted, my memory of how technical it is may be a bit skewed since I haven't ridden it for so long, but you got to admit it is way more technical than Rock-it or Lynx and that only the more advanced riders will be able to clean it and that the average rider will be in way over their head.

 

I'm with you on this one. It's fun and challenging, but seriously not a black diamond trail. It would probably make a blue diamond at one of the bike parks.
I still think if you have a hard time with Rock-It or Lynx you should go easy your first couple of times down C.W. If you're comfortable with desending trails like StairSteps, you'll have no problems on C.W.

We may hit it on the Sunday Path Ride. We gotta wait and see who all shows up, and what their abillites are. I don't think we'll be there for the ribbon cutting stampede though.

Once again, thanks to all of you that spent the time getting it ready to become legit. It's always been a favorite of mine.

 

As you know I'm no fan of descending but IMHO CW and SS are really different. SS is not strewn with all those shark tooth profile chunks like CW is. It is possible to ride SS slowly and I think with the rock profile at several places in CW you have to carry far more speed.
I feel like Rock-It is a little closer to CW except that the center line of Rock-It has larger rocks and they are a bit smoother. Even saying that, I've stuck a tire on the 'Cross bike there more than once and when I get going fast enough, the trail kinda becomes a blur
Each rider's opinions of what is difficult or not is tempered by their skills, equipment choice and the difficulty of the trails they ride. I heard a great story from Jay about his first CW ride. I asked him if he cleaned it and basically his answer was something like , "Yes, up until I ended up in the upper branches of the tree at the bottom!

 

Maybe not, but at Aliso, it doesn't compare to anything else in the park except Five Oaks (and not many people ride that one anyways). Even Stairsteps has signs warning people of a steep trail ahead. Hopefully the 3-4ft drop at the beginning serves as a decent warning.

So, back when this trail was technically legal, was it signed and on the map?

 

I don't think it was ever technically legal. So, no. It had no sign. The first sign it probably got was the trail closure sign.

Now how about getting Z-1 opened?

 

agree strongly. Some trials require momentum to safley get over gardens. If a climber is in the way theres gunna be collisions. I wouldnt want to run into someone like me going down. I'd say at least at first post lower sign not to climb. I weigh 240 with gear and bike lotta mass.

 

I should be out there on Sunday for the RRRRRrrribon cutting. (Who doesn't want to wear the RRRRrrribbbbonnnn????)

I will bring my contourHD too. If anyone wants me to follow them so they can be on camera, im on a titanium '08 specialized enduro. Just come up and say hi.

 

It is all walkable. Please use caution. the trail is in excellent shape.

 

Is the 3-4ft drop, in the beginning, roll-able? I'll be at Aliso this Sunday afternoon, maybe you'll see me.

Silver '05 Giant Reign 3

 

There is not a 3-4' drop at the beginning. Perhaps you're thinking of Stair Steps?

 

Not really a drop, but yes it is

 

I was just going off what Garrett had said in a later reply.

That looks totally doable! Can't wait to ride it this Sunday. Thanks to everyone that helped get CW legalized!

Hope to see some of you there.

 

See, Kevin I told you! Stop the madness!

Car Wreck is a different beast than 5 Oaks, Stair Steps, Lynx, or Rock-It. There are no p-lines and the terrain contours of the nastiest parts will keep people on the trail. Riding very slowly or stopping safely on parts will be tough due to chunkiness and steepness. Some of it is narrow enough that even pulling to the side to let someone pass will be tough. Just walking a bike up or down the toughest sections would be hard to do. I slipped and fell just hiking down on the work day, and that was in normal shoes.

I'm not sure I want to see the parks start rating trails with black diamonds; that seems like an invitation to a lawsuit when someone gets hurt on a trail that is tougher for them than they think the rating indicates. A generic sign at the top and bottom of CW saying "Warning: Steep rocky trail" seems sensible.

Car Wreck demands a high level of respect, but for those who have the skill and equipment, it's a great addition to the park. Play smart, and have fun out there!

 

I believe that Garret was referring to Stairstep's 3-4' drop at the top to warn riders about the technicality of the upcoming sections of the trail.

I do agree with the people saying that a lot of people will be coming out of the woodwork to ride this trail. I hope this trail does not become a highly ridden/skidded trail like 5 oaks. One time I saw like 5 people riding down 5 oaks skidding, skidding, and skidding. If you are unaware of this trail and its features, get off at the appropriate areas, put your bike appropriately aside, check for the line and braking areas, and be on the lookout for riders who do know the trail while not standing on the line.

I hope that there is not a lot of uphill traffic on this trail. I am starting to believe that some of the p-lines are from people going up the trails and not wanting to climb or push their bikes up the nastier sections.

I still can't believe people wear Ipods blasting while out in the wilderness!!!!! I remember when I was at CSULB, I tried to listen to music with headphones while sitting on a bench with my back to landscaping and I felt so unaware of my surroundings, I had to take them off. I could not imagine how isolated and scary not having my hearing would be in the wilderness with lions, tigers, and bears, oh my.

 

That's what bear bells are for If I'm in Wood Canyon on the weekend and am descending Mathis or Meadows, my bear bell is a-jingling Plus, then the hikers might think I'm Santa and get excited to see me

 

Bear Bells vs iPOD is not a fair fight!