Road Ride Crystal Lake 09/11/2010

A buddy of mine wants to see what the ride to Crystal Lake is like. We'll be leaving San Dimas Canyon Road & Foothill at 8am, taking Foothill/Sierra Madre over to San Gabriel Canyon Road (aka Hwy 39) and then getting our climb on. Pace should be fairly relaxed, ride will be short (maybe 50 or 60 miles) but the climb will be considerable. (What is it? 6,000ft?)

Anyone who wants to come along would be welcome. We're bringing tons of water, in case it takes us forever. In fact, to ensure that it takes us forever (lugging all that water). The weather shouldn't be too bad, but we will be in the sun the whole way up... Reply here if you have nothing better planned!

 

I've done that ride a couple times but we drove and parked just above the off-road park. It's a long grind up and I believe you are right, it's around 6000 ft. The last time we road it was soooo hot that we jumped in the stream along the way and filled our water bottles with the cold water just to stay cool.

 

Great climb! We used to do a route up GMR, left and down after the gate, right after the bridge (sorry forgot names of the roads) and all the way up to Crystal Lake. Hard workout, fun descents, and great scenery. The only problem I remember was the lack of places to refill the water bottles. We used to stop at the Campground/ fishing place by the river to refill, but it was still a long way to Crystal Lake.
Back then, the road to Crystal Lake was closed to traffic. Is it open now? I would like to do that ride again sometime...

 

Yes, the road is still closed to cars. Which makes part of the ride safer. Climbing over GMR is nice, but I usually save that part for the end. (And to avoid the headwind on San Gabriel Canyon Rd on the way out.) We won't be doing that EC on Saturday, though you'd be welcome to join us part way and then peel off...

 

I'm thinking of do this ride soon. But I have to talk to some of my buddies into joining me. Is it all DH? J/K

 

Sure, if you know a helicopter pilot.

 

Well, I'm sad I have to work, the weather seems to be cooling and water needs will be...what a gallon less than expected.

 

I gotta work on meeting a pilot....

 

Air gets thin at the top. I did this years ago (back when we were on rigids and I still had lungs).
We were able to drive all the way to the campground in those days.
I remember going 20 yards at a time and resting.
Beautiful if you get to the top with mad desert views all the way to the sierras. Good luck.

 

"Relaxed" ride? You? Really? I did a 52 miler with 5k climb last week and felt strong...maybe?

 

No kidding! Unfortunately, we'll only be going to Crystal Lake. The best views are from Hwy 2!

Yes, really. In fact, we just shortened it. Meeting spot is the little parking lot on San Gabriel Canyon Road that is on the left when the Visitor Center is on the right. You know, the parking lot at the top of SGRT.

Of course, I might need to throw in GMR at the end... :?:

You should totally do this, Jeff! Who knows, you might end up with a new riding buddy!

 

A customer of mine told me he's up there working hard on getting the road fixed. It might be ready by November.