Thanks for the invite guys (Mike & Dale) JK. Some great pics Can't wait for the trip next week. Edit: With all that snow maybe I should bring this? [youtube]HP4VwaD7rd4[/youtube]
Nice thread. I'm heading up there with the family next week, mostly for fishing with the extended family. I'm going to take the wife and kids on some of the mellower trails and hope I can get some time to ride on my own. I'm the type that prefers to ride up though. What's the best route to the top. What are we talking time and distance-wise?
Rtcage -- Best route to the top is to take Uptown to Beach Cruiser to Off The Top. That route takes you from the Village to the top of the mountain; it is about 12 miles with just under 3,000 feet of climbing and takes between 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The trick is to arrive at the top of the mountain by 9 AM so you can avoid the folks coming down Off The Top. (Uptown is one way uphill and there is separate uphill portion for most of Beach Cruiser, but Off The Top is a two way trail and most of the people coming down aren't expecting any uphill traffic.)
Thanks! The timing might make it tough. I love to get out early, but I will have to employ some strategery because I promised I'd take the kids on the trails and we'll only have one day to ride. :-k
The trick is to have the wife and kids take the gondola and meet you at the top of the mountain. You can then do a family ride down Off The Top and Beach Cruiser.
Here's a gps route for climbing to the top and then hitting some fun intermediate xc trails down the other side... This route I went up trail home 2 gravey train 2 off the top...but beachcruiser 2 off the top is just as nice and little easier. I also agree with beachcruiser to leave earlier rather than later...but if you cant just remember that on mammoth mountain downhill traffic has the right of way on most trails since the majority are not designed for climbing! Cheers. http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=6890
Is there an easy route down from the top? Last time we were there (without bikes) my wife exited the gondola mid-mountain and refused to ride to the top with us!!! :lol: Awesome. Thanks! I meant to check geoladders, but haven't gotten around to it. I'll plug it into my Edge.
Off The Top and Beach Cruiser are both upper beginner/lower intermediate trials. My wife (who would be the first to tell you that she has no technical skills) enjoys riding them. There are few rocky spots and switchbacks, but nothing steep or intimidating for non-riders. There is some climbing on the second part of Beach Cruiser (after the lake by Chairs 13 and 14) that was a problem for my kids when they were younger. If you want to avoid the climbs, you can take the cut-off from Beach Cruiser to Bearing Straits which will drop you off on the lower part of Kamikazee. The lower part of Kamikazee is essentially a flat fire road. You can either take Kamikazee all the way to the gondola, or jump onto Richter and the Kamikazee X zone -- which are moderately technical and a lot of fun.
