Anyone ridden Mt. Pinos lately? I'm thinking of riding it in the next few days. Blow downs from that crazy wind event back in November? Snow/mud at the higher elevations? I'd like to be able to ride it at least up to the first campground (McGill Campground). I'm guessing anything above that would have snow in the shadows.
The 1st camp ground is McGill Camp ground. There's been no updates since 6-14-12 in the Mt Pinos trail condition thread. I closed that thread and replaced it with this one. We were up there in Sept for OMR's birthday campout and ride: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/forum/ride-reports/60559-omrs-birthday-ride-campout-report.html and things were really loose, but I'm sure that has changed since the recent rains. You may want to call the FS to see if the gate is even opened. I added this the: http://www.socaltrailriders.org/for...0-2011-trail-condition-sticky.html#post799852
Was having the same thoughts about Pinos lately. I'm looking forward to hearing what people have to say...
adding myself to the thread... I'd love to get up there during this cool-but-dry winter. I was thinking about maybe doing it this weekend if conditions are ok
There's a thread on Mtbr about a 19-year old girl that died in Frazier Park recently. There weren't many details. They said she was mountain biking, but stated that she hit a utility pole at 20 mph. I know on Pinos that the trail crosses the road a few times (black ice?). I'd assume that there's ice/snow in the shady parts.
There are no utilities on Mt. Pinos, hence no utility poles. She had to be somewhere in town. Nice of journalist to leave us uninformed about helmet yes or no?
If the gate is closed, does that mean no cars, or no cars or bikes? Could still park at the bottom and pedal up the road and then take the ST down, right?
I've never seen the gate closed. When there's snow one side of the road becomes a long parking lot. Rarely the FS checks for chains or an Adventure Pass. If you think of riding in the snow make sure it's cold enough to stay powdery. I've used snowshoes to take a bike to the peak and ride down (when it's cold enough). When it's slushy forget it.
Just got back from Pinos. Plan to do a RR soon, but here are a few facts: Road totally clear. Temps in 50s. Trail from the parking lot (8,200 feet) up to summit...forget about it. Icy! Trail from that parking lot down to the intersection with the road...maybe 60-70% snow covered. Short trail from that intersection with the road down to Mt. Pinos campground...no snow to speak of. Trail from Mt. Pinos campground down to the next intersection with the road...20% snow covered. Trail from that intersection with the road down past McGill campground and all the way to the bottom...5% snow covered.
Rode Mt Pinos today. The gates are open. No snow on the roads except some along the sides. The camp grounds gates are closed. The trail has solid ice at the top about the 1st 150 yards. Some sections are dry, but you'll come up on another section with slush/ice sooner than later. top section or Hazard trail All 3 sections have snow/ice/slush on it, but of course far more on the top section than the bottom. 2nd section(South Ridge trail) McGill trail
NWS Statement for the weekend (ALL CAPS is their default) BY FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...THE UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO DEEPEN ACROSS CALIFORNIA...WITH A COLD FRONT LIKELY SPREADING PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...A VERY COLD AND SLIGHTLY UNSTABLE AIR MASS WILL BRING A THREAT OF SHOWERS SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY...AND POSSIBLY MONDAY.SOME OF THESE SHOWERS COULD PRODUCE BRIEF HEAVY DOWN POURS AND SMALL HAIL. WHILE IT IS STILL EARLY...THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW IN THE LOCAL MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS WILL INITIALLY RANGE BETWEEN 4000 AND 6000 FEET WITH THE FRONT ON SATURDAY...BUT ARE EXPECTED TO FALL RAPIDLY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY BEHIND THE FRONT. INFACT...SNOW LEVELS COULD FALL AS LOW AS 2000 FEET...IMPACTING MAJOR TRAFFIC CORRIDORS SUCH AS INTERSTATE 5 FROM THE GRAPEVINE TO CASTAIC...HIGHWAYS 14 AND 138 THROUGH THE SOLEDAD CANYON AND ANTELOPE VALLEY...AND HIGHWAY 33 IN THE VENTURA COUNTY MOUNTAINS. AREAS THAT COULD SEE SNOW FALL WITH THIS EVENT INCLUDE THE ANTELOPE VALLEY...CUYAMA VALLEY...INTERIOR VALLEYS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY...AND FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES. ANYONE PLANNING TO TRAVEL INTO THE MOUNTAINS AND DESERTS THIS WEEKEND SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF WINTER WEATHER DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS WEATHER COULD BE DEADLY FOR UNPREPARED CAMPERS OR HIKERS. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS ON THIS DEVELOPING WINTER STORM.
