Mueller Tunnel Construction

Ah, so that's the other trail coming in from the right before Upper Merrill. Haven't ridden it before, always have come in from Eaton Saddle. Do you pick it up from the mt. wilson turnoff off angeles crest?

 

Yes. As you turn off ACH and start the windy paved road up to Wilson (or Lowe), on a left hander, you'll notice a fire road going off and up to the right. That eventually will spit you out @ Eaton Saddle but it's kind of nasty in places.

 

Don't do it Tim, the name of the peak should tell you everything. A lot of f'ing climbing for nothing! We're talking about riding up a paved road thinking, ah, there's the end only to come up to it and see the road going up, up, and up. The DH ended so fast it you'll realize why it's named Mt. Disappointment.

 

I never said it's glorious or fun, Andy. :lol: Besides, he's a gnar strong SS'er. He could that in his sleep while I went into cardiac arrest from the steep grade.

 

If anyone happens to get back up to Mueller Tunnel anytime soon, would you mind posting current pics and or reporting on the slide conditions and whether the tunnell is still passable? Thanks!

 

#-o

 

Dont do it meng,even if there is a hole to crawl trough in the exit side of the tunnel you still have to worry about falling since the road is gone!

 

any update on the tunnel? :-k

 

:beer:

Hey OCRaider! Thanks for carrying my new Marin Rift Zone across that rock slide without a scratch! All around great day.

 

I was up there this weekend to ride the red box trail with eruizela and pretty much all the shuttle guys where coming back down to do the red box trail instead.They said the tunnel is plugged up! :-k Would it be a good idea to go out there with my shovel and try to remove and clear some of the road? I think ill leave it to the FS but i dont know how long they will take to get to this!

:lol::lol::lol: burner and socalmountainbike! LOL...Yeah Thanks Nick (OC raider) for getting accross and maiking it look so easy and safe.LOL

 

Does anyone have a connection to the forest service to see if they plan on shutting down upper Merrill for the tunnel repairs?

 

I didn't ride it this weekend cuz I was in Arizona. A friend of mine shuttle it with a few people, and he said it was passable. They spoke to a member of the FS (IIRC) before they ventured out, and that person said it was o.k. to go. Sure enough, when my friend got to the tunnel, he said it was safe to cross.

2nd hand info, so if somebody has something different, don't hesitate to post.

 

Contact Howard Okomoto by email: [email protected] or the Angeles National forest Service at (626) 574-5200 or (626) 574-1613.

 

I just talked to a Ms. D. Dechert at the Angeles Forest Service and she said it will be a while before the control work is done, because it involves 2 separate agencies. The LA County road crew to clean out the tunnel, and the US Forest service to repair the roadway. And the FS is out on another repair job now that must be finished first. She didn't know how long it would be untill the tunnel repair job can begin.
I'm thinking its the Forest service who stabalizes the slope above to prevent further rock fall.

She said no closure will be apparent (except maybe a sign?) because anything they did would be torn down, bypassed, mangled and destroyed. Sort of like creating a giant invitation for people to get past. She hoped people would stay away because the slide area is still active. And mentioned bike helmets wouldn't help if you get slammed in the head by any rock bigger than a golf ball.

Proceed at your own risk. I was up there a week ago with a big group and some people were really out of their element on the loose stuff.

 

Dodging 1-5 ton boulders and hoping you don't fall off the cliff is not my idea of fun or adventure. I hope people use common sense and stay away until repairs are complete and the hillside is stabilized. I'm really surprised the tunnel isn't being boarded-up (on the north end) to avoid complete entry. It's very unstable the way it is and is a disaster waiting to happen. If one wants to ride Mt. Lowe bad enough, I guess they'll have to climb it. Crappy thing about this, all traffic is going to be diverted to The Gab trail.

The area she's referring to that they're currently working on is The Mt. Wilson Toll Road, I would think. They've been working hard on that lately.

Thanks for the update.

 

Dean my man- make lemonade out of lemons!

This is the PERFECT time to ride up to Inspiration Point down Middle Merrill and Sunset. No shuttle-monkeys. Just the earn-your-turn riders. As it should be (well, most of the time

 

You'd think with a handle like mine, it be pretty damn hard to blow my name. That's okay, you can call me Dean, if it will make you feel better. Just know that, the real Dean is far better looking and smoother with the ladies then I ever will be. :wave:

 

ha ha - thought i was reading a Steppie post

same thing. time to ride Merrill and Sunset!!

(except - damn! that thing is steep to ride up

p.s. re; chicks.... ... um, you're better off riding singletrack

 

"Put the bong down!" :lol: :steppie:

Chicks and single track don't mix well? I'm totally confooosed now! #-o

 

You are in luck!

Well, what do you know, perfect timing, you're in luck tomorrow. :wave:

P.S.-Bring lights!