RR: Aspen in So-Cal?

Yes. Brian at the Path told me about a Aspen Grove off of Highway 38. Apparently this is only one of two groves in So-Cal outside of the Sierra Nevada's. So today Art and I did some biking and hiking. The Aspen Grove is a 3.5 mile fireroad climb behind Heart Bar Campground then less than a 1/4 mile hike down the Aspen Grove Trail (wilderness area no bikes) to the grove, very pretty as Fish Creek ruins thru the grove. Most of the leaves where on the ground but there are still some left. Don't expect a large grove of or big trees, the largest where maybe 30 ft tall and maybe 8 inch diameter.

After that we rode the SART out of Heart Bar Campground traversing the hillside above Big Meadow. Lots of sand on the SART from the Horse's but it cleared near Big Meadow. Since Art had never rode the SART we finished the day with a quick SART Post Office Loop. And yes there where gnats, did not not brother me but I guess Art wanted to try out his new net.

Dean

 

wow looks like great scenery!

 

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

 

Wait a minute....

I went down a 4wd trail there called Fish Creek. It's open to 4wd but it's wilderness? It was a very fun downhill though.

 

Is the other grove in Lockwood Valley? I have a vague memory of seeing Aspen there.:-k

 

See Art in the second picture that is the 4-wheel drive road you are talking about, drops you into Fish Creek. We rode down that fireroad a ways to stash our bikes. It is Wilderness now, blocked off: boulders on top , washed away, has tress growing out of it....you are showing your age again Mike.

Dean

I am also curious, I get my info from this site, they don't mention where the other grove is. Later after my shower I will Google it and see what I come up with.

http://www.sgwa.org/trails2.htm

Dean

 

it is a small grove but unique to the area. I usually visit it a couple times a year, but on foot. This part of the SART sucks arse for mtb, but you can easily travel it in a SUV. It is Sandy and an equestrian heaven.

 

I have been in that area a couple of times before and this time the sand was not bad. Maybe because Heart Bar is closed for the season (gated and water turned off). I had been staying away from that section of the SART and was prepared to turn around today. The 4th and 5th pictures are of the SART above Big Meadows it is in good condition no different than the condition on SART Post Office Loop. I would ride it again, as the winter season moves on it will get better until the snow chases us out of there.

Dean

 

Might wanna get one of these for andy aka rut next time he rides Oaks :lol:

 

Was it really that buggy out?

 

Thought you were talking about this Aspen #-o

 

When :steppie: mentions wanting to go exploring, my ears perk up... especially when it's in an area of the San Bernardino range i'm unfamiliar with. In the 70s, I did a lot of backpacking along the Mt. San Gorgonio ridgeline (just above Fish Creek), but usually from the other side of the ridge.

Once we hit Fish Creek, we hiked into the Aspen Grove. The aspens were a lot smaller than the ones you see in the Sierras, but it was still a treat to see them in SoCal.

After getting back to Dean's truck, we decided to do a nine mile loop on SART. This was my first time riding SART, and I was impressed. It's similar to some San Gabs trails i've ridden: fast & flowing, exposure, awesome tree cover, fireroad climbs into and out of the singletracks.

Aside from the last photo (Sugarloaf Mt. taken from upper SART), I was too busy riding to take pics.

At my insistance, we stopped at A&W Rootbeer to have rootbeer floats after the ride. When I used to go backpacking in the 70s, this was the very same place we'd go after a weekend-long hike. Amazing that it's still there after over 30 years.

 

that is good to know, but I was there three weeks ago and I encounter 14 horses and an arabia of sand.

 

In a word: yes. When i'm concentrating on a climb and the bugs are buzzing around my head, it's a nuisance!

When I saw Painfreak wearing one of these on a recent ride, the next day I was at REI to get one for myself. Looks goofy, but it's worth it's weight in gold when you need it.

 

Strange, I thought the trees in the creek behind JPL on the Gabrielino Trail were Aspens. No?

 

In a word no. I guess Art was not climbing fast enough....:steppie:

 

They sure look like Aspens don't they. The Aspen Grove we were at was at 7200ft. I am no expert but I believe Aspen only grow in high altitudes.

 

Possibly so!

But when I got to the fire road and took a nap while awaiting your arrival, they were disturbing my sleep.:lol:

 

I'm almost sure I've also seen Aspen in the Chantry Flats area as you are riding along the creek heading out...