Gosh I love this trail! Drove out early enough Sat. morning to feel the lower temps of a soon to be welcomed fall season. Bring it on! Now, some folks can climb this with far less effort than myself because my technical climbing skills get way challenged on this one. However, dismounts don't bother me as much as trying to clean every obstacle only to be denied and exerting too much effort which seems to foster a sense of futility, BOO! Always a beautiful trail to climb, so I enjoy each mile of it looking at different potential lines and features and horrible places I don't ever want to crash at. Finally arriving at the top awaits a decent breeze, ahh, time to pop a top and rest. Twenty minutes(ish) later I was dropping in for the sweet descent, well mostly, and stopping at the obvious viewpoints. While descending, I realized how pleased I was to buy a Pisgah 2 tire from Performance on a recent holiday sale for a mere 22 bucks. Ran it on the front. It's tubeless and I was, and it has strong sidewalls with dual compound tread and the tread worked amazing. The rear, which was on the front is many folks beloved minion dhf. Never wished it was still on the front once the whole day. Anyways, finished without any negative incidences, took a break, can you say swami please, ahhhh and recovered........only to do it one more time. Kicked my wretched butt, but I was content and fulfilled. Next time will likely be a day of shuttling in cool fall weather and leaf litter. Any takers? Have a great and safe remaining Labor day wknd! Steve
Great great great RR!! We need more of these. And yes, Exploration is one if my favorites, hell I love ALL trails, even FLoop. I just like being on my bike! Then when the day comes, I can no longer pedal, AN EBIKE!! Heh heh ... I'm in, PM when you're ready to go.
I'll confess.......I thought, wow, this trail would be so rad to ascend with my butt on the saddle of an e-bike. There, I confessed my sin, now maybe Dean can give us a real life report. Steve
Dean is enjoying his EBike. I rode w dft yesterday as well and he filled me in. EBikes are not the devil, it's the asshats that ride them w/o courtesy but the same goes for Stavassholes. Once an asshat, always an asshat.
Nice write up Steve! It looks like Exploration Trail is about an 8.7 mile trek which is not bad at all. Cheers! More about Exploration Trail Running Springs California Exploration Trail is a 8.7 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Running Springs, CA that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible from March until October. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail.
When I ride exploration I normally climb the road and bag Keller Peak Lookout. Then for some more miles I head over to Children's Demo Forest and bag the lake at the ski resort. I have yet to be there on a hot day to swim but I know it is a very popular swimming hole for the locals. There are no trespassing signs but the resort seems to look the other way for locals. Dean
Keeping the lamp trimmed and burning past the midnight hour I see Dean. Good for you! The Keller Pk slog is good for a first time and then diminishes quickly for myself. Perhaps I'll check out the children's forest romp, I love being around water. Charge the battery and charge up Exploration and tell us aging folks the splendor factor rating, PLEASE! Steve
