Hummingbird, no longer a double black diamond

[da big hills]

I have never seen it like this. The switchback shortcuts made by the gravity dudes were smoother and had better tread than the actual trail. Climbing was highly technical and dropping was pending doom the entire way down. It would be better with speed but I could not risk it because around every turn the trail was just big rocks embedded in the way. And it turns so much you could never see more than 20 or 30 feet. Since speed was not an option I had to hurky jerk all the way down, running the front wheel into many a big rock. Most corners had axle high drops on the far side and most had exposure looming as I carved the switch back turns. On many I only had 6" edge to spare as I swept the corners. It was awesome, constant danger all the way down.
Happy technical drops in the big hills

 

[chubacabra]

sweet, but I can't do those anymore, I no longer have health insurance

 

[da big hills]

Yep Chuey it is very dangerous, much more so than when I went OTB last year, alone, in the dark. But the weather is awesome and the trail is out of this world. I only ride it once or twice a year, the climb in is 1300 ft and it is an unrelenting climb anyway up. So I am going to swallow my pride, drop my post, drop in and try it again this week (2nd time in 16). I believe if you keep your head it will not be too bad. You will touch, you may crash, you might draw blood but an ER visit is probably not in the cards. Although that is where I was the next day after my one 2015 drop down the monster.
Happy Seriously Sinister Single track trails

 

[office]

Instead of climbing Hummingbird you might want to ride up from the Rocky Peak exit to the trailhead at the top and take streets back to your car (up Santa Susanna pass).

HB isn't super crazy as long as if you have 140mm of travel.