Maple Springs/Peaks/Holy Jim ride w/pics

[TURNERob]

I'm pretty tired so I'll basically just share my pictures. It was pretty damn cold, but a great ride and great trail conditions out there. Great group of guys as usual, a ride we must do again. Yes there was a little bit of snow up in the shaded areas (still some in the sunny areas also) around Santiago Peak. Here are the pics:

P.S. Dell, how was your spandex ride?  :lol:  j/k man, one of these days we'll get to see that X-5 in action......hope those gloves helped you out.

The group at the end of the pavement on Maple Springs.

Views from Maple Springs.

Craig and Steve arriving at Main Divide.

View from Main Divide after Modjeska Peak.

Craig and I in the snow just before Santiago Peak.

View from Santiago Peak.

Snow on the log at the peak.

There were big pieces of ice falling off the towers.

Matt, Craig, Aldo and Steve chatting after coming down upper Holy Jim.

Sweet ride guys, now its time to lay on the couch  

 

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Great Pix, FXRob!!

The ride looked like a lot of fun!

What are the stats fo the ride, distance and elevation-wise?

 

[TURNERob]

The mileage was just under 25 miles (we shuttled), and elevation gain was just under 4k ft.

 

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

sounds great, how much would it be to loop that if possible?

we'll have to hook up for a ride someday.

 

[TURNERob]

sounds great, how much would it be to loop that if possible?

we'll have to hook up for a ride someday.

If you looped it there would be another 17 miles approximately of road riding......the reason we shuttled I have ridden with you before Armondo, we did Blackstar/ Silverado Motorway last spring on that scorching hot day......I still remember how damn hot it was that day :lol:

 

[Epic_Mtn_Biker]

Yeah, I remember riding with you that day, that was a killer ride!!

Let's try to plan a big ride like that in a few weeks, a big STR group ride. I think you and the OC guys would have a better idea of what to organize out there since most guys on the site are from OC.

a good 30 miler would be great

 

[Ladd Jasper]

Nice pics, Rob, but you guys so missed out. The ride back was AWESOME! Cars whizzing by with inches to spare, roadies by the dozen, trash, glass, roadkill...the list goes on and on. SWEET!

O.K., the preceeding is a load of crap. The loser's route sucked a$$, no two ways about it. Would've been worse with cold fingers though, so a big ol' thanks to Rob for the gloves.

Glad you had a good time, guys. Try again next week?

 

[ocrider]

AWSOME RIDE TODAY!!!! Climbing the peak was so much fun! Holy Jim rocked as ussual. Man the cold sucked. i was so fricken frezing. But it was nice to see snow in Orange County. The ride home was cold too i had to wear my jacket. The wind chill sucked. I was starving around mile 10, So I wussed out and called my dad to pick me up. Thanks for the ride up there Calepic. See everyone next time.
Matt

 

[TURNERob]

Nice pics, Rob, but you guys so missed out.  The ride back was AWESOME!  Cars whizzing by with inches to spare, roadies by the dozen, trash, glass, roadkill...the list goes on and on.  SWEET!

O.K., the preceeding is a load of crap.  The loser's route sucked a$$, no two ways about it.  Would've been worse with cold fingers though, so a big ol' thanks to Rob for the gloves.  

Glad you had a good time, guys.  Try again next week?

Glad you had fun on your roadie ride Dell, I doubt you'll forget your helmet again anytime soon Yeah let's set up another ride for next Sunday somewhere. Again, a big bummer you weren't able to do the ride.....we all felt bad.

 

[mtnbikej]

sounds great, how much would it be to loop that if possible?

we'll have to hook up for a ride someday.

We did it about 2 months ago. From Silverado/Blackstar intersection up and over and back was about 42 miles. Actually ends up being a great training ride. Only really bad part of the road ride is Live Oak to Cook's Corner.

mtnbikej

 

[CalEpic]

Nice pics Rob. As always, a great ride with a great group. I was amazed that the trails were as dry as they were. I especially liked Upper Holy Jim. The descent from Santiago peak to Upper Holy Jim was pretty frosty. Matt (OC rider) I would have been happy to give you a ride home. Dell - At least you got some mileage in today. I'm not sure if you were safer on the road or not though Was it just me or were there a boatload of hikers out today? Good thing my brakes were nice and loud.

C

 

[Schecky]

Great pics! Looks like it was a beautiful day for riding.

 

[LBmtb]

Very nice photos. What camera is that from, btw? Looks like it was a ton of fun.

 

[ECOdork]

Thanks for posting those pics Rob!

A great ride as usual. I could have done without the cold fingers and toes, but then I wouldn't have anything to complain about! Ok, maybe falling backwards into the brush on upper HJ and getting stuck like cockroach for a few minutes would qualify! :lol:

We missed you out there Dell!

Next week I'll probably be one of those hikers going up HJ with my dad and my dog, so don't run us over! My dog will be on a leash though...

 

[Von-Skipp]

You know its a good ride when your too tired to make it to the computer that night...

Heres some more pics....

Unahppy helmutless Dell

ocrider attacking the climbs

Aldo at 4corners

Rob doing his thing

frosty peak

little bit of snow

group picture at the peak

Rob dropping into HJ.....  must be going super fast, due to the blur effect :?:

calepic dropping into HJ

myself dropping into HJ

sorry about the blured pics on HJ.  Must of been the lighting or Aldo's handy work.   Awesome ride and a must do again.

 

[mytrustysteed]

Great pics! I saw all you guys on my way down from the peak. I went up Maple to Santiago and back down, so I missed out on the reward of Holy Jim! ](*,) The ice on the towers was crazy though, good thing I kept my helmet on.

 

[TURNERob]

Very nice photos. What camera is that from, btw? Looks like it was a ton of fun.

George, my camera is a Sony DSC-T1.

Thanks for the extra pics Matt, you got some good ones. It was a beautiful day despite the cold numb toes/fingers!

 

[Von-Skipp]

heres another group picture at the peak. That hiker took some good pics!

 

[CalEpic]

A ruggedly handsome group eh? I would have taken my helmet off for the pics but it was frozen to my head.

C

 

[TURNERob]

I was thinking of a similar ride like this going up Maple Springs but I'd like to try going down Joplin/STT/Luge with a shuttle again of course. I haven't done Joplin yet so I'd like to try that. I guess we could go up Harding also and possibly eliminate the shuttle :?: