Looking to do the palm epic for the first time.I would like to hook up with someone who knows the trail.This weekend sat or Sunday.12-7 or 12-8.Is it possible just to show up at Von's market and hook up with some riders?Any feed back or tips would be great!Ride On!
What's the difficulty level of this trail? Thinking of taking a girl to Palm Springs this weekend and riding this. She can do Meadows in Aliso, Whiting, gets a bit weird on exposure and stuff like that though. Don't want to get out there and find out she's over her head.
Sorry, but it is nothing like Meadows or Whiting. There are sections of smooth trail....but there are also more sections of rocks and chunk. It is not a hard place to ride....the exposure is not really bad....but there are some areas. PC has a tendency to reach out and grab you when you are not paying attention. Plus it is a long way out if something does happen. Also, if doing the shuttle....once you drop down a ways...you are committed, there is not turning back.
nothing like local trails. You are riding in wilderness.. in winter may not be so bad but definitely go with someone who has experience. flats can be very common.. not just once but multiples.. ripped sidewalls.. etc... temperatures can get wicked in spring time... wilderness riding vs if something bad happens just walk to nearest cell phone.. Palm epic is where REAL emergencies can happen.. not a place you want to be without water, busted hanger or chain and by yourself! In some places, you will not be able to self rescue w/ mere cell phone! with that said... I wish I could ride it this weekend!
Does your group do this ride often? I'm busy this Sunday leading a road ride but would like to ride this again. I've done it before and have long distance MTB experience and mechanical ability to fix on the trail. carry parts, etc..
Most stuff in the area is tough. If you're not doing the Palm Canyon shuttle, then anything you climb will be very steep. If you want something more mellow you could drive out the the Cove in La Quinta.
I thought everyone got the memo. Lol. It's not the Palm Canyon Epic anymore it's the Palm Canyon Enduro. Haha! This is my favorite trail in SC to shuttle. There's nothing like shredding through an asteroid belt for the first time. Any other takers for Sunday?
thanks mtnbikej for the link. Read what happened to you.. thank God you weren't alone and with friends. My Palm Epic never happened… a group of 5 were going to ride but at last minute, most of us could not make it… two remained and decided to ride anyway… unfortunately one fellow, my best friend, died… I still remember the talk my friend and I had the night before… about life, about wife, about mountain bike.. I told him I just couldn't make it to Palms for the ride b/c of unexpected work... Was sitting outside, under the stars, shooting the shit…last thing we talked about was the ride… didn't think he was gonna go.. After, I just could not ride but now though its been a couple of years, I still think of all the trails, all the skies, all the glorious single track .. wishing he was still riding.. Everytime I ride now, I feel blessed… from the fully to the plunge.. down chutes and up deer… rock it and lynx… and even in front of my driveway, riding w/ my kids w/ the dog yappin at our heels…
Sorry for being "off topic" but this term "enduro" and "epic" seemed to have gotten new definitions in recent years but since I been out of biking for a while, my definition of these is basically a really long adventure type of ride, decently easy terrain, some climbs, some decents, lightly technical... So whats the modern day definition??? Now you have enduro racing as well???
just got too hot, ran out of water... no turning back.. in spring... he was with another guy that suffered a lot too..I used to be a EMT so know the signs for heat exhaustion, heat stroke, then finally coma from overheating.. still bothers me that I wasn't there..
I attended his memorial at the Fully Loop and think of that occasionally. That trail is to be taken with respect