Santa Ana's trail conditions(BS, Harding/MS/HJ/Trabuco/WHT, etc..,) >Updated 01-18-15

Rode Maple Springs to the motorway today...little chilli no snow couple pockets of ice.Maple Springs was in good condition no water in the stream beds tells you how dry it really been couple soft spots but overall very good. The big news large dead / burned tree down across fire-road approximately half mile from four corners same place as the tree fell a couple years ago for those you remember. Much bigger tree. Crossing Main Divide was a nice again, few soft places good traction on motorway was great untill a flatted 1/3 way down. Now if we could get a week of dry and another small storm ...that would be good.

 

I think they really need to cut down most of those burned trees there. They are just going to keep falling on the road.

 

Looking at the live cameras on Santiago there is some snow. Planning on riding up tomorrow, does anyone know how much snow is on Main Divide today around the peak? I am guessing there will be some in the shade, but hoping not too much.

 

Ice is the bigger issue than snow, IMO. In the shaded areas of MD there was 100 yards of it last weekend. This latest precip will, no doubt based on the day/nite temps, add to that. Cars, peds and bikes all had a hard time up and down that icy stretch, but no reason not to ride up.

Cheers...

 

Thanks!

 

Precip has been steadily falling in the Santa Anas since yesterday afternoon. Revised forecast shows increased chance of rain today, tapering off tonight. Hopefully the fire danger will drop below extreme. Highs on the peak this WE in the low 40s (finally).

White stuff in the forecast for the peak Sunday-Monday. The weather gods are finally being nice to the weekend warriors...

 

Nice, i was thinking of Harding/Peak on Sunday......

 

The Santiago Peak report shows 1.28" of rain today, but Sierra Peak only reports .06", so it seems like the showers were really scattered. I'm wondering if Blackstar got more than .06", since .07" is probably enough to make that trail muddy. How about the water crossings on Maple or conditions on Pain Divide itself?

I'm also really surprised to see Strava posts from Whiting this morning. From the brief but heavy shower we got in my hood around 6:00 a.m. I'd have thought Mustard would be too snotty and spongy to ride.

Does anyone have a first-hand report yet from a ride today?

 

I doubt there will be any water in the stream crossing on Maple. I rode in November the morning after the last hard rain...it just soaked it up

 

I agree. Last weekend it was bone-dry, so I doubt that there was enough to cause more than a tricklr. Just wondering since the two peaks are reporting such different rainfall totals.

 

No water on Maple on Sunday. It'd take more than the passing sprinkles to get it flowing. I think the Santiago reading is either an error or an error.

 

Everything is so dry the rain just got soaked up.

 

San Juan Trail further south looked to have gotten a decent amount of rain. Many unavoidable small puddles, a few spots of minor run-off erosion, trail bed a bit spongy, even slippery/muddy at times on the climbs. Super tacky on the decent. It'll probably be dry tomorrow.

 

Anyone does Harding, please let us know current terrain conditions (prolly good).

 

Rode Black Star this morning and the trail was dry. A few small mud puddles on the lower sections, but they were totally avoidable.

 

Anyone been up there today - Blackstar, Maple, Harding, or Holy Jim?

 

Yes- Did B* / Motorway loop. B* is ok in most spots. It was a little smeary/tacky in spots and at about the 30 min mark (for me) my tires packed up a little bit. They cleared when the trail got rockier towards the top. By tomorrow it will be a-ok. Main divide is fine- wet, but fine. No tackyness on the tires except for very few spots. Motorway is primo. The biggest issue I found was the spongy-ness of B* and MD made for a tough roll! Everything should be nice tomorrow and prime on Sunday!

 

Awesome info! Thanks, SADJ!

 

That's what I am riding tomorrow ... the Evah Popular B* - Motorway!
See yall

 

B* -> Motorway
B* Little Soft in places, can avoid mud (assuming you are paying attention)
MD Most Excellent - Tacky
Motorway More Most Excellent
Perfect Weather