Ride Report Trabuco-Bell Ridge-Yeager Mesa Work Ride

Discussion in 'Ride Reports' started by maxwell, Dec 31, 2008.

  1. maxwell

    maxwell Dirty Stinky PATH Love

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    Man, we did an epic trail work-ride today.

    There were 6 of us, Danno, DFT, Frenchy, Kennton, Dell, and myself, and we had 5 saw's.

    Danno, Frenchy, Ken and Dell all pedal that nasty road in, while DFT and I took the easy way in, in my car!

    Danno, Dell, Ken, and I went up Trabuco to Bell to Yeager. DFT, and Frenchy hike-a-biked up Yeager, and finished where I left off on Monday.
    DFT says he is the KING of the Hike-A-Bike, and some how talked Frenchy into joining him. They did an outstanding job!


    We were able to clear most of Trabuco, after the Christmas Tree. There were a couple of spots that we didn't get, but it's all ride-able now.

    Are we having fun yet?
    [​IMG]

    Trabuco trail pics from after the Christmas tree on up to the top.....

    Before
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    After
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    More to do....
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    After
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    Before
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    After
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    After reaching the top of Trabuco, we took a little break, and headed on over to Bell Ridge.

    Ken asks again, "are we having fun yet"?
    [​IMG]

    While we were working-riding Bell, we spotted the very rare Bell Ridge Tree Monkey!

    This is a very rare animal. Enjoy the picture!
    [​IMG]

    Bell looked a lot like Trabuco today.
    [​IMG]

    That's right. Riders that ware full face helmets do trail work too!
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    These guys are worth their weight in gold if you ask me!
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    After
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    You can't get views like this at Aliso!
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    Santiago Peak.
    [​IMG]

    Man, by the time we got to Yeager, we were done busting a$$, and ready to ride!

    DFT and Chris did wonders to the top section of Yeager, and it showed. With the exception of a couple of downed trees that will need chainsaw work, this trail is clear!

    Time for some FUN!!

    Danno on the log drop turn, first try.
    [​IMG]

    He didn't make the turn to the second drop, and hiked back up and did it again. He cleaned it that time around!

    Second try is a charm!
    [​IMG]

    I had a good old slow motion OTB, almost into a tree.
    As Maxwell Smart would say, "missed it by that much"!

    When we got into the steep sections of trail, I ate it hard. Took the end of my handlebars to the middle of my chest! I was surprised not to have an ODI imprint there!
    I think DFT went off the edge of the trail, and down about 10-15 feet before stopping. He was fine, and continued to ride the rest!
    All of the other guys gave it a go, but I don't think there were any cleans up there.

    Danno giving the second steep a shot.
    [​IMG]

    Dell on the same section.
    [​IMG]

    Now, the last roller on this trail is steep, and requires a lot of brake control, and skill to get down.
    I believe Ken road it, with Danno also riding if from part way down.

    DFT dropped it clean!
    [​IMG]

    The rest of us saved it for another day!

    I have to trow out a HUGE THANKS to these guys for sharing their New Years Eve day with me, working on these trails!

    I can honestly say that Trabuco, the upper portion of Bell Ridge, and all of Yeager Mesa, are ready to ride!

    2009, here we come!
     
  2. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Thanks for the hard work D. We (the WS) are going up tomorrow and will finish it up so it is ready for the VQ. I'll pass on the info about Bell and maybe we can get it cleared more to the bottom. We did some brushing a couple months ago so hopefully it won't be bad. Thanks for the report. :bang:
     
  3. CalEpic

    CalEpic member

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    Thanks for the hard work guys :clap:
     
  4. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    No crash on bottom roller for me... I took the bike straight down the rock face and stopped at the bottom.

    Hey Darin, thanks for the RR. I don't know it is about riding with you but I am always exhausted afterward. :lol:

    It really was a great day out there and I was happy to do some work on the trails that I love to ride. As always, looking forward to the next one.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 1, 2009
  5. jamisjake

    jamisjake Active Member

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    Thanks for the work and the awesome RR Max! I'll have to get out to that trail one of these days!:beer:
     
  6. KonaDawgDeluxe

    KonaDawgDeluxe REKE/DMC

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    Exactly... awesome work. :clap: The trails look great. :bang:
     
  7. art23rockpile

    art23rockpile Minus Delta T

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    Great work on the trails, guys! Darin, good to see that you put Ken and Dell to work. :lol:

    BTW... these HABs you're always talking about are way over-rated. Every great ride includes a "happy ending"! :)

    Happy New Year, everyone! :beer:
     
  8. slayer

    slayer New Member

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    thanks for the RR and pics. and a big thanks for all of the hard work out there guys. awesome
     
  9. Danno

    Danno Just another FOCer

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    That was another excellent "ride". ;) I'm actually glad we could help out getting those trails cleared so the WS didn't have to do all the work. BTW, for anybody that feels that trails just aren't steep enough I suggest heading straight to YM! :)

    I'm still digging buck thorns out of my hands. I had a nice long one that stuck into my thumb joint and broke off. I managed to pull it out last night and now I can actually straighten the thumb again. #-o

    I'll be interested to hear what kind of shape lower Bell is in. I would imagine we took care of most of the downed trees, but there may be a few more between the YM turnoff and CSBD.
     
  10. Pain Freak

    Pain Freak Dead or Alive

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    DFT cleans it, that seems to be an ongoing phrase. That boy could ride a cliff face and does. YM is a cliff, even has some stuff steeper then Coldwater. You guys are nuckin futs. Thanks again for all the hard work.
     
  11. KeepsWhatHappens

    KeepsWhatHappens Warriors Society Member

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    It's awesome to see the biking community step up and take care of the wrath that Mother Nature dealt out. Your efforts are VERY much appreciated.

    Glad you guys brought your bikes and had fun too :bang:
     
  12. DISCO

    DISCO Banned

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    Keep an eye out for my crank bros tool out there;).
     
  13. Danno

    Danno Just another FOCer

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    Yup, Ken rode that section very nicely. :bang:He went right down the rock spine to the left of the notch DFT's going down in that pic. I was surprised he could keep his speed down getting into that final really steep part. Our tires were all pretty loaded up with mud. Because of that I'm not sure the traction was any better than during the dry season. Probably worse on the rocks.

    I started right above the steep part guaranteeing that I'd be going slow for the drop. :lol:
     
  14. kentonn

    kentonn Rage against the Mods

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    Yeah, like I had mentioned yesterday, we always wondered how that trail would be after a rain. Before the mesa, I think it was better. There is a runway section before you get to the downed log above the bridge. Yesterday I was able to keep my speed down (of course I was probably down to 10 - 15 psi in the rear tire at that point). Below the mesa seemed to be much worse. The rocks were slippery and the dirt was very loose, even more than normal.

    Great times guys... Hope to see you on the trail soon.
     
  15. dft

    dft Member

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    yea, one great ride!! one intense trail, might be the most intense of the SA rides. as danno said, if you want to get your steep on, hit this baby! its as steep as any "backside historic" AW trail. i've never cleaned the whole bottom yet. the top was great with the tacky conditions. but the lower real steep part mixed in with wettish soil and small loose rocks, it was fast! optimal conditions probably to try to clean that would be a few more days of sun on it. it was extremely overgrown before we spent ~ 3 hours on it.

    glad to help as i really enjoy this range for riding!

    ps. yea, HAB up the lower part of yagger with a 40+ pound bike was BRUTAL!
     
  16. andy aka rut

    andy aka rut Active Member

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    thanks guys! You rock.
    :beer:
    and Happy New Year!!!!
     
  17. Danno

    Danno Just another FOCer

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    Well worth the trouble especially when you get to see maxwell pull dead trees right out of the ground.

    Don't piss off that guy. ;) :lol:
     
  18. maxwell

    maxwell Dirty Stinky PATH Love

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    I know it's kinda hard to believe, but I enjoy doing the trail work almost as much as I enjoy riding.
    When you get a bunch of guys together like we had yesterday, just guys that love riding those trails, and you're using getting to ride them as motivation to get them clear, it really makes it seem easy!

    I'm a bit sore from my crashes yesterday. My sternam feels like I got hit with a bat. :lol:

    Sure was a GREAT time!
     
  19. Krankin Kiwi

    Krankin Kiwi Closet Goater

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    Not hard to believe at all, there's no better feeling than giving back and putting some "flow" back into a trail. Thanks everyone for you good work.
     
  20. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    I know exactly what you both mean.

    Calvin was heading down Bell this morning. He'll let us know of the conditions. Thanks for the work you guys did. We got done early enough so I could watch the Rose Bowl. :bang:
     

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