Vernal Equinox Blackstar Ride

Discussion in 'Trailhead' started by Rumpled, Feb 14, 2018.


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Added to Calendar: 03-20-18
  1. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    Ride Name: Vernal Equinox Blackstar Ride
    When: Tuesday, March 20th
    Time: 5:30 PM
    Where: Xmas Tree Farm on Blackstar Canyon Rd
    Ride Description or Details:
    Continuing in my theme of doing a group ride on seasonal dates...
    As this date will be the official vernal equinox (9:15 am on 03/20) in our Northern Hemisphere, let's do another Blackstar ride.
    Us slower folks will be starting at 5:30 to make it to Beek's by 7:30.
    Faster people can start later or do extra credit past Beek's place.
    The goal is to meet at Beek's at 7:30 and toast the vernal equinox. And perform whatever solstice or pagan rituals you feel like. (Please, no human or animal sacrifices).

    Lights will be needed as we will have just a 10% illumination waxing crescent moon - if it's clear.
    http://www.moongiant.com/phase/03/20/2018

    Sunset is at 7:03 pm, so just before we get to Beek's.

    Any significant rain on the day or preceding days will cancel as none of use want that Blackstar clay.

    ~~~~~ Optional Details ~~~~~
    Meet Location: Xmas Tree Farm on Blackstar Canyon Rd , near the intersection with Silverado Canyon Rd, which is near its' intersection with Santiago Canyon Rd.
    Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
    Ride Pace: Social Cruise
    Type of Ride: Out and Back
    Rider Limit: Probably limited to a few hundred due to parking.
    Anticipated Mileage: 18
    Elevation Gain: 2200
    Ride Duration: 3 hours
    Previous Ride Reports: http://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/unofficial-almost-end-of-summer-blackstar-ride.6489/

    https://www.strava.com/activities/1159364224

    Possible Bail-Outs: Turn around and go back, but you'll be missing out.
    Facilities: Probably no drinkable water on trail. The world is our restroom, just don't pee near a stream.
    Food/water suggestions: Most get by on a bottle of water or so. Snacks if you want. Maybe a beer or two or something to toast the equinox at Beek's.
    Option to Upload:

    Spring-Equinox_ss_103777808-790x400.jpg
     
  2. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Have fun, I'll be tearing it up in Havasu/Kingman at that time. :cool:
     
    Faust29, Tom the Bomb and Rumpled like this.
  3. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Sounds like fun, Jim. If I'm around, I'm in.
     
    Faust29, Tom the Bomb, Grego and 2 others like this.
  4. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    I put it on the calendar... Last one was a riot with the howling wind! :thumbsup:
     
    Tom the Bomb, Grego, mtnbikej and 2 others like this.
  5. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    I might be able to do this one.
     
    Faust29, Tom the Bomb, Grego and 2 others like this.
  6. Andy

    Andy Well-Known Member

    Location:
    The OC, Calif
    Name:
    Andy
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Chameleon
    They'll probably be done by the 20th..(?) There's a sign at the start of B* (I can't remember the dates) saying they're working on B* road.
    This guy was out on Monday when I got back to my car -

    Photo Feb 12, 1 09 50 PM.jpg

    I'm still lightless and can't seeing myself getting off my arse to procure required lumens by then... :(
     
  7. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    2/19 - 3/1

    The signs are now every 50 feet from tree farm to the gate on both sides of the road.

    I'm sure there's an extra light in this crowd...

    IMG_2014.jpg
     
  8. Grego

    Grego iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Fullerton
    Name:
    joe
    Current Bike:
    WFO9
    Will try to make it. Depends on where I end up working.:confused:
     
    mtnbikej, Faust29, mike and 4 others like this.
  9. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    Monday Thro Friday???

    I've got at least three lights, could loan one out to the needy.
     
    mtnbikej, mike, Andy and 1 other person like this.
  10. Maybe this will be my first time up Blackstar.....
     
  11. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    The weather is not looking good for this. We'll see how it goes. Just might have to have a couple of beers in the rain at the trailhead to celebrate Spring.
     
    Faust29, mike, mtnbikej and 3 others like this.
  12. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    We can all sing "Slip Sliding Away." :whistling::p
     
    Faust29, mike and Rumpled like this.
  13. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    Good on you for making the lemonade, Jim. If I can get my shyt together I'll tag up.

    I know there's a tradition at stake here, but in theory you could move it to a more precip-friendly trail :)
     
  14. H2oChick

    H2oChick Well-Known Member

    Name:
    K-Oss
    B* may not have a chance to dry out in time for next Tuesday - looks like we are in a precipitation pattern.
    upload_2018-3-14_8-27-24.png
     
  15. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    Not a bad idea @mike I've done BStar for these because it is not that difficult for some of the newb's I try to get out there; plenty of free parking; and relatively easy to get to after work.
    Maple Springs might be a decent option if the weekend stays totally wet.
     
    H2oChick, mike, kioti and 4 others like this.
  16. Stkx66

    Stkx66 iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Southern California
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower 27+/ 29r
    I'll be there if weather permits and the ride is still on.
     
    Runs with Scissors and mike like this.
  17. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Not looking promising...Nasty Weather Service has Tuesday night as "rain likely." And not a ton of drying out between now and then. :cry:
     
    mike, mtnbikej and Faust29 like this.
  18. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    The forecast mid-week system is looking to be showing up later now, like Thu/Fri. Yay for Tue/Wed rides on epic dirt :cool:
     
  19. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    Looks like just a touch of rain now Fri/Sat. Hopefully, enough time for the clay to dry out.
     
  20. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    I rode B* today. Just one large puddle, easy to go around. May be harder to see in the dark....

    If I can leave early enough on Tuesday, I'll be there. It's a long haul for me.
     
  21. Rumpled

    Rumpled Well-Known Member

    Location:
    OC
    Name:
    Jim Martin
    Current Bike:
    2018 Specialized Epic Carbon C
    A day out and I'm calling it still a go. Too hard to herd all the cats to change plans too much at this point.
    Weather looks kinda dicey and uneven.
    Weather Underground has rain at about 20% near my house in Lake Forest with .01 inches.
    NWS says 50% with less than a tenth of an inch.
    NWS for Beek's says 60% with .25 to .5 inch possible. "Rain likely, mainly before 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 52. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible."

    That is probably the absolute worst amount of rain to have in Blackstar, could make it the most sticky.

    My three options are at this point
    Plan A - Meet and roll at 5:30 with or without some sprinkles
    Plan B - If solid rain, maybe caravan at 5:30 to Maple Springs and try to ride
    Plan C - If solid rain and we are wimps, hang out at the Xmas tree farm, tell stories and drink a beer.

    All plans involve being at the Xmas tree farm ready to roll at 5:30 - see you there.
     
  22. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    My attendance is completely dependent upon what happens at work tomorrow. :gag:
     
    Fueledbyex8, Rumpled and Faust29 like this.
  23. Old&InTheWay

    Old&InTheWay Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Orange, Ca.
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    2017 Intense Primer Pro
    Conditions are now looking to be favorable. I'll be there.


    085.JPG
     
  24. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    You guys have fun.....gonna stay local and ride with my wife.
     
    Old&InTheWay, Rumpled and Faust29 like this.
  25. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    I'm hoping to be there. Depends on a couple things...
     
    Old&InTheWay and Rumpled like this.
  26. BeckTrex

    BeckTrex Member

    Location:
    Yorba Linda, Ca
    Name:
    Mark
    Current Bike:
    2009 Giant Trance X3
    The weather looks promising. As long as I can get away from work, I will be there.
     
    Faust29, Old&InTheWay and Rumpled like this.
  27. Stkx66

    Stkx66 iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Southern California
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower 27+/ 29r
    I'll be there!
     
    Faust29 and Old&InTheWay like this.
  28. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    No joy for me. About to waste an hour in a staff meeting. :thumbsdown:
     
  29. Stkx66

    Stkx66 iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Southern California
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower 27+/ 29r
    I made it to the farm at 5:30 pm after returning home having forgotten my phone. I didn't have much time being a newbie to say hello and introduce myself but I was able to meet some of you including Faust29, Greg and Mark. ( I'm still confused about Greg's chain drive system ) This was my first night ride on a mountain bike. I had decent lighting but not great lighting. I've ordered a Bright Eyes 1600 light to try out for future rides. At one point I looked up and saw a string of lights coming down the hill. I thought that was pretty cool. I swept one corner ( into the hillside ) wide. Left hand hairpin turn. Go figure.. I can't turn left to save my life! That was my only mistake coming down the hill. I appreciate the help/ advice I've received from you all since getting into mountain biking this past summer! Let's ride!
     
    herzalot, pperrelle, OTHRider and 5 others like this.
  30. Stkx66

    Stkx66 iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Southern California
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower 27+/ 29r
    A few pics from Vernal Equinox Blackstar Ride

    7CC9C06F-DFF9-40B0-A614-73A48785A7AD.jpeg

    42A4B223-A8D5-4ADB-958B-E14242FF62AD.jpeg

    48514CBA-DF38-46B1-B805-F94EDBA7E3FC.jpeg
     
    Grego, MolarM, Old&InTheWay and 9 others like this.
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As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?