Holy Jim, San Juan? September 23rd?

Discussion in 'Trailhead' started by Mikie, Aug 27, 2017.


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Added to Calendar: 09-23-17
  1. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    I'm not sure what time I will get down there, but if I'm not there for the start, I may just climb up Trabuco to rendezvous with ya'll. Think of it as an added technical element to the Trabuco DH.
     
    Mikie, kioti, mike and 4 others like this.
  2. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    I vote for:

    Holy Jim / Trabuco loop, starting from the upper lot at 8:00 AM (early enough to guarantee parking, but not eye-bleeding early). Back to the lot between 11:30 and 12:00, with snacks/drinks. I could go earlier, but I don't think I can go later...
     
    Mikie, bvader, mike and 4 others like this.
  3. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Will there be an awesome post-ride beer & BBQ scene like on GE???
     
    Mikie, mike, Faust29 and 3 others like this.
  4. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    We are talking about starting from Taco Plaza.......for post ride tacos.
     
    Mikie, SnakeCharmer, mike and 2 others like this.
  5. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    That'll work as well!!!
     
  6. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    There's options... I like the taco plaza start, but I could also shuttle bikes to the upper lot if anyone wants to skip the ride up the wash. I personally like the ride in...

    Start time will be dependent on Mikie... He has the drive. @Voodoo Tom - Are you coming down for this one?
     
  7. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Does the upper lot have options for BBQ & beers? See my comment above, I like that... maybe even more than tacos!
     
    Mikie, SnakeCharmer and mike like this.
  8. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    The upper lot... Is a dirt lot. Nothing else there, except a porta potty which usually has a caved in roof. Are portable grills allowed?

    The road in is the real issue. It's not always the best idea to take a passenger car up there. Sometimes it's doable, and sometimes I've seen Hondas stuck in potholes. I haven't been up it in a month, and it can change drastically in that time... I could throw the 4 bike rack on the Jeep if anyone really needs to skip the wash section. Personally, I'd ride it...
     
  9. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Not sure, have to see how the week plays out.
     
    Mikie, mike, Faust29 and 1 other person like this.
  10. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Yeah, riding sounds better. I didn't know if it was a natural meet up spot like on G.E... that's the perfect outing as far as I'm concerned!!!
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD and mike like this.
  11. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    The wash is actually a fun downhill at the end... With gears, it's possible to maintain almost 30 mph for most of it. You'll pass the cars like they are standing still.
     
  12. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    I imagine especially so with some B+ tires that float over the sandy parts!!!
     
    Mikie and mike like this.
  13. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    There's also a picnic table... but I agree it isn't really conducive to a drawn-out party location unless someone brought an ez-up. Part of the issue will be the crowds - not too many people there at 8AM but the lot will be full at noon. If we take over all the parking spaces at one end of the lot there won't be any issues, but you have to plan on a tail-gate type of experience. I normally just like parking at the upper lot because I find the 5 mile ride on gravel fire road boring... and I'm a wimp and when I come off Trabuco I like to glide right up to my car, pop the back, and open up an ice-cold Mt Dew :)

    Here's what the upper lot looks like when no one is there (in January). There is a single picnic table overlooking the creek. Holy Jim trailhead is up the road that you can barely make out in the trees heading up the hill to the left. Trabuco trail is up the road straight ahead.

    upper-lot.jpg
     
    Danimal, herzalot, Mikie and 5 others like this.
  14. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    There is "elevated fire restriction" in place in Trabuco Ranger District as of 7/31/17 (wood/charcoal). Meaning a gas or propane grill is okay.

    https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cleveland/home/?cid=fseprd549882


    A good MO might be to circle your wagons in the open area back by the next-to-last bridge and let the hikers have it out in the "lot." Or even just south of the fire barn.

    The blast down Trabuco Creek Rd is a fun cool down, though. :thumbsup: Even without the water bars. :unsure:
     
    Mikie, kioti, Cyclotourist and 2 others like this.
  15. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    I think it really all comes down to: what is Mikie's schedule, and what is he in the mood for?
     
    Mikie, kioti, Faust29 and 3 others like this.
  16. singlespeedrider

    singlespeedrider Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Phoenix AZ
    Name:
    Mark
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC advanced single soee
    And on a single speed it's possible to maintain 16 mph and get passed by everyone with gears and suck all the dirt from the cars that pass you.
     
    Mikie, kioti, Cyclotourist and 4 others like this.
  17. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    Also remember that this ride always takes longer than planned, especially for every extra rider we have.
     
    herzalot, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 7 others like this.
  18. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    It is a tight ride, even if there are only two of you - at least until you get to Main Divide. Lots of dips and dabs. And that five miles up the canyon road, while it doesn't sound like much, is still 800-900 feet of climbing. It reminds me so much of doing the Maple Springs / Motorway Loop... and the difference between doing it from the tree farm or the upper lot. The distance and elevation gain of the "extra credit" are almost exactly the same.

    Last time I came down that road, after a Trabuco / Cook's Corner / Harding / Santiago / Holy Jim loop, my legs were so fatigued that ride out the canyon felt like forever. It took me 16 minutes to cover 5 miles, but I felt like I was limping, and they were the longest 16 minutes of my life :) You'll come down the canyon as fast if not faster than a car (depending on the car driver :) ), but going up the canyon will take a while.

    17.5 miles, 3700 feet... without the extra credit. 27.5 miles, 4600 feet with.
     
    mike, herzalot, Mikie and 6 others like this.
  19. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    I think I can get free around noonish in the OC on this day. What's the plan? I will try to rendezvous. @kioti and I may do our own thing if ya'll ride early and finish before I'm in the neighborhood.
     
    mike, Faust29, Mikie and 1 other person like this.
  20. kioti

    kioti iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Jim Jennings
    Current Bike:
    ibis ripley
    Like get a city permit and head down to Laguna Beach for some end-of-summer, weekend on the sand photo opps! Speedo frisbee anyone? :thumbsup::bang::)
     
    mike, Cyclotourist, herzalot and 6 others like this.
  21. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    I am in.
     
    Sidewalk, mike, Cyclotourist and 4 others like this.
  22. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Hey my drive will consist of a hotel maybe 10 miles away!:thumbsup:

    Edit: And I have aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwlllllll day with you hooligans!:inlove:
     
  23. BonsaiNut

    BonsaiNut iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Troutman, NC
    Name:
    Greg P
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Hightower CC XX1
    Earlier the better... for me... but I don't want to be driving this decision. If it were up to me we'd be leaving the upper lot at 7:00 :)
     
  24. H2oChick

    H2oChick Well-Known Member

    Name:
    K-Oss
    Now that would be something to post in the "Where are all the Hottie MTB GUYS" thread! All IMTB Trails guys must attend -
     
    Sidewalk, mike, Cyclotourist and 5 others like this.
  25. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    I like earlier, but it looks like we are going to score on the weather.

    The later we leave, the more hikers we have to deal with on Lower Holy Jim.
     
  26. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Ride with Jason, and you're up on Main Divide by 7:00. Maybe in Corona. :p
     
    Mikie, Sidewalk, mike and 4 others like this.
  27. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    6:00 start from taco plaza? That puts us on LHJ before 7:00. Hopefully ahead of the hikers. I'm a bachelor all week, so I'm good with later... Up to you guys.

    Weather Underground shows low 70s for the high!
     
  28. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    I like......

    @Mikie ?
     
    Mikie and Faust29 like this.
  29. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Dodge the Greek! :eek: If Mikie is still feeling froggy, we could pack up and do a quick Luge run...
     
    Mikie, mike and DangerDirtyD like this.
  30. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    Or push on to San Juan. :whistling:
     
    Mikie, mike and Faust29 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?