The Scenic Route to San Juan Ride

Ride Name: The Scenic Route to San Juan Ride
When: Saturday Nov. 11, 2017
Time: 6:00am
Where: Taco Plaza, Rancho Santa Margarita
Ride Description or Details:
Back by popular demend.....ok, maybe that is a bit of a stretch.

Harding to San Juan Loop.

We will start at the Taco Plaza in RSM:
21672 Plano Trabuco Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679

Roll through O'Neil Park for a warm up...up Santiago Canyon Rd...up and over Modjeska Grade. Up Modjeska Canyon, then begin climbing Harding Truck Trail. At 4 Corners, we turn right on Main Divide and climb up to Santiago Peak, before descending down Main Divide towards Holy Jim. We will continue along Main Divide past ITT, West Horsethief and Trabuco to drop down to Blue Jay Campground. From there....we run San Juan Trail down from the top....remember, it's not all DH. At the bottom of San Juan Trail, we cross over into Caspers Wilderness Park, pass through the Hot Springs and Cold Springs, then follow San Juan Creek Trail into the RV camping. Quick spin through the lower trails in Caspers and up Star Rise....Finishing with a leisurely up and down spin along Bell Trail back to the Taco Plaza.

The days are getting short.....thus the early start.

The is a demanding ride.

You have 2 weeks go prepare.
~~~~~ Optional Details ~~~~~
Meet Location: Taco Plaza:
21672 Plano Trabuco Rd, Trabuco Canyon, CA 92679
Skill Level: Advanced, Suicidal
Ride Pace: Moderate Pace, Death March
Type of Ride: Loop
Rider Limit: 123456789+ 1
Anticipated Mileage: 65
Elevation Gain: 10,000
Ride Duration: 9-10 hrs overall
Previous Ride Reports: http://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/too-short-too-long-and-just-right.4487/

http://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/the-bailout-of-shame-ride.3530/

http://www.imtbtrails.com/forum/threads/rr-santa-anas-epic-take-3.3498/
Possible Bail-Outs: Up to Mile 19(4 Corners/top of Harding) turn around and retrace your route back.

Beyond that Lower Holy Jim @ mile 26

Then West Horsethief @ mile 31

Then Trabuco Trail @ mile 34

After Trabuco Trail, you are committed to finishing the intended route
Facilities: Water is avail on route
Food/water suggestions: Bathrooms @:
Modjeska Dog Park
Blue Jay Campground
San Juan Trailhead
Caspers

Water Available @
Modjeska Dog Park mile 9
Blue Jay Campground mile 36
Caspers Wilderness Park mile 53
Bell View Trail mile 61

Food....it's a long day. Bring what you need for that.
Option to Upload:

GPX Viewer

 

Looks like fun!!

Not to be a party pooper or anything, but DST ends this Sunday, November 5.

 

That’s what I said.

 

I think San Juan Trail is in there somewhere between mile 35 and mile 46.

 

New post made by Jay... scrolls to title, "Scenic Route (INSERT ANYTHING HERE)"

NOPE. I don't ever want to be involved in whatever you determine is a scenic route.

 

I just might be able to get a day pass for this one. Loved the route last time.

Not to self, check calendar before commenting.

I’m out for the full but might be able to drop at holy jim.

 

I have scenic routes to many of the popular riding locales.

 

I might partake in a shorter version of this beast...... I never rode down Horsethief.

 

A guy would have to be batsh!t crazy to voluntarily join this!

I'll bring the Highball. I learned my lesson about the heavy bike at Wrightwood.

 

I bailed at Horsethief last time when I wasn't feeling so great. It was actually a fun ride down, and I still ended up with over 40 miles and 7000+ feet. Another option would be what I did when I only had the FS bike available. I went up Holy Jim and joined at Main Divide. That makes it a 50/7500 loop.

 

I would like to keep it under six hours.... I like the HJ option as well.

 

If you can do the Holy Jim to San Juan loop in under 6 hours, you're a lot faster than I am! That's hauling the mail uphill!

 

The day I took @StrandLeper out Holy Jim/San Juan....we were over 6 hours...and we hardly stopped.

 

Badass ride!!!!

But no UHJ??

 

On rides like this...I tend to keep the risk on the lower side. Can't destroy the body before we are halfway through. No opposed to it.

 

Hmm might have to try that some day soon.

 

Finally, something worth riding! I was getting a little bored with all of these short 30 mile, 6000' rides lately.

You know I would totally be all over this, but my older brother is coming into town that Friday, and the poor old guy can't climb more than about 2000' in a day, so I will be relegated to my ho hum local trails. Otherwise, I would be completely committed to this one!

It's really a shame that the days are getting shorter, but thankfully I have lights so I can extend the fun before and after the 10 hours of daylight available.





(NOTE - none of the above is true, except for the brother part and the 10 hours of daylight. Y'all are just plain crazy)

 

I was thinking about bailing out @ HJ.
Start @ 6am and be back at the truck by noon.

 

Yeah, last time I did that loop (cough, six years ago, cough) it took me 5:30 at a relaxed pace. They were running an ultra-marathon on HJ that day, so we were stopping regularly instead of being able to drop the trail like comets

My problem is that I don't think I will be able to hang with Jason up Harding at a "moderate" pace.

 

Oops... I though you meant to start at HJ...

Harding to Holy Jim is a fun loop. I just did that one recently... Harding to Trabuco is even better!

 

I thought the Scenic Route was riding shotgun in the shuttle van.

 

Last time i did this route, my Gate to Gate at Harding was 1:38

 

That is totally doable.....my last ride on this route had me at 4hrs to top of LHJ.

 

And not be able to take in the dust, the smells, the exhaust from the Jeeps, the sun on your face......

 

I think the Trailslayer might be in for this ride, right @Grego , he loves these kinds of rides?

 

I only climbed Harding 4 times ever (according to Strava)....... Anybody who is considering taking a part in this ride should be able to do 1:38.

 

Yes, but you have to look at the route as a whole. Yes, I can go faster...but this is only the first 20 miles of a 65 mile ride.

But I agree.

 

My Harding PR is only a few minutes faster than that... Time on one climb is almost irrelevant on a ride like this if you're not thinking about its effects 25 miles ahead.

 

All I'm saying that if someone's PR is 1:45, and he shows up @ 6am thinking he is doing the whole ride, there might be a problem (for all attendees).
The chances of that happening are probably zero, but I just wanted to put it out there.

@Faust29, I know that you know that I wasn't concerned about your ability to finish the ride.
Some of the fastest times up Harding are done on SS, and I'm sure that if you attempted a Harding TT type of ride you will do it for under 1:20.