Strawberry Peak Loop

Discussion in 'Trailhead' started by Faust29, May 10, 2021.


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  1. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Ride Name: Super Strawberry nighttime epic- The Shuttle is Full!
    When: Saturday, May 15 (into the 16th...)
    Time: 11:30 PM (Might change- DangerDirtyD?)
    Where: San Gabriel Mountains
    Ride Description or Details:
    This is not a beginner ride even in the daytime...
    2.5 miles of fire road climbing for 1200 feet of gain. After that it's about 5 miles of narrow, extremely exposed single track (not overly technical), including the descent into the meadow (more technical), and the climb to Lawler Saddle (a grind). A fast descent to Red Box, and then 4 miles of the Gabrielino (more technical) to Switzers. A 15 minute ball breaking climb to get back to the cars... (Super Strawberry skips the climb out of Switzers and continues on the Gabrielino back to JPL.)
    ~~~~~ Optional Details ~~~~~
    Meet Location:
    Skill Level:
    Intermediate, Advanced
    Ride Pace: Social Cruise, Easy with Moments of Effort, Moderate Pace
    Type of Ride: Loop
    Rider Limit: Super Strawberry Shuttle will have limited capacity- It's full.
    Anticipated Mileage: 24 for the Super Strawberry
    Elevation Gain: 3000 for the Super Strawberry
    Ride Duration: 5+ hours for the Super Sized version.
    Previous Ride Reports:
    https://strava.app.link/VffsI4fbagb
    Possible Bail-Outs: The only bailout on the Super Sized version would be a long descent on the 2, and then some more road spinning… Not ideal.
    Facilities: Bathrooms in the paved lot at Clear Creek. Not sure if they're open.
    Food/water suggestions: Enough for at least 3 hours, probably more. Water can be had at Red Box at mile 10.
    Option to Upload:
     
    Cyclotourist, NinjaDon, Mikie and 8 others like this.
  2. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
  3. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
  4. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
  5. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    Sweet! We got SnakeCharmer on board! Calling all Hooligans!
     
  6. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    As strange as it sounds, riding all the way out to JPL adds about 10 miles of downhill, but it only adds like 700 feet of climbing. You wouldn't need to carry any more water, because you can fill up at Red Box (mile 10). I can do this ride with one large bottle in cooler weather...

    Issues? The trail is running faster right now than I've seen it in the last year. The downed trees are all gone, and the three landslides have been fixed to the point that I only need to dismount the last few feet of the largest.

    Total stats would be around 25/3000

    Hmmm... Let me think about this one.

    Edit: Forgot the issue of poison oak. I've made it up and down unscathed recently, but it's there. Quite thick in a few spots. Long sleeves and covered legs are highly recommended.
     
  7. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    I’ll stay up past my bedtime and drive for this. :thumbsup:

    Likely weather/conditions?
     
  8. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    I’d guess 40s for most of the loop… Maybe a little cooler if we were to do the extended version. It’s cool and damp on the lower Gabrielino. Several water crossings on the extended, but it’s possible to stay dry.
     
  9. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    Heeee! If we do Ken Burton to Gab, it will be my first time down that way. You goats can climb to Josephine Peak while I catch up on the initial climb. Yay! @mike ! Chicken Nuggets!
     
  10. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Let me feel out the shuttle driver…
     
    Mikie and Bluesrider like this.
  11. buggravy

    buggravy iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Calabasas
    Name:
    Matt
    Current Bike:
    Transition Sentinel
    I want to want to do this. But I can't quite get there.
     
  12. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    I’m down to self-shuttle if necessary. The loop up top is cool too.
     
  13. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    I’m spoiled. Having a live-in shuttle driver really changes things. :D

    I’m going to miss him when he goes back to campus. :cry:
     
    Mikie, mike, DangerDirtyD and 2 others like this.
  14. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Instead of water in the bottles, it will be coffee. :eek:
     
    Mikie, mike, DangerDirtyD and 3 others like this.
  15. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    Sounds epic
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD, herzalot and 2 others like this.
  16. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Shuttle driver gave me the hairy eyeball, but he’s good to go.
     
    Cyclotourist, Mikie, mike and 3 others like this.
  17. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Nope.
    But have fun up there and stay on the trail please!
     
    Mikie, mike, Faust29 and 1 other person like this.
  18. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    Luis, can you make this one? It would be like Dunn Desert Oasis all over again!
     
    Mikie, mike and Luis like this.
  19. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Cyclotourist, Mikie and DangerDirtyD like this.
  20. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    Yea I just checked the date. I’m good to go.
    I’ll take a nap after work on Saturday.
    :ninja:
     
  21. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    This is looking good!


    I’ll give you a ride there. :geek:
     
    Cyclotourist, Mikie, Faust29 and 2 others like this.
  22. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    I don't know the details. I was being led. Here is @Tom the Bomb 's Strava for it.
    https://www.strava.com/activities/236323035
     
    Mikie and Faust29 like this.
  23. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Ahhhh... Ok. That makes sense now. I have good news and bad news. Yep... I think it's called Colby Trail after the fire road, but I always refer to it as Strawberry. Probably incorrectly. You did the Josephine Peak extra credit, though. I can't believe you let them tack on an extra 3.25 miles of fire road! :Roflmao

    There is a Colby Trail DH, though. You pass the top at mile 3 in the ride. The bottom pops out back on the ACH below Switzers. That section, which you didn't do, is some serious chunk, loose chunk, boulders, water crossings, exposure, HAB, and tight switchbacks. You would love it. And no, we're not doing it. :Roflmao That's for another day.
     
    Cyclotourist, Luis, Mikie and 2 others like this.
  24. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    So... It looks like me, @mike , @DangerDirtyD , and @Luis are in... If the number stays there, we can run the Super Shuttle with no return trip needed for a vehicle. If anyone else of questionable sanity wants in, we'll have to make other plans. :p

    Time to test the lights... Sh!t's gettin' real. :eek:
     
    Cyclotourist, herzalot, Mikie and 2 others like this.
  25. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    I’m kinda waiting to see how my weekend schedule shakes out.
     
  26. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    You're the questionable sanity in the above post! :Roflmao
     
    Mikie, DangerDirtyD and mtnbikej like this.
  27. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

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

    Figured as much.
     
    Mikie and Faust29 like this.
  28. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
  29. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Good golly?! Can you explain the need for so much light? I though it was going to be a "night" ride? :Roflmao
     
    Cyclotourist, Luis, Danimal and 3 others like this.
  30. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    You wouldn’t understand.
     
    Cyclotourist, UPSed and Mikie 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?