Chilao Epic

if you are doing it will you be doing your own shuttle?

 

Not sure yet. I was checking out the shuttle service you provided the link for.

 

I did Strawberry peak last week and Hwy 2 it is closed From Red box going East

 

I have been studying the map and it is making sense now. One question:
From the Observatory, you ride up on Mt Wilson Red Box Rd to Eaton Saddle trail head and you ride down on Mt Lowe East trail-Merrill, Sunset, El Prieto?

 

Not from the Observatory, from Hwy 2 at the USFS Red Box picnic area, you ride UP the road about 3 miles to the Eaton Saddle/Mt Lowe TH. The Observatory is even further up the road. There trails down from the Observatory are what is known as the "Darkside" on the SCOA Mt Wilson shuttle page.

 

Or if you are at the observatory, ride down the road past the antennas until you reach a big turn with parking area on both sides. The left side (facing south toward Pasadena) is the Mt. Lowe Road, go up that through the tunnel to begin the Eaton Saddle downhill toward Sunset and EL P

 

Are you planning on doing this solo? Or you got more people coming with you. The reason I ask is because I have two more friends that wanna do this. So if you got others joining then the paid shuttle is the way to go and we all meet at the shuttle pick up in Arcadia.
I would much rather add some mileage and descend the front range than the dark side. The dark side is loads of fun but descending Santa Anita Canyon from Chantry flats, which is paved, seems anti climatic to me.
I’m more than happy to be the tour guide

 

The Rim trail is best done downhill from Wilson to Newcomb saddle

Red box to Eaton saddle is 2.4 miles, about 600ft climbing

 

I am going solo.
This is what I got, looking at Google maps. let me know if it makes sense:

Silver moccasin all the way down to Hwy 2, cross Hwy 2 and continue down on Silver moccasin to West fork, from here we take Gabrieleno to Rim trail, Rim trail to Observatory-Eaton Saddle-Merrills, Sunset, El Prieto.

And I am guessing this is almost all descend with some climbs?

 

This is the elevation profile for Chilao to JPL via front side. That big climb around mile 10 is an ass kicker. We climbed the Rim trail which is a very difficult climb, to the observatory. It’s downhill from there somewhat just a couple of short climbs with lots of chunky descent. Like @rossage mentioned above the climb to Eaton saddle from Redbox is much easier. We would just ride up to Redbox from west fork on the Redbox rincón fireroad.

 

This route is not all descent. And there is no route like it that is. You will climb over to 2000 ft just from West fork to Mt Wilson
I suggest you get a guide, and also take a good hard look at a topo map
You're in for a long day.

 

I did a 29 mile ride with 6k gain elevation about a month ago, it did killed me at the end:
Up Black star, down Skinsuit,up Skyline, down El Diablo,up Skyline , down Black star.
if any one familiar with this route , how does it compare with Chilao epic?

I hope this buys me a ticket if not I pass..

 

Any other takers? If not I’ll just have my wife shuttle us and of course @vinosteep is invited. I can probably squeeze in one more. JPL will be the meeting spot and we will end the ride there.
Hand holding will be kept at a minimum.

 

You're ready for the adventure.

@Luis, I am out for this adventure. Too much of a ride right before my flight to China. I've flown there with fresh trail rash and it wasn't fun.

Don't forget to stash some water at Shortcut if you're going to Wilson.

 

Cosmic cafe is open so there’s that option. If not, Redbox will have some ice cold Gatorade... and water

 

This just in...

 

I hope you guys do a really early start

 

In your near future

 

Hey Luis, thanks for the invite and thanks for willing to give a tour but I am feeling a little under the weather with a little cold. And I am a little nervous about struggling on the route. Instead I am going to join the Enduro" shuttle (http://mtwilsonmtbadventure.com/ and that will give me a feel of the trails...

Hopefully I will see you around some time...

 

No worries at all.
I might join the Strawberry/Valley Forge crew and terrorize those guys...

 

.
What time does this start? 1o a.m.?.

.

 

You know what? I went to sign up this morning and it is Sold out now

I think I will just stay local and do Smash Face...Who is down?

 

That was a sly move, daddy-o...hooking Smashface partners from outside the Orange Curtain is no easy task. But I've learned to not underestimate you.

 

Smashface were we met the Evil beast"

 

Yea, that dood in your avatar. Takers beware, mwahahaha...

 

Ah man, already have a buddy's bday ride planned. Between that and the avatar, "maybe next time"

 

Were is the ride?

 

A very social pace ride on some relatively easy trails, probably be more jaw jacking than riding...