Hitting Santiago on Sunday 4/24?

Anyone up for a ride to the peak this Sunday? I'm thinking about going. Maple Springs is still closed so it will have to be Harding.

 

Thanks for the note, BonsaiGreg. Wish I could join ya. Conditions should be primo!

 

I have outta town guest this weekend.....not sure where I'm gonna be riding.

Why not head up Holy Jim to the Peak?

 

I've done both ways... the climb from HJ to the peak is brutal compared to the route from 4 Corners to the peak... I think it's something like the same distance, but 800 feet more climbing (ie you start on Main Divide 800 feet lower when you climb Holy Jim). The really FUN ride is to climb Harding, and then DESCEND via the back and upper and lower HJ. I've done that once... park at bottom of Trabuco Canyon and do the loop.

 

BTW, I just looked it up for fun... if you park at Trabuco Canyon and do the loop (up past Cook's Corner, up Harding, down Holy Jim) it's a total of 34.2 miles, 5800 feet...

Top speed, 42.9 mph, LOL!

 

That top speed could be coming down Live Oak to Cooks Corner.

I've done that loop or a variation of it a few times. Good loop.

 

Yup. Tough NOT to go 40 mph on that stretch.

 

I'm looking to do something long this weekend, but my day has to be Saturday... Have fun out there!

 

I think if I did Harding again this weekend, I might need a psych evaluation. Staying local and doing some tech. Have fun and be safe!

 

Yes but...

Your experience was like diving into a banana split, and eating the ice cream, without experiencing the whipped cream and the cherry on top!

Who rides up Harding without knowing the joy of the Modjeska radar towers? Or Joplin trail head? Or Santiago Peak? They are the REASON for the Harding ride. To just do an out and back to 4 corners without knowing the bigger picture has to feel empty. Because to be honest, the ride up to four corners is stark. Great views, but stark.

 

It's like hiking to Everest Base Camp and saying... whew! nice view! Ok I'm outta here!

 

Points well taken. I was a mere passenger. I was teasing @Faust29 and @mtnbikej that it sure is a long ride to get to the luge!

 

Well my friend, when you are looking for a REASON to ride up Harding, I'm your guide.

By the way... have you ridden Holy Jim? Or more importantly, have you descended Holy Jim? I'm sure I could talk you into a - up Harding down Holy Jim loop. Alternatively, for something a little tamer, there is the up Holy Jim down Trabuco Canyon route...

 

Heck if we did that, we could probably rope Mike along. He's the Holy Jim master. In fact, I am starting a petition to rename it "Holy Mike "

 

Strand has been up Holy Him. I believe he has done HJ/Trabuco.

I did HJ/Trabuco today....both HJ and Trabuco are in serious need of a brushing....sections of Trabuco I couldn't even see the trail.

I still think Trabuco is a better DH than HJ.