Hullo fellow bikers!

Discussion in 'Say Hello!' started by Ocpop, Dec 10, 2019.


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  1. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Hola folks!

    I just found this site and joined. Wealth of great info here. I’m pretty new to mtbiking, really only started in August of this year but I definitely caught the bug. I’m in Mission Viejo so I’ve been hitting Whiting and the Luge hard. My buddy that got me hooked used to race locally in his youthful days have taken me to some of his old stomping grounds including Santiago Oaks and Aliso Canyon.

    In a couple of months, I’d love to climb up to Santiago peak. It seems there are a couple of different rout options. Any advise? Better yet, if any of you are planning to make that climb, we would love to tag along.

    Anyways, I’m glad to have found this community and hopefully I can contribute a bit.

    Paul(the clueless noob)
     
    shawndoh, bvader, Redman and 20 others like this.
  2. Danimal

    Danimal iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Dan
    Current Bike:
    Epic Evo
    Hey @Ocpop welcome ! Best little forum around.
    I also ride whiting and luge often, my stomping ground too. As far as santiago peak goes, there's a couple folks here who I'm sure can show you the way.
     
    Redman, Danmtchl, mike and 10 others like this.
  3. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Welcome Paul and way to jump in...:thumbsup:
     
    Redman, Danmtchl, mike and 9 others like this.
  4. scan

    scan iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    fran allas
    Current Bike:
    Scott Spark
    Velcome!!!!
     
    Redman, Danmtchl, Fueledbyex8 and 8 others like this.
  5. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Welcome @Ocpop!

    Glad you found us. Stick around and breathe some life into our forum by riding a lot and posting a lot. You can call yourself a clueless newb, but I see your Pivot. Not THAT clueless! :thumbsup:
     
    Redman, Danmtchl, mike and 9 others like this.
  6. tick

    tick Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    Tick
    Current Bike:
    Process 111
    Maple Springs Road (Silverado Canyon) is the easiest way to the top. Harding (Modjeska Canyon) is shorter but steeper. maple is more scenic, or it was pre-fire... And climbing Joplin (up from Luge) sounds terrible. I’m assuming the trails on the eastern slopes are not in your plans.

    I’d actually recommend it right now rather than in a few months, as the gate is currently closed to motor vehicles. Go as far as you can, and when you are too tired to continue, it’s a quick coast back to the car. This kind of ride really lets you push your endurance, as there is no fear of running out of gas. The pedaling is over as soon as you turn around.
     
    HBkites, Redman, Danmtchl and 13 others like this.
  7. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    Welcome aboard, @Ocpop ! Santiago Peak is definitely a worthy goal. Several ways to get there with Harding being the shortest. Maple Springs is also good.

    Plenty of rides to the peak happen regularly.

    Keep an eye on the Trailhead forum, and feel free to jump in.
     
    Redman, Danmtchl, Fueledbyex8 and 8 others like this.
  8. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Hey welcome @Ocpop ,
    Welcome to the site. We are only as good as the Site participation. So join in, be a contributor. We have a lot fun here.
    I’m a bit far from you up in imtbCanada, but I hope we get to hit the trails together sometime.

    Mikie
     
  9. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Welcome @Ocpop ! I think you might be able to find someone around here riding in those areas occasionally... keep your eyes peeled!
    If not, The Flooooop is the fall-back plan!
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 6 others like this.
  10. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Thanks for the welcome, I feel the warmth!

    I figure I should get a bit more fit before I tried Santiago but Tick’s idea got me thinking. I’ll be doing some heavy riding over the holidays so maybe I’ll ride up as far as I can on Maple springs then. Is winter a decent time for it? How about the eastern side via Holy Jim trail, is that doable?

    haha, herz, I’m enjoying the Pivot. When I get into something, I dive right in, my obsessive personality takes over. The bike is in the shop for some upgrading already.

    Hi Danimal, my fellow MVer. We might have crossed paths already. Let’s hook up and ride sometimes. Whiting Luge loop is such a blast!

    Mikie, anytime!

    Paul
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 8 others like this.
  11. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Hi, Cycletourist, Redlands is my old stomping grounds. I went to school in Lima Linda.
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 5 others like this.
  12. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Welcome to the jungle! :cool:
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 2 others like this.
  13. buggravy

    buggravy iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Calabasas
    Name:
    Matt
    Current Bike:
    Transition Sentinel
    You should fit in well here. Welcome to the fray.
     
    Mikie, Danmtchl, mike and 4 others like this.
  14. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

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

    Maple Springs is actually shorter than Harding....7 miles vs. 9 miles.
     
    Mikie, Redman, BonsaiNut and 3 others like this.
  15. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

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

    How do you come up with this?
     
    Mikie, Danmtchl, mike and 3 others like this.
  16. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

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

    At the current time....the Holy Jim side of the mountain is closed due to the Holy Fire last year.
    You only options til October’ish 2020 will be Maple Springs or Harding.

    Contrary to what a couple of posters stated above, Maple Springs is the shortest least steep climb.

    you can’t get lost. Head up Maple Springs to you reach 4 Corners....you’ll know when you get there(7 miles). Take the 2nd right(heads uphill). 1 left is Harding and it points downhill.
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 4 others like this.
  17. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Winter is an ok time to ride up there... :D

    Nov. 30, 2019 at Four Corners (top of Maple Springs... Modjeska Peak visible)
    IMG_0410.jpeg

    Same Day as the Above Image:


    Last February:


    You can also check out the Peak Webcam:
    http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/SP.html

    And the Peak weather... Sierra, Pleasants, and Santiago are our local peaks on that page.
    http://www.airsites2000.com/weatherstations.htm

    The Santiago weather data is currently down. That happened a few times last year, as well... You can get to raw data through the OC Watershed site, but it's convoluted...

    As the others have said, with the fire closure there are two main ways for us OCers to get to the peak. Maple Springs is probably the easier, and you can park along Silverado Canyon Road. My preferred parking spot is approximately 1/2 mile before the gate on the right. There is a row of trash cans, and 3-4 cars fit comfortably in there. There is other parking, just avoid parking in front of someone's property. You can also park at the tree farm at the far end of the canyon, but that adds 5 miles of pavement and approximately 900 feet of climbing. If you start near the gate, it's in the neighborhood of 12 miles and 4000 feet to the peak. Another popular route from there is Maple-Motorway. 7.5 miles up Maple Springs, hang a left on Main Divide for 6 miles of up and down, and descend Motorway, which is 3 miles of fast rocky single track. That's my favorite night ride. :thumbsup:

    You can also climb Harding, which is completely closed to vehicle traffic. Harding is a grind... 9/3000 just to get to Four Corners. Another 4/1400 to get to the peak from there. If you want to test fitness, this is the route... The first mile of Harding gains 525 feet. :sick::gag:

    Everything south of Santiago Peak (Holy Jim, Trabuco, Los Pinos, Bell, Main Divide...) are all closed, due to the Holy Fire last year. :thumbsdown: San Juan is open, but is not accessible from this side of the mountain.
     
    Oaken, Mikie, Redman and 13 others like this.
  18. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    By not bothering to check first...and by mentally starting MS from the tree farm.
     
    Mikie, Redman, Danmtchl and 8 others like this.
  19. mike

    mike iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Western US
    Name:
    Mike O
    Current Bike:
    HT, FS
    @Ocpop, welcome!

    I rekkn this thread is doing some legit introduction... for better or worse!!!!!!

    Make no mistake, though, OCP, this is an elite cell with splinter factions throughout the west. Recreation or die, you with us????!
     
    Mikie, Redman, herzalot and 8 others like this.
  20. mountaingirl sara

    mountaingirl sara iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    So Cal
    Name:
    Sara
    Current Bike:
    Ibis Ripley
  21. Old&InTheWay

    Old&InTheWay Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Orange, Ca.
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    2017 Intense Primer Pro
     
  22. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Thanks again for the cuddly welcome!

    Faust, that snow ride looks like a bucket of giggles. I gotta try it sometimes. I’m guessing it throws in an extra layer challenge to the ride. The night ride on Motorway sounds baller.

    Mike, I’m in! Anything subversive!
     
  23. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    Did you ride the Hulda Crooks trails when you were out this direction? They're pretty good!

    This guy does a LOT of work on them: https://www.instagram.com/singletrack_surgeon/
     
  24. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Didn’t ride back then. I knew there were good trails up there though . I had some friends who rode. My in-laws live out that way so one of these days...
     
  25. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    I always bring a bike when I visit my in-laws... just sayin'!
     
  26. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    I have the maroon hardtail staged like so in her garage.610739FC-5C11-4AAD-9564-1135456A427C.jpeg
     
    Mikie, UPSed, Old&InTheWay and 8 others like this.
  27. Lost Kiwi

    Lost Kiwi Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Portola Hills
    Name:
    Simon
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Hey @Ocpop, welcome aboard! I'll keep an eye out for you. I ride regularly from Mission Viejo up to Whiting and over to the Luge. I'm the weirdo on a bike you've probably never seen before that speaks with a funny accent :D Pretty hard to miss!
     
    Mikie, Redman, herzalot and 9 others like this.
  28. Dismay

    Dismay Member

    Location:
    Aliso Viejo, CA
    Name:
    Michael
    Current Bike:
    Cannondale Jekyll 2
    Welcome Ocpop!
     
    Mikie, herzalot, Old&InTheWay and 5 others like this.
  29. Luis

    Luis iMTB Addict

    Location:
    Sylmar
    Name:
    Luis
    Current Bike:
    La Diabla
    Welcome :)
    Pull up a saddle and stay awhile :thumbsup:
     
  30. Ocpop

    Ocpop Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Mission Viejo
    Name:
    Paul K
    Current Bike:
    Pivot trail
    Awesome! I guess I need to buy another bike or two
     


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?