Mt High West bike park- Wrightwood

Just got this in an email. It looks like Mt. High is considering opening a bike park and the USDA have opened up the public comment period until March 9, 2022.

 

About time.

 

This would be awesome

 

Meh. I'd rather see new additions to the trail network in Wrightwood area than a bike park. The SOT people are going to have a fit.

 

Long overdue!

Btw, what is SOT?

 

Steve, Olivia and Tom.

 

We should ask the SOT people if they'd rather see a new bike park OR, more bike traffic on the SOT system.

 

I liked it better when nobody knew about riding in Wrightwood…

 

Agreed! There is already a mountain bike park there. And nobody knows about it.
Hopefully it keeps the eBikers satisfied and distracted.

 

I wonder if my mostly unused season pass will carry to the summer….

 

This should have happened years ago. Too bad I'll never get to check it out... if it happens.

 

Not sure that actually putting a bike park will change the amount of usage. Could be interesting. Guess it will ultimately depend on how good it is. For people down below, the drive to Skypark should be about the same time so if Skypark is better than Wrightwood, with the 2 of them so close to each other it may not end up being successful. For me specifically, Wrightwood is so close I would actually go. I have still not been to Skypark, I don't want to go there by myself and the opportunity to go with others hasn't presented itself.

 

The bigger competition is Snow Valley. The number of people I hear complain that Skypark doesn't have a shuttle is crazy.

But I dropped my SP pass after being a pass holder since the first few months they were open (when it was $99 a year). Between the crowds, the lack of trail etiquette, and the eBikers (who also often times lack trail etiquette), I wasn't having fun there anymore.

 

I dropped mine after two years. Too many eBikes.

 

Or likely both.

Just by operating it will definitely increase usage on Blue Ridge Trail which can be accessed close by off the lifts, and likely Leprechaun once people realize it is there and can also be added to a partial shuttle/lift run. Think last run of the day or pre-lift ride. Lots of people don't even know about Wrightwood. A bike park there will definitely raise awareness of the area. Ride the park one day, ride WW trails the other. And I'd expect SOT, running directly behind it, would also see more bike traffic. You just have to look at Big Bear as an example. You can do runs of non bike park trails using the chairlift, but the bike park also attracts a lot of other traffic and made riders aware of what else is there.

 

I've gone to SP a couple times and enjoyed it. When I went, the trails were in better shape than Big Bear. However, with the price of a 1 day pass at 60 bucks plus the price of gas from south OC, it's just not worth it for me right now. I'd rather drive to BB and ride skyline or other local trails for free.

 

I think EvDawg is nailing it.
Wrightwood is a magical place. There is enough traffic to keep the trails burned in, yet, you hardly ever come across other trail users. There are no "P" Lines, the trails are awesome, enough locals and interested folks to keep the trails relatively clear of fallen trees. Adding a riding park just brings attention to the area, and as Evan points out, the lifts will take you close to the top to drop Blue Ridge which has a very large traffic of weekend hikers. It's a recipe to help more folks hate mountain bikers, as you know LA Mountain Bikers of the sort who give us a bad name down in LA will come up and continue to expand that reputation. My prediction is Blue Ridge will get banned for Mountain Bikers.

 

What does SOT stand for? I keep seeing it being used, even asked once, but got a snarky reply.

I've never been to SkyPark, but it has more family appeal for the obvious. Mt. High would be great since it is an easy drive due to the lack of real twisty mountain roads. I haven't visited Wrightwood other than passing through it to go to Mt. High for many years in the early to mid 2000's.

 

PeeCeeTee aka SomeOtherTrail
.
.

 

FWIW, Mt. High got new owners recently. I'm not a bike park guy, but that looks like a lot of trails and switchback in a small area. Would be nice if they focused on expanding ski operations. I do like that the mtb bike park plan will likely piss off the PCTA.

 

I wonder what ever happened to MWBA Mt. Waterman bike park plan...

 

All, I’ll handle this in an PM.

 

The new owners invited a bunch of us up there after they purchased the place. Being so close to Wilderness Area, there wasn't really much to work with. We did get a chance to pedal around though.

 

See if you can find @mike while you're at it please.