RCY RIDE REPORT
Strawberry Peak
Saturday
11-25-06
 
Sometimes I forget just how terrific the trails are in the Angeles Forest area of the San Gabriel Mountains.  And the Strawberry Peak loop is one of the best.  Sometimes we complain that these trails are too far away, that they take too long to get to.  And yet from where I live in the West Valley, it is only about 4 miles further to the Strawberry Peak trailhead than it is to the Wendy Drive start of the Sycamore Canyon ride--about 34 miles vs. 30 miles.  Of course, the trails are often a bit more dangerous/technical and the rides may take a bit longer, but they are great rides.  But I digress.
 
It was a cool Saturday morning with temps in the 40's.  Eight riders arrived eagerly anticipating the thrill of tackling the Strawberry Peak Loop.  Parking at the lot above Switzer Campground were the organizers of this ride, Dennis, Brian, Reuben and Andy, and me.  Just down the road, at the junction of the Angeles Crest and Forest Highways, we met up with RogerJ and his friends Mark and Paul.  We soon began the 3 mile climb up the Mt. Josephine Fireroad.  Although most started with jackets on to ward off the morning chill, the top layers soon came off as we worked up a sweat on the long climb.
 
With cloud shrouded Strawberry Peak in the distance, Andy pedals up the fireroad
 
Reuben, Roger and Dennis pedal up the Josephine Fireroad
 
The group at Josephine Saddle: Dennis, Brian, Andy, Reuben, Roger, Paul, and Mark
 
From here we headed onto the singletrack that goes across the saddle and begins the circuitous route around Strawberry Peak.  The trail is in excellent shape, having been repaired and upgraded a couple of years ago for a reported $350,000.  Now this is how I personally like my tax dollars spent.  At one point we came to a section of the trail that several years ago was covered by a steep landslide that we had to carefully walk across.  Now it has a reinforced trail bed and made for a shot in which I took the liberty to create a more painterly view.
 
If you look closely you can see 3 colorful jersey-clad riders on the trail
 
Further on down the trail we weaved through a boulder garden....
 
Andy works his way through the maze of rock
 
Brian rides thru the boulders just ahead of Mark and Dennis
 
Paul negotiates his way thru the boulders
 
At a rest stop:  a pointilist view of the beautiful valley below
 
A painterly view of Paul and Mark at the rest stop
 
On we continued, the trail becoming both rocky and sandy in places.  Some minor crashes in technical sections, but we eventually arrived at a fork in the trail with only a few minor cuts and bruises.
 
Brian at a trail sign: sepia-toned reminder of the early days of exploration in the San Gabriels
 
From this trail sign the singletrack starts a steep, sandy section as we begin to wrap around the mountain.  An almost 2 mile climb leads to the saddle below Strawberry Peak.  After a brief rest here we begin the singletrack descent which will bring us down to Red Box Ranger Station.
 
Riders head down the trail, slowing only for the occasional group of hikers
 
Dennis enjoying the singletrack descent
 
Reuben rides his new Swiss-made bike over a reinforced trail section covered with scree
 
Roger negotiates the loose rock on his soft-tail
 
Looking down to the Angeles Crest Highway
 
Soon we reached the highway and crossed over to Red Box.  After a brief rest and refueling we commenced the last 5 miles on the exciting Gabrielino Trail.  The trail was both fast in sections and technically challenging in others.  We arrived at Switzer Campground with a few more scrapes and bruises, yet our grins overshadowed the pain.  A fantastic day of riding was completed with the steep pavement climb back up to the cars.  Usually we are totally spent after this almost 3 hour ride, but not so much today.   Several of us conjectured that riding during this cool fall weather rather than the normal hot summer made for a less taxing ride.  Something to remember.
 
Roger, Mark and Paul had to get home but the rest of us headed down the hill for burritos at a restaurant in La Canada.  Good food and talk ended a most excellent day of mountain biking.
 
Have a great week.
 
Robco Baggins
 
 

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