Rod took us on a hike 'n bike  today.  It actually started out with more hike than bike as about 13 of us headed out from Bell Canyon towards Castle Peak to find some new trails discovered by Rod.  Despite the drizzle at the end of the ride and my advanced age, my soggy memory recalls the following names:  Our leader Rod, DavidR, Dean, Jamshyd, BrianD, GregA, Reuben, DavidS, AaronY, Matt, Jeff, Isaac, and me.

Pushing bikes up the steep grade in Ahmanson Ranch towards Castle Peak

Climbing....back on the bikes

A lone rider

Like a Tolkien mountain, Castle Peak comes into view

Hiking to the top

Robco climbs the last section of rock face at the top

Our leader Rod rests at the top

Jamshyd checks his bearings at the top

Descending from the peak

After hiking back down to our bikes, we took a great downhill trail that took us into Bell Canyon.  Eventually we climbed the pavement up to the top of Bell.   At this point we began to break up into groups.  Reuben and Greg left via the pavement while the rest of us continued up the dirt switchbacks that took us to the trail that goes back down into Ahmanson Ranch.  While most went that way, to get back a little early, Jeff, Isaac and I continued on the dirt fireroad that became a steep, switchback filled, rutted route that took us back into Bell Canyon.  At about this time the skies started to drizzle a bit and we were slightly dampened--bodies and bikes, but not spirit--by the time we reached the cars.  A great day of hikin' and bikin'!

Have a great week.

Robco Baggins