Caballero & Sullivan Canyons--January 16, 2004

Part I

Relatively Dry Caballero

A hardy group of RCYers showed up this morning at the Caballero Canyon Trailhead after 2 weeks of rain had put a damper on off-road riding.  Although we did not have to concern ourselves with water from above, we were not to avoid water below.  Under sunny skies, almost immediately we ran into obstacles in Caballero.  Muddy patches, new ruts and newly exposed rocks made for an interesting climb up the canyon.  And then we ran into our first detour.  A section where the trail goes down into the creek bed was blocked by uprooted brush and debris and so we had to ride up and over a trail section above.

Caballero Canyon--the trail covered and blocked

Joe can't contain his joy riding the detour

DavidR rides it

Andy goes up and over

Dean rides it

At the top of Caballero the decision was made to head east.  At the entrance to Sullivan Fireroad we stopped for a group picture and also made the decision here to head for Sullivan Canyon, knowing that it might be a bit wet. A bit of an understatement.

With the San Fernando Valley in the background:

Rod, DavidR, Robco, Jamshyd, Bruce, Joe, Andy, and Dean

We headed down Sullivan Ridge....

David and Andy negotiating a rocky chute off the fireroad

Upon reaching the entrance to Sullivan Canyon we met up with some other riders and at times shared the journey down the canyon with them.  Photos of the ride/kayak/canoe/surf down the canyon will be in part II.

Caballero & Sullivan Canyons--January 16, 2004

Part II

Extreme Bike Kayaking

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The ride into Sullivan Canyon started off with some semi-treacherous areas: lots of rocks and riding along the top of ridges with ruts on either side.   The recent rains had done their work, carving grooves into the earth, and making for some challenging riding.  But the real challenges, and fun, awaited us further down the canyon.  Soon we hit the water and it went on for several miles.  Once you got the hang of riding in 6 inches of water with your momentum and the current keeping you moving over the rocky bottom, it was like river kayaking on a bike.  Hopefully the following pictures will give a sense of the fun and challenges (and wet feet) we faced.

Jamshyd and Bruce planning a line of attack

Bruce picks his line

Bruce and Dean on a "sand bar"

Rod approaches a rocky water crossing

Rod bike kayaking....the current helps propel you

View thru a fallen sycamore

Water water everywhere

As I pedaled/paddled down the canyon, I wondered where all the earth and rock that had been carried by the swift current during the heavy rains had gone.   Well, at least part of the answer lay at the end of the trail.  In the past, when we came to the end of the canyon, there was a plateau of blacktop where we normally gather, refuel, and wait for the last people to traverse the canyon.   If you look at the next picture you will see that the level of the soil and rocks has come up almost to the level of the plateau, which is now but a small bump.   Another reminder of the power of water.

From the bottom of the canyon we climbed on the pavement up to the Westridge fireroad which we took back to Mulholland and the ride home.  A few of us went out to the Greystoke Grill for some well-deserved eats after a hard morning of riding.

View of Santa Monica Bay from Westridge FR

Have a good week.

Robco Baggins