It was a warm Sunday morning in the San Gabriel Mountains that saw 5 hardy RCYers arrive for a stupendous adventure around Strawberry Peak. John, Ali, Jamshyd, Dean and I started pedaling up the 2 1/2 mile climb of the Josephine Fireroad at 8:20, the sun already beating down on the dirt road. While we relished the few shady spots, most of the climb was in the blazing sun. At the Josephine Saddle, we paused for a picture taken by some fellow mountain bikers that we met and traveled with at times along the way.

From the saddle we headed onto the single track trail on the backside of Strawberry Peak. The trail was fun to ride and in good condition, but one had to be cautious. Certain areas of the trail were narrow, rocky, loose, and exposed. Any loss of concentration, any steering mistake meant certain death and destruction.

At one point we stopped to assist one of the riders in the other group. He had broken his chain and did not have a chain tool. That was probably our longest rest stop. We then continued along the wonderful trail, some of which went thru beautiful sun-speckled forest.

Further along the trail, sections had become quite sandy and we had to walk. Arriving at a fork in the trail, we took the right way (of course) and started back around the peak. The first part of the trail had some steep loose sections that we had to walk, but then it was just a long steady hot climb up to the saddle at Strawberry Peak.

After regrouping at the saddle we then headed on down Strawberry Peak Trail, a fun, fast ride. The trail was in better shape than during our ride last year--almost everything was rideable.

At the bottom of the trail we crossed Angeles Crest Highway and regrouped again at Red Box Ranger Station. From there it was the E-ticket ride down the Gabrielino Trail to Switzer Campground. We had one injury when Dean did a face plant at a rocky water crossing, but he just wiped the grit off his bloody jaw, remounted his bike and continued on down the trail--a tough hombre. And then there was Ali and the Trail of Boulders....

At Switzer Campground, we climbed up the pavement back to our cars, completing the 16 mile loop in a little under 3 hours of actual riding time. John had to head home, while the four remaining hot and tired, but exhilarated riders headed on down the mountain for some well-deserved Popeye Burgers at the Hill Street Cafe in La Canada.