Southern California - nov 11 - joshua tree national park ride

These campgrounds do not have showers. I'm taking an alcohol bath. :D
I think I'm going to skip the tent and just sleep on a cot.

You're right. I'm the evil one, so I should be the one to do that. :D


Hey, I though I got to be the evil one... oh wait... nevermind, I'm the devil - that's right.... no sleep last night as I'm sure you can relate ;)

These campgrounds do not have showers. I'm taking an alcohol bath. :D
I think I'm going to skip the tent and just sleep on a cot.
ewww...if you no shower, you no camp...we'll have to set you on a cot way, way, way off from the sleeping quarters. :p

Not a problem on this. Leaving very early on Friday morning to head up there. As for other activities, PM Cali as she lives right near there and can explain more, but the first post also contains links to the park website.

I am buying a new tent this weekend and am looking at a 4-6 person monstrosity with all the bells and whistles, it might even have a room seperator... I just need to remember to buy extra long tent spikes for the sand. I'll also be bringing a cooler stocked with all the condiments that people could ever want and BRAUTS (not wimpy little hot dogs)...


what's the plan for letting everyone know which campground you end up in? I'm not camping but I'm crashing the campsite Friday so I'll need to know where you all are :p

what's the plan for letting everyone know which campground you end up in? I'm not camping but I'm crashing the campsite Friday so I'll need to know where you all are :p

Same for me!

what's the plan for letting everyone know which campground you end up in? I'm not camping but I'm crashing the campsite Friday so I'll need to know where you all are :p

Just listen for the loud music that will be assaulting the ears of all the campers... :eek:

actually, I'll like to post a sign at the rangers office.... Cali? is that feasible?

Just listen for the loud music that will be assaulting the ears of all the campers... :eek:

actually, I'll like to post a sign at the rangers office.... Cali? is that feasible?


I'll pm you my cell number too, just in case... I don't really want to be driving around JT not having a clue where I'm going :eek:

what camp ground is everyone gonna be at so I can make the right reservations and a get directions from SD

what camp ground is everyone gonna be at so I can make the right reservations and a get directions from SDThese campgrounds we're staying at are first come, first served.... Only the larger group campgrounds take reservations.

at Jumbo Rock? What time are you guys planning on getting there? I will prolly leave SD at noon, so should be there around 3 I guess, if I don't get lost.

Tracy called me earlier...she went to check out the route. I'll let her share details, but she basically said that she'll probably die on this ride but that it was a beautiful place for it to happen. :roflmao:

Tracy called me earlier...she went to check out the route. I'll let her share details, but she basically said that she'll probably die on this ride but that it was a beautiful place for it to happen. :roflmao:


yes, you should definately try for Jumbo Rock campground.... it is GORGEOUS!!!

Here are a couple of pics... bad quality (cell phone)...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/JT2.jpg
this is the road in from the west entrance... we are coming in from the north entrance but the scenery will be similar ;)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/JT1.jpg
Here's the view from the top.... well almost...I didn't walk up to the very top but this give you the idea :p

So, Brandy was telling the truth... I'm convinced the hills are gonna kill me... but who cares? I'll die happy!

t~

yes, you should definately try for Jumbo Rock campground.... it is GORGEOUS!!!

Here are a couple of pics... bad quality (cell phone)...

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/JT2.jpg
this is the road in from the west entrance... we are coming in from the north entrance but the scenery will be similar ;)

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/tprevost/JT1.jpg
Here's the view from the top.... well almost...I didn't walk up to the very top but this give you the idea :p

So, Brandy was telling the truth... I'm convinced the hills are gonna kill me... but who cares? I'll die happy!

t~


Well you won't be alone!!!:o

Dang Trac' your cell phone takes decent pics! Yeah I agree, Junbo Rocks is a nice campground. A nicer campground, IMO, is White Tank but it is much smaller and fills up very quickly.

yes, you should definately try for Jumbo Rock campground.... it is GORGEOUS!!!

Here are a couple of pics... bad quality (cell phone)...
t~

What were you doing way out there today, Trac'?

What were you doing way out there today, Trac'?

seeing if I was gonna survive this ride :rolleyes: ... its only an hour from my house

According to your previous post, you don't think you will survive! :eek: You're gonna be just fine... :D

I wonder if I should reconsider my gearing? I'm still concerned since I essentially lost my 3 lowest gears with this new bike. :eek:

I wonder if I should reconsider my gearing? I'm still concerned since I essentially lost my 3 lowest gears with this new bike. :eek:


nah, you'll be fine... I just need to do more hills :rolleyes:

What kind of max grades are we looking at?

Tiff, I can trade a Specialized Allez with a triple for your Bianchi if you'd like. ;)

What

who

looks like a fun route, great pics!!! I never rode in the desert before.

I wonder if I should reconsider my gearing? I'm still concerned since I essentially lost my 3 lowest gears with this new bike. :eek:

I thought with a double, it was essentially the same?
You'll do fine...I will probably be your first dropee

What kind of max grades are we looking at?

Tiff, I can trade a Specialized Allez with a triple for your Bianchi if you'd like. ;)

I don't think any of the grades are that huge... just several long ones... in particular the last 2.5 miles to the top. The scenery is pretty distracting though... I'm counting on it to keep my mind off the pain ;)

Jason, you will love it, the rides you do on a regular basis are probably harder than this one... not sure though :rolleyes:

What kind of max grades are we looking at?



I wonder if we can routeslip this to see???
Cali might know as well..

I wonder if I should reconsider my gearing? I'm still concerned since I essentially lost my 3 lowest gears with this new bike. :eek:

What gearing do you have on the new bike?

I ask more because of Tiff's concern about gearing. I will love it because of the wonderful people and the scenery. The ride could be completely flat for all I care.

All I know is it's going to be a beautiful ride, no matter what the gearing (or lack of)...:D

I wonder if we can routeslip this to see???
Cali might know as well..


I'm sure between her and SirLance, its out there somewhere :rolleyes:

The ride could be completely flat for all I care.

I think Tracy and I would like that...
Bottom line...it will be beautiful....its an out and back...so easy to turn around if too hard...
This going to be awesome!!!
And I get to meet all those I haven't had the priviledge of meeting yet!!

All I know is it's going to be a beautiful ride, no matter what the gearing (or lack of)...:D
I agree! I think Caligurl said it is 58 miles and 4,800 feet of climbing. That is completely doable! Besides, it's for fun!!!!! I can't wait as I suspect it will be beautiful up there. :)

I agree! I think Caligurl said it is 58 miles and 4,800 feet of climbing. That is completely doable! Besides, it's for fun!!!!! I can't wait as I suspect it will be beautiful up there. :)


I was in awe of how beautiful it was today... just gorgeous. I was bummed I didn't have my regular camera... although I'm sure the pics still wouldn't have done it justice.

Gonna be a GREAT ride!

t~

Tiff, I can trade a Specialized Allez with a triple for your Bianchi if you'd like. ;)

That's ok Jason but I appreciate the offer. :D

What gearing do you have on the new bike?

53/39 12/25

All I know is it's going to be a beautiful ride, no matter what the gearing (or lack of)...:D

:beer:

Dang Trac' your cell phone takes decent pics! Yeah I agree, Junbo Rocks is a nice campground. A nicer campground, IMO, is White Tank but it is much smaller and fills up very quickly.

+1 on the phone, great photos!

I'll try for White Tank first, then go for Jumbo Rocks...

anyone still planning to ride their MTBs on Sunday after this ride?

+1 on the phone, great photos!

I'll try for White Tank first, then go for Jumbo Rocks...


I didn't go by White Tank, which is probably why I didn't mention it huh? I'm sure its great as well...

Oh, I did ask the lady at the gate if there was somewhere we could post info about the campground... she wasn't very cooperative... said nope, maybe at the visitor center :mad:

anyone still planning to ride their MTBs on Sunday after this ride?


I'm working on it... but of course, I'll only be doing the baby route (whatever that is)

never rode up there so we'll need a tour guide for both the Roadie and the MTBs

Here is a pdf map of the park
JTNP Map (http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/upload/jotrmap.pdf)

These campgrounds do not have showers. I'm taking an alcohol bath. :D
I think I'm going to skip the tent and just sleep on a cot.


correct... NO showers... NO water... you must bring your own drinking and sponge bath water. there is water available to be put into containers at the visitor's center in 29 and at the entrace gate in JT...

Just listen for the loud music that will be assaulting the ears of all the campers... :eek:

actually, I'll like to post a sign at the rangers office.... Cali? is that feasible?

you will be able to post a sign at the bulletin board at the campground and you can also put one at the visitor's centers in 29... there is a bulletin board with clips... however they are not responsible for them... so if they blow off or someone takes them off :( but the board is often used for that!

Well you won't be alone!!!:o

anyone who chooses not to or can't make it to key's view will just be picked up on the way back down by the "out and back" people....

I agree! I think Caligurl said it is 58 miles and 4,800 feet of climbing. That is completely doable! Besides, it's for fun!!!!! I can't wait as I suspect it will be beautiful up there. :)

it's about 4000ish feet... but the largest portion of that is in the out... so about 4000ish feet in about 26 miles...

+1 on the phone, great photos!

I'll try for White Tank first, then go for Jumbo Rocks...

actually.... all the campground "look" the same... rocks... sand... joshua trees.... what is different is what you do from them.... white tank has the tank trail... jumbo rocks has the rocks to climb around (no ropes needed) and hidden valley (the most popular campground) has key's ranch, the barker dam trail and is close to a lot of the large rock climbing (ropes needed)...

you can't go wrong with any of them...

however at one time extort and i had "talked" about him staying at jumbo rocks so it could be used as a "water stop".... if you all chose to use another campground... just remember... there is no water in the park and you will have to make sure you bring enough on the bike get in and back out....

regardless.... jumbo will be at least a potty stop for those heading on up to key's view...

anyone still planning to ride their MTBs on Sunday after this ride?


jsigone... you would be UBER bored with the one route i know of in the park... you cannot go off the fireroads within the park.... there is one area that is a LOT of softsand that may offer you a challenge :) but the only route i've been on within the park... although beautiful... is not challenging in any way shape or form!

never rode up there so we'll need a tour guide for both the Roadie

that's what hubby will be doing, i thought?

that's what hubby will be doing, i thought?


Cali..
where are we starting the ride from?

but the only route i've been on within the park... although beautiful... is not challenging in any way shape or form!


Hey, that sounds like my route! ;) Cali, I am SO jealous that you get to ride around in that park... it is breathtaking!

t~