Southern California - nov 11 - joshua tree national park ride

meeting at luckie park (corner of utah trail and two mile road) ROLL time is 9:00 a.m. (meet, greet and prepare about 8:30)

here is a googlemap (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=74362+Joe+Davis+Dr+29+palms,CA+92277&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=34.147355,-116.038241&spn=0.004564,0.010729&t=h&om=1) of it.... the address is the closest he could find to map it.... but you can see the park/parking area in the picture.... park in the parking area (luckie avenue) between the baseball fields and park.... (so to the right of that address shown) there are crummy bathrooms in the middle of the park and on the opposite side closer down near the "two mile road" entrance if they are open...

instructions to luckie park for those driving in that morning: take the hwy 62 exit (29 palms/yucca valley). follow the road all the way through morongo valley, yucca valley and through 29 palms.... when you get to utah trail (flashing yellow light), make a left.... you will see the park on the left.... go to 2 mile road (stop sign), turn left, take the next left ("road) between the park and the baseball fields... park! voila!

those coming out of the national park: just continue on down utah trail.... cross the highway, you will see the park, at the stop sign turn left, take the next left and park between the park and baseball fields.

joshua tree weather (http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/local/USCA0528?from=search_city) (keep in mind this is jt, the town... not jt the park... which is a higher elevation so the temps will be slightly cooler...

JTNP link (http://www.nps.gov/jotr)

camping (http://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/camping.htm)

lodging (http://www.thesunrunner.com/Lodging/lodging.html)
country inn (http://www.countryinn29palms.com/)
holiday inn express (www.hiexpress.com/twentynineca)
motel 6
best western


Post Ride Threads:

the night before (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=244538)
eat your hearts out (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=244483)
getting down and dirty (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=244762)

It's on my (mental) calendar. :)

and BOTH you you will be there... RIGHT?

It's already on my calendar. :)

me, me, me, me, me!

I'll be there!

Miles, etc?

Mrs. Pico and I are in.

Ok, I will tenativly say I am in pending details of distance, etc... not ready for a century right now... I would like to bring the fixie out though!

save the date.... time and details to be announced!

we just want to make sure all our BF friends are there!!!!!!! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/160.gif

attendees:
jschen
the fixer
ptbryant
brandy
tprevost
extort


This is a pretty far drive (at least from burbank)? Is it easier to spend the night and not have to rush down to ride? Where would be a good place to stay?
h

We could try to set up a few carpool groups to save on driving effort.

I'm in.

I'll be there!!!!

I can carpool at least one person from the IE if you want to go, maybe 2 if I can get another bike holder on top of my car.

Mandy

I'm very tempted-- I'll have to figure out the logistics though...

I haven't been out there in a while and it will be nice then.

Are there fancy hotels nearby?

Just remember 11/11...

veterans day!

I'm thinking about camping there... Anyone else wants to?

there are several good campgrounds..... no luxury accomodations in town! lol! a few chain motels!

we were also talking... no good food joints for post ride meals... there's carl's jr..... mcD's.... and a couple mexican restaurants..... oh and denny's! but no in-n-outs, etc!

I'm thinking about camping there... Anyone else wants to?

What's the weather like there in November, Cali?

What's the weather like there in November, Cali?

it can vary..... last year was a nice month with pleasant weather.... the year before... COLD and SNOW! yes.... we had snow! lol! that's one of the reasons it's too hard to pin down a start time this early in the game!

it won't be an early start (as in 6, 7 or 8) most likely... so no one will have to get up too early to get here.....

it can vary..... last year was a nice month with pleasant weather.... the year before... COLD and SNOW! yes.... we had snow! lol! that's one of the reasons it's too hard to pin down a start time this early in the game!

it won't be an early start (as in 6, 7 or 8) most likely... so no one will have to get up too early to get here.....


Snowtires?? lol

Are there fancy hotels nearby?

Eh, nuts...wish my parent's hadn't sold the family condo in P.S.!!

Sheldon

Three years ago I camped on two separate occassions in JTNP during the month of November.....one weekend night in White Tank campground and two weeks later in Jumbo Rocks. Night time temps were mild and very comfortable. On both occassions I toured throught the park on my tour bike loaded with camping equipment.

JTree, eh?

Put me tenative on this one. I'll have to convince my wife about it. I'd love to ride that area, can't beat the scenery. Some of the main roads around Yucca are nuts, I was in a police unit going 100ish and people were passing us.

i don't know what you are talking about... there are NO roads around yucca valley where they drive anywhere NEAR 100 mph!???????????????????? down on the 10 freeway there are idiots that drive that fast.... but nope.... not near us nor in yucca....

plus we'll be in the park.... unless we opt to use the hwy to make it a loop vs an out and back.....

save the date.... time and details to be announced!

here's the "information gathering (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=222220)" thread and a description of the ride:



we just want to make sure all our BF friends are there!!!!!!! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/160.gif

attendees:
jschen
the fixer
ptbryant
brandy
tprevost
extort
pico
mrs pico
my58vw
chimivee
scvroadie

This sounds kinda interesting, where is this place in relations to LA? How far a drive from San Jose?

Sean

from san jose? uhm..... errrrrrr i think like maybe 8 hours????????? not sure! we drove to san carlos twice.... (but that was 10 years ago!) and i THINK I remember it taking about 8 hours.... (we drove up to visit.... then again, to pick up our new puppy! lol!)

Ouch, thats a long drive, and considering Tahoe is only like 4 hours. Well you get my drift. Ill have to make it some time when I am doing a multi day trip for something.

Sean

Wish I could do Saturday rides in the Fall, especially JTree, which is beautiful. But I coach my son's soccer team and we have a game every Sat. I hope for more Sunday rides!

i'm the opposite... i prefer my "drive to" rides to be on saturday.... then on sunday i ride close to home and relax the rest of the day before heading back to work on monday!

i'm the opposite... i prefer my "drive to" rides to be on saturday.... then on sunday i ride close to home and relax the rest of the day before heading back to work on monday!
Oh, sure, I prefer it, but the three little mimi-me's running around simply don't allow:D

Oh, sure, I prefer it, but the three little mimi-me's running around simply don't allow:D


http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/82.gif

Just remember 11/11...

It is the Marine Corps Birthday :)

It is the Marine Corps Birthday :)

uhm..... wrong again.... that would be november 10th! :)

I am 99% sure that I can make this ride. I've been in Joshua Tree just once in my 27 years in California so I guess that I'm due for another visit. :) Put me on the list. I may bring a clubmate or two.

Of course I am going to have to miss the Santiago Canyon TT to do this ride so I may get some sh** from my TT buddy. ;)

uhm..... wrong again.... that would be november 10th! :)

Ack, you're right, I should have known that.

i added the JTNP website link, a couple of motels and the camping in the park link to the 1st post!

if anyone is camping.... let us know which campground you are going to use... and depending on which one you stay at.... maybe we can bring a cooler with water and drop it off for refills! just a thought!

if anyone is camping.... let us know which campground you are going to use...
Do you know where the ride will start? Or is that yet to be determined?

Do you know where the ride will start? Or is that yet to be determined?

at luckie park... it's straight down utah trail... about .5 mile from the visitor's center...

if anyone is camping.... let us know which campground you are going to use...

Great.....if I do decide to camp, I'm bringing cheap wine, beer, and firewood.

As far as campgrounds go I think whatever unoccupied site you can grab at any campground especially on a Friday......then once settled we can try to call someone on the cell to tell them exactly where we are.....or can we actually reserve a site now? Last time I camped there camping was free...first come first served.

at luckie park... it's straight down utah trail... about .5 mile from the visitor's center...
Ah, near the North Entrance. Thanks!

I understand that there are some proposed MTB trails in the park that are yet to be approved. Until then, MTB must stay on the backcountry roads. So how is the MTBing on these roads? Can you recommend any rides?

or can we actually reserve a site?

It looks like reservations are available for some campgrounds:

"Reservations may be made five months in advance for sites at Black Rock, Indian Cove, and all group sites by calling 1-800-365-2267 or online. (Except for group sites, reservations are not available in June, July, and August, but campsites are plentiful in summer.)

Other campgrounds are first-come, first-served and fill quickly on weekends and during spring break. The park also offers backcountry camping."

Great.....if I do decide to camp, I'm bringing cheap wine, beer, and firewood.

As far as campgrounds go I think whatever unoccupied site you can grab at any campground especially on a Friday......then once settled we can try to call someone on the cell to tell them exactly where we are.....or can we actually reserve a site now? Last time I camped there camping was free...first come first served.

hmmmmmm not sure about the reserving..... we can ask!

uhm.... no calling from most areas in the park (well... at least not with cingular or onstar!)

normally i'd say that time of year there wouldn't be too much problem.... but it is a so-called holiday weekend!

Ah, near the North Entrance. Thanks!

I understand that there are some proposed MTB trails in the park that are yet to be approved. Until then, MTB must stay on the backcountry roads. So how is the MTBing on these roads? Can you recommend any rides?


so far the only place(s) i've ridden mountain bikes in the park is a dirt road going from barker dam.... goes up to the main road.. then up the main road a bit to the geology trail. we stop after a bit on that road cuz it gets sandy and i'm a wuss and several of the others are also wusses! lol! but you can go further in....

then we came back on a different road that is straight across the road from the geology trail... but ends up back at barker dam

there is a trail marked for bikes that starts on the road that goes to cholla gardens... and heads down toward 29 palms... but i've not ridden it cuz when i asked gloria (lady at the gate) about it... she said its very soft sand (ICK!)

It looks like reservations are available for some campgrounds:

"Reservations may be made five months in advance for sites at Black Rock, Indian Cove, and all group sites by calling 1-800-365-2267 or online. (Except for group sites, reservations are not available in June, July, and August, but campsites are plentiful in summer.)

Other campgrounds are first-come, first-served and fill quickly on weekends and during spring break. The park also offers backcountry camping."

there ya go! james found the answer! i think black rock is actually in indian cove?????????? trying to remember... which is in another section of the park (indian cove is pretty, too!) it has a separate entrance.... not on the road "loop" within the park (does that make sense?)

This sounds kinda interesting, where is this place in relations to LA? How far a drive from San Jose?

Sean


probably about 9-10 hours from SJ - depending on traffic and route

Hmm, 480 miles from San Jose. In the dead of night, 7 hours (including stops) should be very doable.

It looks to be about 170-180 miles for me. So 340-360 miles of driving for the day if I go up the day of. I don't mind the driving, but carpooling would save some gas money. I wonder if DaveSANYYZ will decide to go. Or maybe Tracy will carpool? She lives along the way.

there is also this information so Jason is correct in looking for carpool partners.

Campsites are limited to six people, three tents, and two cars. Group sites accommodate 10 to 60 people. Each campsite has a picnic table and fire grate. Water and flush toilets are available in Black Rock and Cottonwood campgrounds. Showers are not available.

you's all can stop at the outlet mall in cabazon for some shopping on the way home! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/227.gif