Southern California - Angeles Crest Ride

I had Monday off so I decided to ride Angeles Crest. I've never ridden up there before the searching through all the threads about the road, I figured I should be able to do it. Since I had the whole day off, I will try to make it a century, it would be my third century, the first two were pretty flat (Palm Springs and LA River Ride). I heard that water would be important so I packed two 20 oz bottles with gatorade and 100 oz of water in my camelbak.

Weather was great! It wasn't too hot (I started at 7 AM) in the beginning and by the time it was noon, I was high enough that when I was descending, I was a bit chilled. By mile 65, I ran out of water. :cry: Thankfully I was on my way back. I looked up the Planet Ultra's Century and I think I rode most of it, with the exception of riding up to Mt Wilson.

Here's the Route I took. Started from my house and rode down to Foothill and Angeles Crest Hwy. From there went up to Angeles Forest Hwy and took a left. Turn right on Upper Big Tujunga, back to Angeles Crest Hwy to make a left. Rode all the way up to the Jarvi Memorial.

The only way to start off the ride:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1279-AC_Century-.jpg

Some scenic views:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1283-AC_Century-.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1286-AC_Century-.jpg

My very First tunnel! I think this is on Angeles Forest Hwy. You don't realize it but when you're riding uphill, you go very slowly through the tunnel. If a distracted driver came rushing upon you... not good. Thankfully, the day was quiet and not very many drivers. I think I saw more forest service vehicles than cars.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1294-AC_Century-.jpg

Hidden Springs Cafe to pick up supplies if needed. I had only drank half a bottle so I didn't stop:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1296-AC_Century-.jpg

The smooth roads of Upper Big Tujunga:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1298-AC_Century-.jpg

After turning left on Angeles Crest Hwy, I was looking for interesting things to photograph. I remember seeing the 5000 ft elevation sign but didn't stop. I did stop for the 6000 ft sign. Notice the bullet holes.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1304-AC_Century-.jpg

Getting close to the Jarvi memorial. I think this is a picture of Hwy 39?

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1309-AC_Century-.jpg

Second Tunnel! This one is broken into two parts:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1312-AC_Century-.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1314-AC_Century-.jpg

From the other side:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1317-AC_Century-.jpg

At the Jarvi Memorial:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1319-AC_Century-.jpg

Great Views:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1320-AC_Century-.jpg

Proof that I made it up there:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1323-AC_Century-.jpg

I took this shot while riding down... I liked the angle:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/IMG_1289-AC_Century-.jpg

Here's a video of riding through that second tunnel:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/th_ACCentury0005.jpg (http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/?action=view&current=ACCentury0005.flv)

Here's the elevation chart:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/Road7-14-2008Elevation-Distance.jpg

The route:

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj249/ClanLee/AC%20Century%202008-07-14/Road7-14-2008.jpg

Riding down Hwy 2... it's not all downhill... there are a few climbs to deal with... and when you don't have any water... it's really hard! When I finally made it down, I was able to stop somewhere and buy some gatorade... It only took me 8 hours for this ride... not bad for a first time I think! :D

And you didn't invite me. I'm actually thinking of doing a similar route on Friday. Not quite as far, though. I'd either just come back down from Upper Big T or go up to Newcombs.

Glad you liked it!!!

I think if I didn't think of doing this ride at 11:30 PM, the night before, I would have put the word out. :p

Next time I torture myself, I'll be sure to invite everyone. :D

Really, really nice! Thanks for posting this!

I think if I didn't think of doing this ride at 11:30 PM, the night before, I would have put the word out. :p

Next time I torture myself, I'll be sure to invite everyone. :D
Just in case you have Thursday off, I'll be going up that similar route then if you (or anyone) wants to join. 7:30 departure.

You passed Newcomb Ranch Cafe, you can get water there, and food if they're open. You can also get water at Red Box Road, the turn off to Mt. Wilson. There is also a faucet at Clear Creek, that little Ranger Station at the intersection of AC and AF.
Good ride! Consider descending Hwy 39 some time, but take someone with you.

Just in case you have Thursday off, I'll be going up that similar route then if you (or anyone) wants to join. 7:30 departure.

Thanks to my new schedule of working 4x10 every other week, I might be free two weeks... but not sure if I'll be recovered by then! :lol:


You passed Newcomb Ranch Cafe, you can get water there, and food if they're open. You can also get water at Red Box Road, the turn off to Mt. Wilson. There is also a faucet at Clear Creek, that little Ranger Station at the intersection of AC and AF.
Good ride! Consider descending Hwy 39 some time, but take someone with you.

When I passed Newcomb Ranch Cafe, my bottles were empty but I thought I had enough in my camelbak and decided to push on. I didn't know about the other two places. I'll keep that in mind the next time I try it. Hwy 39 looked like it would be fun to descend. I'll try to schedule that sometime in the future. Thanks for the tips.

Thanks to my new schedule of working 4x10 every other week, I might be free two weeks... but not sure if I'll be recovered by then! :lol:



When I passed Newcomb Ranch Cafe, my bottles were empty but I thought I had enough in my camelbak and decided to push on. I didn't know about the other two places. I'll keep that in mind the next time I try it. Hwy 39 looked like it would be fun to descend. I'll try to schedule that sometime in the future. Thanks for the tips.

39 is fun, but the top is a little rough. After the second gate, the surface is good all the way back to Encanto, or where ever you're going. There's also a third gate once you come down the main part of the drop. There's a 1 mile climb near the bottom. I have a pic, I'll go look for it.

Found this. Start/finish at Encanto.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/LAWM-T11.png

Nice!

What nice photos! Thanks for posting them.

Art

That's one of the rides I want to do, riding up to 7000 feet, staying entirely on ACH, and turning around where you did.

The pictures are great. Looks like you were very alone up there. Did you see any other riders going your way or back down?

About the video - "come to the light..."

Great photos and video! We have a ride up Angeles Crest starting at Red Box this Sat. with a 7:30 AM start. We're going at least to Newcomb's, probably farther . . . so as far as you want, really.

Vertical Bob will be there too, and no one knows the AC like Vert. Bob!

Rick / OCRR

Clan Lee, here is a pic of Hwy 39 taken by scvroadie.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/IMG_000139.jpg

Nice pictures. Thanks for the ride report. Riding around here doesn't get much better than Angeles Crest.

Nice pictures, and nice bike as well!

Thanks everyone. I didn't realize how nice it was to ride up Angeles Crest until now. Sure it's a bit tough with all the climbing but the views are spectacular.

Clan Lee, here is a pic of Hwy 39 taken by scvroadie.
Hwy 39

That picture looks like something from the Road Runner cartoon series. Awesome.
I saw the mapquest overview of that route - wow, talk about hairpins!
Hors category technical descent!

That's a great ride. I did it with Planet Ultra last year. Traffic would be light near the tunnels since the road is closed just down the hill past Jarvis memorial. The road continues beyond but it has been closed for years.

Those great pics make me want to go, but I'm still tooling around local hills for now on much shorter rides. Maybe next year I'll be able to ride that. How's the cell phone coverage?

Those great pics make me want to go, but I'm still tooling around local hills for now on much shorter rides. Maybe next year I'll be able to ride that. How's the cell phone coverage?

I have Verizon and I had ZERO coverage. In fact, I was yelled at because I didn't call to check in. But that is the price you pay for serenity. :lol:

I have Verizon and I had ZERO coverage. In fact, I was yelled at because I didn't call to check in. But that is the price you pay for serenity. :lol:
My wife tells me to check in and out with the ranger station if I go up there alone, and to leave my intended route and ETA on the coffee table.

Turn your phone off when you start heading up the mountain. It drains batteries on phones that are constantly searching for service. I found that out the hard way and wasn't able to call my wife when I got back down the mountain to tell her I'd be late.

I rode up to Newcomb's on Sunday. Excellent day for riding. Temps were kept low by the cloud cover. Only downer was the motorcycle meets car a half mile up from the bottom gate. Angeles Crest is a great place to ride. Especially since you can measure and pour as much or little as you like. When I worked at night, I could usually get a ride to Clear Creek before I had to go to work. I was just looking at my journal from the second and third week of last July and I had five consecutive midweek rides to Clear Creek. Them's was the days.

That's a great ride. I did it with Planet Ultra last year. Traffic would be light near the tunnels since the road is closed just down the hill past Jarvis memorial. The road continues beyond but it has been closed for years.

They are working on it and it is supposed to reopen the end of this year. I hope not, because it's sure nice to ride through there without any motor traffic.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/bigwash.jpg

Those are gorgeous photos. It's a ride that I always dream of doing, but can't do by myself as a female. One day I hope to go with a group that's patient with first timers.:)

Those are gorgeous photos. It's a ride that I always dream of doing, but can't do by myself as a female. One day I hope to go with a group that's patient with first timers.:)

Sometimes we have 5 or 6 women on the rides up there and we don't drop anyone. If you like to climb, you should come with us sometime.
http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u308/bigjohn53/DSCF0896chicks.jpg

great pics!!!

Those are gorgeous photos. It's a ride that I always dream of doing, but can't do by myself as a female. One day I hope to go with a group that's patient with first timers.:)
Big John and Vertical Bob are great people to ride with. They make no qualms about waiting at the crest of each climb and encouraging everyone. Very respectful and pleasant people. No wonder all the ladies like riding with them!

[QUOTE=big john;7075885]Sometimes we have 5 or 6 women on the rides up there and we don't drop anyone. If you like to climb, you should come with us sometime.

Please tell me when you guys ride up there again. I do la tuna, mt. hollywood, nichols and canyons in la canada. When I get to the entrance of angeles crest, I just look at it and wish to go up.:( I would love to go with a group. As I mentioned before, I like to climb, I'm just not that fast.

We are going this Saturday, but it is an OCRR ride, and I don't know who will be there or where they plan on going. I would like to do 80 miles,(the usual). We are starting at Red Box at 7:30.

[QUOTE=big john;7075885]Sometimes we have 5 or 6 women on the rides up there and we don't drop anyone. If you like to climb, you should come with us sometime.

Please tell me when you guys ride up there again. I do la tuna, mt. hollywood, nichols and canyons in la canada. When I get to the entrance of angeles crest, I just look at it and wish to go up.:( I would love to go with a group. As I mentioned before, I like to climb, I'm just not that fast.We are riding up there this Saturday. Leaving from Red Box at 7:30. Red Box is 15 miles up AC from Foothill, it takes about 30 minutes to drive up there from the bottom. Sometimes we carpool from Glenola Park 1/2 mile ap AC in La Canada. Join us. It's out and back so you can do as much as you like

[QUOTE=grrlyrida;7076568]We are riding up there this Saturday. Leaving from Red Box at 7:30. Red Box is 15 miles up AC from Foothill, it takes about 30 minutes to drive up there from the bottom. Sometimes we carpool from Glenola Park 1/2 mile ap AC in La Canada. Join us. It's out and back so you can do as much as you like

How often do you guys ride up there? I can't make (most) Saturday rides due to family responsibilities but once in awhile, I'm able to get away.

[QUOTE=vertical bob;7077543]

How often do you guys ride up there? I can't make (most) Saturday rides due to family responsibilities but once in awhile, I'm able to get away.

Quite often in the summer. There really is no better riding when it's hot in the valley.

I have read some ways to go for this ride, but I was wondering what the best route is to go. 80-120 miles? I live in Hollywood and want to drive out to a good spot out there and get some good climbing in. Is there any roads I should be wary of? conditions of the roads? Thanks.

I have read some ways to go for this ride, but I was wondering what the best route is to go. 80-120 miles? I live in Hollywood and want to drive out to a good spot out there and get some good climbing in. Is there any roads I should be wary of? conditions of the roads? Thanks.We are doing about 80 miles from Red Box. It's 120 RT from Foothill to Wrightwood and back and 12k elevation gain.

I haven't been online since the last time I posted. My computer is in the shop and I'm using my sister's over her house. I ended up doing my usual Mt. Hollywood route. I'm sorry I missed the ride.:( Are you guys going next week? I can definitely make that one. Let me know and I'll meet you guys there.

I don't know what's up next week, but I'll let you know when we go up there again. It was nice today, Phil and I did 80 and Bob and Eric did about 60. Oh, Rick came late and did 80 by himself. Kinda hot at the end, though.

Phewww! 80 miles. You guys are hardcore. Is that 40 up and 40 down? If it is, that's not as bad. Do you take pictures when you go up there? Please let me know next time and I'll make it.

We're going again this Saturday, 7/26, starting at Red Box at 8:00.

Phewww! 80 miles. You guys are hardcore. Is that 40 up and 40 down? If it is, that's not as bad. Do you take pictures when you go up there? Please let me know next time and I'll make it. Yup 40 up 40 down. There will be a nice mix of men and women this time. Why don't you join us.

Yup 40 up 40 down. There will be a nice mix of men and women this time. Why don't you join us.

You're making it sound like it's uphill for 40, then downhill back. Ther is plenty of climbing both ways.:)

I'm interested in possibly joining your group if you'll have me. My problem is getting up and out of my house in West L.A. early enough to make it to Red Box by 8AM :twitchy: .

In case I can make it, is it obvious where to park up there ? ( If I don't make it - have a good ride ).

I'm interested in possibly joining your group if you'll have me. My problem is getting up and out of my house in West L.A. early enough to make it to Red Box by 8AM :twitchy: .

In case I can make it, is it obvious where to park up there ? ( If I don't make it - have a good ride ).

You're welcome to join us. The parking lot is easy to find, it's 14 miles from the 210, it's the turn off to Mount Wilson and Skyline Park. You're supposed to have a parking pass, they're $5. A friend drove from Santa Monica and said it wasn't a problem. She took the 405-101-134-2-210-AC exit.

You're making it sound like it's uphill for 40, then downhill back. Ther is plenty of climbing both ways.:)

Is there anywhere that has 80 miles of constant climbing?

Is there anywhere that has 80 miles of constant climbing?

You like pain? No 80 mile climbs that I know of. What are you doing tomorrow? Keith and Stan are starting at the bottom.

You're welcome to join us. The parking lot is easy to find, it's 14 miles from the 210, it's the turn off to Mount Wilson and Skyline Park. You're supposed to have a parking pass, they're $5. A friend drove from Santa Monica and said it wasn't a problem. She took the 405-101-134-2-210-AC exit.

Thanks John. And thanks for reminding me that you need a pass to park inside the forest area.

I have plans I can't break. I sure wish I could join you guys.

i've never tried that route. i'll give it a shot. thanks. i always just get on the angeles crest hwy and stay on it until i hit that cloud burst summit or i die, whichever comes first. i'll try yours next time