Northern California - Thursday evening ride - Montebello

chrisoco and I are planning to climb Montebello this upcoming Thursday (June 11). I plan to go up the dirt part all the way to the real summit just to take in the view before doubling back and hitting Redwood Gulch on my way home. Chris lives to the north and may continue all the way on the dirt part toward Page Mill.

We'll meet at Foothill and Homestead at 6:30pm. All are welcome to join us.

Can't make it this week as we'll be tandeming. Have a great climb. Last week I saw 4 deer by the school and three on mt eden. one big buck just wandered out into the road by the archery range munching on some hay. It's just too freakin' awesome living here sometimes.

Arrrgh, just pulling into SFO around that time. Perhaps next week?

Bump in case anyone missed it.

I might make it, but will probably just go up to the gate, then head back down (if I do).

I might make it, but will probably just go up to the gate, then head back down (if I do).

Hope to see you.

count me in as a "maybe", will know later this afternoon.

I know I'm late, but this sounded interesting - never tried Montebello. I couldn't make it yesterday, but could be interested if you guys do it again.

The hill is still there ... but it is a long haul for you. Let me know when you can make it down here ...

http://spingineer.smugmug.com/gallery/7730402_bNjBq#499664296_2FM4V

Nice dusk ride! I miss Monte.

Has anyone found out about Tamara?

It was ridiculously windy and cold up there last night. I was cold *climbing* the hill and knew the whole way up that descending would be miserable. At the top I went past the gate on the dirt road up to the Black Mtn summit for "the view". Well I saw lots of fog and clouds but not a lot else.

The descent was pretty much how I thought it was going to be :rolleyes:

I decided to skip Redwood Gulch on the way home and just do Mt. Eden and Pierce instead. I kind of blew my legs out on the last mile up Montebello and didn't have much left. But I got a new pr on Montebello - 39 minutes :)

It was ridiculously windy and cold up there last night. I was cold *climbing* the hill and knew the whole way up that descending would be miserable. At the top I went past the gate on the dirt road up to the Black Mtn summit for "the view". Well I saw lots of fog and clouds but not a lot else.

The descent was pretty much how I thought it was going to be :rolleyes:

I decided to skip Redwood Gulch on the way home and just do Mt. Eden and Pierce instead. I kind of blew my legs out on the last mile up Montebello and didn't have much left. But I got a new pr on Montebello - 39 minutes :)

This is unfathomable. How is my PR on Montebello better than yours? Have you ever tried it flat-out? I'm sure you could do 35.

Well I was probably about a minute back of Ben (maybe more, he really took off near the top) Only my second time up. But we were chatting through the middle section and hardly racing. Maybe Ben counted the time on the dirt road to the real peak?

I ended up, I think, taking a wrong turn on the trails. My plan was to continue straight thru the trails to Page Mill Rd while Ben turned back to Monte Bello proper. I descended for what seemed like a couple of miles then had to climb out again. It was kind of hairy on the road bike, I definitely almost lost it at one point, with the grooves in the trail and rocks conspiring to send me astray. The first signs I saw were for Stevens Canyon Rd (3.5 mi) and Monte Bello (1.3). But I wanted neither so that was not good. Then I saw the signs again. I would've been getting very nervous if not for the heavy lighting I had with me. Finally, I saw a sign for Skyline and that was a relief. But then there was a sign for Page Mill Rd. I think I just took a detour to the west off the main fire road and then came back to it.

All in all, I was on the trails for about 5 to 6 miles (about 1.5 with Ben). I've missed mountain biking but this was not quite the way I planned to get back to it.

Thanks for planning the ride and helping me get out for a nice ride. I got in 46 miles total and had a good time.

It was ridiculously windy and cold up there last night. I was cold *climbing* the hill and knew the whole way up that descending would be miserable. At the top I went past the gate on the dirt road up to the Black Mtn summit for "the view". Well I saw lots of fog and clouds but not a lot else.

The descent was pretty much how I thought it was going to be :rolleyes:

I decided to skip Redwood Gulch on the way home and just do Mt. Eden and Pierce instead. I kind of blew my legs out on the last mile up Montebello and didn't have much left. But I got a new pr on Montebello - 39 minutes :)

Did one of you happen to be wearing a big backpack? I went halfway up last night to try out my new handlebars on the descent, and I saw a couple guys on the way up. Maybe it was you guys!

It was already uncomfortably cold on my way down, and I only went halfway up. If I go up that late again, I'm bringing a jacket and full finger gloves.

None of us had a backpack but I did see a guy wearing one. He passed us on Stevens Canyon before we even got to Montebello. I think he had a yellow jersey. There were more bikes on the road last night than any time I've been up it.

I think in the future I'll check the weather at King's Mountain (http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/WXDailyHistory.asp?ID=KCAWOODS5) before I head up. This is up at 2100' and probably a good proxy for what the top of Montebello is like. The high there yesterday was 54 and at 8pm when we were at the top it was 49!

Yeah, it was cold up there. I could even see the clouds moving, really fast. Only stayed at the top long enough to put my jacket on. I probably should have put my knee warmers on (they were in my back pocket). I figured, I can go down without putting them on ... 1 mile later, I wished I did, but didn't want to stop.