Originally Posted by
TrojanHorse
I haven't actually ridden it yet. Too chicken.
I have actually ridden it, several times (a dozen or more) and there's no need for chicken-(ness). From Encanto to Crystal Lake road is 23 mi. of pretty much constant climbing (3 micro-descents). Then 2 mi. to Crystal Lake Cafe where food and drinks are available.
Then you have 6 miles of the closed part of Hwy 39 (new signs indicate it's
very closed now!) to get to CA Hwy 2 (Angeles Crest). When you get to Hwy 2, turn right and it's 5 mi. to Dawson Saddle (7,901 feet of elevation). Overall a vey fun climb!
Yes, the Mt. Baldy Ski-Lift climb is more difficult but from Baldy Lodge it's only 4.6 mi. with 2,000 ft. of climbing. So . . . quite do-able but certainly not easy. I did it last Sat. in fact; all kinds of (climbing) fun!
Onyx is also a great climb (and part of Breathless Agony). You can start from the Ranger station on Hwy 38 and just keep going, up Damnation Alley, around the Forest Falls U-Turn, then up to Angleus Oaks (food and drinks available), then 20 miles (really 19.7) to Onyx Summit at 8,443 feet of elevation.
And then there's Mt. Palomar. It would be a bit of a drive to the start, and you will have lots of motorcycles going up and down, but . . . it is a beautiful climb (9 miles @ 9% on the severe climb bit) with a lovely market/cafe at the summit for food and drinks.
Rick / OCRR