vertical bob

Anyone want to climb up Hwy 39, from Encanto Park in Duarte, to Crystal Lake and past maybe to Dawson Saddle? Last time I did it ,a month ago, it was hot but I made it to Dawson taking 4 bottles and had plenty left. I like to hit the Cafe on the East Fork on the way back then do Little GMR. If you do all of that it's almost 10,000ft ,but there are many places to turn back[every 10 ft] It's 25 miles up to Crystal Lake, 30+ to A.C. and another 6 to Dawson Saddle on mostly closed roads. The strong guys could go on to Wrightwood but not this guy.This is a very hard ride so be prepared. I would like to leave early like 7am or earlier. It would be a good training ride for something, or just another leg on a Vertical Century.

LCI_Brian

Still no water available at Crystal Lake?

vertical bob

Nope, no water anywhere up there. BYOB

redal

I've resorted to the "waterfall" about 3 miles south of the campground turnoff, the last two times I have been up there. Not advised but it has gotten me home.

TdF

The road to AC (5 miles up) is still litterd with rocks/gravel/potholes. I will not risk having several flats plus the rangers are giving citations to cyclist that crosses the closed gate up Hwy39. No, thanks...

merider1

Well, VB, not to be a downer, but it is forecasted to be 100 degrees or above on Sat. That hill, with no shade will be relentless.

merider1

Hey, Francis.

redal

The citation rumor has existed for years. They were doing it on GMR when that road was closed also. I guess you just have to run into the right(wrong) ranger at the right (wrong) time. It's also easier to negotiate the rocks/gravel/potholes going up to AC rather than coming down. I'm not saying I'll be up there, I've gone up that climb enough for this year.

valleygirl

Yes a rumor , I don't know of anybody who actually has received a citation, including his Verticalness , Bob that is.

merider1

His Verticalness has never received a citation - that I can guarantee. I've been up it with no problem and I've tried it with a ranger or two stopping me. It's hit or miss. I still think the heat and no shade this weekend is the biggest deterrent. Otherwise, it is a good kick-in-the-pants climb for sure.

redal

I actually know someone who received a citation on GMR, but I've had a ranger open the gate for me. It just depends on who you run into and what kind of mood they're in. It would suck to get the ticket, but I haven't let it stop me from going up there. I ride GMR at least twice a week and was riding Crystal Lake about 2-3 times a month, although, I probably won't go up Crystal Lake for a few months now.

vertical bob

I have printed a page that I carry with me from the www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles web site about road conditions. It lists the closed roads , including hwy 39 , GMR, and A.C. Above that list on the same page there is this paragraph."With the exception of Littlerock, most forest roads that are closed to velicle traffic are open to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian use, but the users must be aware of possible administrative traffic". As far as the upper section , we went down there on the Wheelmen ride in June and there were many rocks. Two weeks later I went there and most of the rocks were gone so they do clean that road once in a while. I just take it real slow and look out for Mountain Sheep

merider1

And the HEAT? You forgot the part about that.

vertical bob

I changed the anf web site see the previous post. I find that the better shape that I'm in, the less the heat bothers me. Gotta stay hydrated. Hell its hot everywhere, gotta ride somewhere

redal

That's cool. I'm going to have to find that and carry it with me as well. Like I said, I haven't had any problems, but sometimes I wonder when it will happen. I'm wondering if they were ticketing on GMR when it was closed because the big electric overhead sign when you came up from the south read "Closed to vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle and equine traffic."

redal

For a couple of months you deal with it or ride elsewhere.

vertical bob

They were ticketing on GMR when they were working on it. Ditto with 39, when they were working on the washouts they didn't want anyone up there. I say it's because Cal-trans didn't want to get caught sleeping.

redal

Yeah, I figured I was usually safe if I was up there after 4:00 PM, but there were somedays where I didn't have to work or I was "sick" and I just took my chances. Then they started working on Saturdays so I was just rolling the dice. I'm up there at least two Saturdays a month in the late winter/early spring.

Entropy906

You seem overly fixated on elevated temperatures.

merider1

Well, actually, I do ride in the heat and don't like it. But with respect to Crystal Lake, there is no shade whatsoever for the hardest most extended portion of the climb. AND, there is no water once you get to the top (and being in good shape does not mean you can't get overheated). And, I HAVE climbed it in 90+ degrees with no breeze (Bob remembers that ride I'm sure, as I wanted to kill him). So, yes, I AM going to ride elsewhere.

I'm merely suggesting to my friend that if he wanted to save this ride for a cooler month, he's welcome to come join me.

redal

You're preaching to the choir. I know every inch of that climb. I've climbed it in 90+ degree temps. and below 40 temps in the rain (yeah with snow flurrries at the top). I was replying because your friend seemed pretty set on doing it this week and it seemed like he knew it was going to be HOTand you kept talking about the heat. Like you replied, you will be riding elsewhere.

merider1

What is up your craw? My God, this forum is getting brutish. My reply wasn't aimed at you, and I'll respond on here to Bob as I please. Ride the damn thing and enjoy the heat for all I care.

redal

Oh nothing is up my crawl (?). You don't have to ride it in the heat and you can respond to Bob in anyway you like, I was just informing you that many people ride in the heat or the cold and some actually enjoy it. You made points about the Crystal Lake climb that I and many others are fully aware of and I responded. I never took it to be that you were aiming your response at me.

merider1

I must have misread your post and now that you wrote the above, I realize I misunderstood. My apologies, Redal. Truthfully, I was teasing Bob (with my original posts about heat) as he has ridden with me and is much better suited to heat than I am. I was then clarifying in my post today. If it wasn't hot this weekend, I'd be jonesing to ride Crystal Lake personally.

I'm just going to stay out of this thread since I'm not going. Perhaps it's me who needs to take a time out in the corner.

redal

No apologies necessary just get that thing out of my crawl please.