bigtempo

I plan to do this ride next this coming late spring. Although I have never ridden a true century, I am pretty sure I could pull one off now. This, however, is 100 miles in the mountains. Most of the climbing will be in the first half but still this is daunting. I half thought about spending the night in Wrightwood, but I would really like to do it in one day. FWIW, I have ridden most of 39 in the past, but never on the 2 to Wrightwood.

Anyone done it? Any stories you would like to share or advice? Greatly appreciated.

Edit: If indeed the ToC passes along here, maybe I will try and do it then. May 21. Maybe we could could a group going.

big john

After you get to the 2 there is a six-ish mile climb of about 1000 feet. That's Dawson Saddle. From the bottom of 39 you have gained over 7000 feet, then comes a six-ish mile descent to Vincent Gap, then a 3ish mile climb to Inspiration Point, then a 7ish mile descent into Wrightwood. Leaving Wrightwood to go back you face a couple thousand feet of climbing to get back to Dawson Saddle and the steepest part is just outside of Wrightwood, but you do go back up to 7900 feet elevation, so you may notice the thin air.
There is a little climbing on 39 near the bottom, too.

jan nikolajsen 

Big John, thanks for the breakdown of the route east from Islip. When I got up there yesterday, via 39, I contemplated going back on Angeles Crest, but westwards to Pasadena and then on to Azusa. But I didn't, not wanting to get lost in the neighborhoods of Arcadia etc, without prior research.

How much additional gain is involved in the return trip west from Islip saddle?

Here's some pics from yesterdays ride to Highway 2 up 39:

bigtempo

Thank you for the info. I will post back once I do this ride in the spring.

big john

Jan, going west from Islip there is some climbing but nothing too hard. I'm not sure of the total but it would be at least 1000 feet from Islip to Cloudburst Summit, then another 800 feet from Newcomb Ranch to Red Box and a couple hundred between Red Box and Clear Creek. From the bottom of AC it's pretty easy to get back to the area of Hwy 39 and Sierra Madre. I can't give you the turns off the top of my head but I probably have it written down at home somewhere.

Hillbasher

Jan, That must have been you I saw heading down, about a mile below me not too far below the Crystal Lake turnoff. I was stopped to take pictures of the switchbacks below when I saw a rider that I first thought was the guy I was with, until I realized Mr. Beanz could not have gotten that far down the road in such little time. You got some nice pics. What do you think, was the weather just about perfect up there yesterday?

Mr. Beanz

Guy in a red jacket or windbreaker?