Holy Jim, San Juan? September 23rd?

I vote for:

Holy Jim / Trabuco loop, starting from the upper lot at 8:00 AM (early enough to guarantee parking, but not eye-bleeding early). Back to the lot between 11:30 and 12:00, with snacks/drinks. I could go earlier, but I don't think I can go later...
 
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Faust29 said:
There's options... I like the taco plaza start, but I could also shuttle bikes to the upper lot if anyone wants to skip the ride up the wash. I personally like the ride in...

Start time will be dependent on Mikie... He has the drive. @Voodoo Tom - Are you coming down for this one?
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Does the upper lot have options for BBQ & beers? See my comment above, I like that... maybe even more than tacos!
 
Cyclotourist said:
Does the upper lot have options for BBQ & beers? See my comment above, I like that... maybe even more than tacos!
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The upper lot... Is a dirt lot. Nothing else there, except a porta potty which usually has a caved in roof. Are portable grills allowed?

The road in is the real issue. It's not always the best idea to take a passenger car up there. Sometimes it's doable, and sometimes I've seen Hondas stuck in potholes. I haven't been up it in a month, and it can change drastically in that time... I could throw the 4 bike rack on the Jeep if anyone really needs to skip the wash section. Personally, I'd ride it...
 
Faust29 said:
The upper lot... Is a dirt lot. Nothing else there, except a porta potty which usually has a caved in roof. Are portable grills allowed?

The road in is the real issue. It's not always the best idea to take a passenger car up there. Sometimes it's doable, and sometimes I've seen Hondas stuck in potholes. I haven't been up it in a month, and it can change drastically in that time... I could throw the 4 bike rack on the Jeep if anyone really needs to skip the wash section. Personally, I'd ride it...
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Yeah, riding sounds better. I didn't know if it was a natural meet up spot like on G.E... that's the perfect outing as far as I'm concerned!!!
 
Faust29 said:
The upper lot... Is a dirt lot. Nothing else there, except a porta potty which usually has a caved in roof. Are portable grills allowed?
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There's also a picnic table... but I agree it isn't really conducive to a drawn-out party location unless someone brought an ez-up. Part of the issue will be the crowds - not too many people there at 8AM but the lot will be full at noon. If we take over all the parking spaces at one end of the lot there won't be any issues, but you have to plan on a tail-gate type of experience. I normally just like parking at the upper lot because I find the 5 mile ride on gravel fire road boring... and I'm a wimp and when I come off Trabuco I like to glide right up to my car, pop the back, and open up an ice-cold Mt Dew :)

Here's what the upper lot looks like when no one is there (in January). There is a single picnic table overlooking the creek. Holy Jim trailhead is up the road that you can barely make out in the trees heading up the hill to the left. Trabuco trail is up the road straight ahead.

upper-lot.jpg
 
There is "elevated fire restriction" in place in Trabuco Ranger District as of 7/31/17 (wood/charcoal). Meaning a gas or propane grill is okay.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cleveland/home/?cid=fseprd549882


A good MO might be to circle your wagons in the open area back by the next-to-last bridge and let the hikers have it out in the "lot." Or even just south of the fire barn.

The blast down Trabuco Creek Rd is a fun cool down, though. :thumbsup: Even without the water bars. :unsure:
 
mtnbikej said:
Also remember that this ride always takes longer than planned, especially for every extra rider we have.
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It is a tight ride, even if there are only two of you - at least until you get to Main Divide. Lots of dips and dabs. And that five miles up the canyon road, while it doesn't sound like much, is still 800-900 feet of climbing. It reminds me so much of doing the Maple Springs / Motorway Loop... and the difference between doing it from the tree farm or the upper lot. The distance and elevation gain of the "extra credit" are almost exactly the same.

Last time I came down that road, after a Trabuco / Cook's Corner / Harding / Santiago / Holy Jim loop, my legs were so fatigued that ride out the canyon felt like forever. It took me 16 minutes to cover 5 miles, but I felt like I was limping, and they were the longest 16 minutes of my life :) You'll come down the canyon as fast if not faster than a car (depending on the car driver :) ), but going up the canyon will take a while.

17.5 miles, 3700 feet... without the extra credit. 27.5 miles, 4600 feet with.
 
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