{"id":54,"date":"2008-04-07T19:25:06","date_gmt":"2008-04-08T03:25:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainbikebill.com\/blog\/?p=54"},"modified":"2013-01-04T05:10:58","modified_gmt":"2013-01-04T13:10:58","slug":"archipelago-ride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.mountainbikebill.com\/blog\/?p=54","title":{"rendered":"Archipelago Ride"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rich Julian and I have been tossing around the idea for this ride for quite sometime as part of the our “Islands Project” concept of pushing to have all of the our small islands of open space connected throughout the county.\u00a0 Each little island of open space on its own has a network of trails but nothing that gets into the “epic” range.<\/p>\n

The ride we did yesterday was both a research and proof of concept ride.\u00a0\u00a0 While\u00a0nearly the entire route is part of the county general trail plan, there are significant chunks that are not a reality yet.\u00a0\u00a0 The rider list included 15 supporters and friends who have all put tools to earth to help create and maintain our trails around the county.<\/p>\n

\"Climing<\/p>\n

We started out bright and early from the La Costa Preserve<\/a> and climbed the Vista Del Mar trail up to the top and then dropped down the backside and headed to the hill just to the east with the two water towers on top.\u00a0 From there we followed a series of easements down into the Escondido Creek watershed.\u00a0\u00a0 While riding along these easements was not too interesting in was a good venue to point out exactly where we want to put in singletrack as part of the La Costa to Elfin Forest connector<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

Getting over to Elfin Forest<\/a> was not all easement travel.\u00a0 There are some nice sections that were created courtesy of the equestrain communities of Harmony Grove and Elfin Forest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Almost<\/p>\n

Here we are crossing Escondido Creek just inside of the Elfin Forest Park.<\/p>\n

\"Crossing<\/p>\n

Once into Elfin Forest, it was up the WAAAAAY Up trail.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Did I mention that this was my first significant ride in about three weeks?\u00a0 I was feeling it.\u00a0\u00a0 Elfin Forest gets busy on the weekend so it was a good thing most of us where not setting any speed records up the climb.<\/p>\n

\"Elfin<\/p>\n

Can you say Multiuse Trail?<\/p>\n

\"Switchbacking\"<\/p>\n

The view of The\u00a0Way Up trail from the Del Dios Highlands Trail<\/p>\n

Once up into Elfin Forest we went down the other side into Lake Hodges<\/a> on the Del Dios Highlands Trail.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Way\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0This “Trail” is a good example of why we need to educate land managers and planners on what a trail is and is not.\u00a0 This was a steep graded fireroad with a generous amount of blue slate gravel.\u00a0\u00a0 One redeeming quality of this descent was that it has some\u00a0 monster waterbars that you could catch some\u00a0bits of air on if you\u00a0desired to do so.<\/p>\n

\"Del<\/p>\n

Rich was unable to do the ride due to\u00a0a recent unplanned surgery\u00a0so he setup up the super sag wagon and cheerleader support.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Who says you have to wait until the end of the ride for a beer?<\/p>\n

From Lake Hodges we rode the Del Dios Trail along the lake until we had to hop on the road for e a bit due to the pump station construction that is going on towards the dam.\u00a0 Once around that we got back on the lake trail and made our way down to the dam.<\/p>\n

\"Hodges<\/p>\n

\"Roadie\"<\/p>\n

Freaking Roadie ruined a prefectully good MTB shot.<\/p>\n

We had to do a bit of hoping onto Del Dios Highway for a couple of short bits to get to the San Dieguito River Trail.\u00a0\u00a0 This section of trail was just about to open when the October 2007 Firestorm came through and burnt about 62% of the entire\u00a0corrider.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We were given special permission to use\u00a0the closed Sante Fe Valley Trail.\u00a0 We could soon see why the trail is still closed as seven bridges are completely burnt out.<\/p>\n

\"Santa<\/p>\n

Even with the burn damage this was still a pretty area.\u00a0 There is a bunch of work to be done, so when you here about volunteer work oppurtunities here, it would really help if you can lend a couple hands and a little sweat.<\/p>\n

\"Flower<\/p>\n

We did not exactly follow my intended route through this area, but we all\u00a0knew this was going to be a bit of a Lewis and Clark area.\u00a0\u00a0 We ended up doing a sizable switchbacking climb that could have been avoided, the good\u00a0news for me was there were no open chants of mutiny so all was good.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

We\u00a0soon\u00a0tied into the Santa Luz Loop<\/a> and\u00a0fully\u00a0known trails for me.\u00a0 \u00a0We made pretty good time through Lusardi Canyon towards Black Mountain<\/a>, but man was I starting to drag.\u00a0 There are a couple of hills that I referred to as “good workouts” in my individual trail reviews but combined with our previous mileage it freaking hurt the quads.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Heading<\/p>\n

Rich once again met us with Sag Wagon support and encouragement.\u00a0\u00a0We topped off waters and scarfed a few snacks before heading off around the rest of the Santa Luz Loop to the Los Penaquitos Canyon Connector.\u00a0\u00a0 This section of the Santa Luz Loop has grown in really nicely and the singletrack has gotten really good.<\/p>\n

\"Santa<\/p>\n

\"George\"<\/p>\n

The connector took us under a few bridges and another mean climb and into\u00a0area known as “The Tunnels”\u00a0that brought up onto Del Mar Mesa where we then dropped into Penasquitos Canyon<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

At this point in the ride we could all hear tiny bubbles escaping from a tap in the distance.\u00a0\u00a0 Considering most of our states of fatigue, we made quick work\u00a0to the west\u00a0end of the canyon\u00a0and the Pro-Built Wheels Bike Shop\u00a0<\/a>where good food and beers were awaitng us.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"In<\/p>\n

An In-Shop Keg, You gotta love it.\u00a0 On this evening it was Sierra Nevada on tap.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Da<\/p>\n

The guys at the shop did it up really great for us and it was most welcome.\u00a0\u00a0 Big thanks to\u00a0Squadra<\/a> for hooking up the return shuttle back up\u00a0north\u00a0after the eveing festivities.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We could have easily done 60-70+ miles but we settled for just 43 miles with about 5,500 feet of climbing.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I’m freaking beat and loving it!<\/p>\n

-Bill<\/p>\n

More Stuff Like This<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t PSA \u2013 Poison Oak<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t San Marcos \u2013 Its not a F$%)ing Trail!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Hitting up the SART<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Above the clouds in Cuyamaca<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/div>