[Finch Platte]

Ok, so I'm attempting to get the Stockton locals informed & excited about the trails up at Hogan (again), before it gets too hot to ride there. And damn, if it isn't going to be in the 80s this weekend, prettttttty warm :eekster:

I've got a flyer up at Performance and have scheduled a meeting spot at the Zippy Mart (link) gas station on Highway 12, just east of Valley Springs, for 9 a.m., Saturday the 12th. From there, we'll drive to the Acorn East parking lot to get ready for the ride.

Sooooo, hope some of you out there who aren't going to Sea Otter can join us. Valley Springs is about 1/2 hour east of Lodi, and maybe an hour and a half south from Sacramento? Dunno, depends on the route you take. Should take JFR about 15 minutes, I would think ;^)

Singlespeed friendly!

Here's the text from the flyer:

Mountain Biking E x t r a v a g a n z a !

Ride Lake Hogan with us (should I change this to 'me'?)

This Saturday, April 12th, 9 a.m.

Have you been looking for a place to ride your mountain bike on some manly mountain trails that are fairly close? Have you ridden Lake Hogan? If not, let us show you the plethora of trails up there.

We're going to be meeting at the Zippy Mart gas station (address is 506 Hwy 12), east of Valley Springs at 9 a.m. 9 SHARP!!!, and will then drive to the Acorn East Day Use parking lot & ride from there. The trails at Hogan are rugged and rocky, so bring your best game!

Beginners are welcome, too. There is an easier, lower out 'n' back trail for you to ride and you can't get lost.

To bring: HELMET, gloves, sunblock, drinking water, spare tubes/pump, tools, first aid, munchies, etc. Please be self-sufficient! We aren't going to hold your hand on this ride. Intermediate to advanced riders will have a trail guide. The ride can last anywhere from 2-5 hours, and we'll meet in the parking lot afterwards for refreshments, and possibly go into town to eat at Eddie's (Moose Drool on tap!).

Experienced trail dogs are welcome! WOOF!

For more info, contact Gary at: [email protected] at [email protected] dot com

For info on Hogan, see Home Page

 

[Overhillthruthewoods]

What time do you plan on being at the acorn parking lot?

 

[Finch Platte]

What time do you plan on being at the acorn parking lot?

I'll give people until 9:05, then I'll leave the Zippy Mart and head to Acorn East and be there around 9:15.

 

[JFR]

Should take JFR about 15 minutes, I would think ;^)

Pedal to the metal. I'll be there.

 

[Ogre]

I plan on being there. Might skip the gas station stop though so don wait for me there. Fiona will probably be there too.

 

[Finch Platte]

Yeah, I just thought it would be easier to direct people to the AE parking lot from Highway 12.

Cool, glad y'all are coming!

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

I'm in, bringing at least one possibly 3. Gas Station works for me since I've never been.
-A

 

[Finch Platte]

I'm in, bringing at least one possibly 3. Gas Station works for me since I've never been.
-A

Yayy!

Thank you, MTBR!

 

[McNabmtb]

Hope to make it as I've never ridden there and plan on bringing two trail dogs. Is there ample parking at the AE lot?

 

[Finch Platte]

Hope to make it as I've never ridden there and plan on bringing two trail dogs. Is there ample parking at the AE lot?

Yup, lots o' parking.

Bear in mind, the lake is LOW, so if the dogs need water, it'll be a bit of a trek to get them to it. I bring a container for my dpg to drink from, but it's gone quickly.

See you there!

Gary

PS Anyone heard from Uncle stinky? He's not returning my texts or my calls.

 

[JMac47]

Impatiently awaiting TR from this ride!

 

[michaelsnead]

Thanks for hosting the ride!

Ok, so I'm attempting to get the Stockton locals informed & excited about the trails up at Hogan (again).....

Hey Mr. Gary,

While I'm not a Stockton local I want to write to Thank You for hosting the ride! I had a great time seeing all the work you put in to this trail system and enjoying the folks who came out for the day. Getting to meet the famous trail dog, Endo, was a treat!

If you're ever up in Auburn and want to try something new I'd be happy to show you around the OHV trails outside of Georgetown. Here is a post I did on them with a couple of videos so you can get a flavor of the goods to be had.

http://forums.mtbr.com/california-n...hink-culvert-trail-now-too-smooth-865938.html

Thanks again and take care,

Michael:thumbsup:

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

Hoo-wee! That was fun! Gary, thanks for organizing! Dennis (Ogre!) thank you for the guided tour that was awesome. Nice meeting all the folks out there too!


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[Ogre]

About halfway up the first nasty climb in Gary's carefully engineered ride, Steve and Gonzo saw the ridiculousness of Gary's master plan and were going to bail and self-guide so I volunteered to give them the plan-B tour. We had a great time riding the *easy* way up all the climbs instead of taking the most difficult route at every turn.

We bumped back into Gary, James, JFR a few times (Tweet and a couple other guys dropped off before then) and overall had a great time. Uncle Stinky, Nate, Brian W. and a few other guys have done a champion job adding some miles out here so if you haven't Been to Hogan in a while, it's well worth the effort!

Pictures are mostly of Steve and Gonzo since I spent most of the day with them. With my Favs on top.

 

[JMac47]

Wow!

Nice photos Ogre. Never thought it looked like that up there! I have to check it out before it's still cool and green!

 

[Ciclistagonzo]

Great shots Ogre! Thanks for those. Here's a few of mine;

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[Finch Platte]

Nice shots, guys, good ride proof! Aaron, I especially like your shot of the 2 groups facing each other as one is coming back & the other going out. You don't see a lot of those types of shots.

Well, that was a most enjoyable day. Except for the hard parts. And following James, there were a few painful moments, but that was from exertion. The weather cooperated and new/old friends showed up, ready to ride. Sure do appreciate everyone coming. I know that it was a bit of a drive for some (Tweed, aka McNabmtb & his 2 hounds, Oakland Hills; JFR, aka John, Rancho Cordova by way of El Dorado Hills; michaelsnead, aka Duane, Coloma, Arron & Steve, Sac), so thanks for making the effort.

And damn, no one got hurt. For Hogan, it's pretty unusual not to draw blood (for your blood shot, I've enclosed a pic of my shin from an endo I took the last time I rode Hogan, a few weeks ago; the shot of Endo covered in cow plop is also from that day). Oh, sure, there were very minor scratches from shrubbery, and the only incident of note I saw was JFR doing a slow OTB as he plowed into a rock on a tricky off-camber turn through a smalll rock garden. He went forward and his back wheel, spinning madly, went up in the air. As I was directly on his wheel and had forward momentum, could only watch that spinning wheel get closer & closer to my face, passing by with just a few scant inches to spare. After my life flashed before my eyes (all I saw were millions of beer cans & bottles), my second thought was James Bond, lying on a table, with the spinning saw blade getting closer and closer to his throat. :eekster:

Special thanks for Ogre for volunteering to sweep, and then when that didn't work out so well, for taking Steve and Aaron on the scenic route.

James, if you're reading this, I met an old riding buddy of mine in the parking lot as you guys were leaving. He's never ridden Auburn, and he would be a good match for your riding skills and endurance, so if you want to set up a ride to show him the goods, let me know. You two can discuss sheep.

Here are my pics, in no good or particular order.

Gary

 

[JFR]

I forgot those trails are actually pretty fun, and there's more of them now too. It's worth the trip as another place to ride, especially if one is into rocky terrain. I like all the shorter interval hill climbs, no death march climbs that take an hour. And as James mentioned on our drive home, a tour guide is not really needed either. It would be a fun place to just explore since it's a spider web of trails and nothing that takes one out into the boonies to get lost. Seriously, more people should ride there.

Thanks for organizing the ride Gary. It was good to see some old and new faces.

 

[McNabmtb]

Thanks Gary, it was worth the drive from the Oakland Hills and certainly appreciate the hospitality you showed myself as well as my dogs. The same to everyone else that joined in and hope to ride with you all again someday, cheers. Tweed

 

[Uncle Stinky]

Looks like everyone had fun, sorry I could not make it this weekend. Gary I will call been busy but still alive. I may go next weekend if I do not go skiing, I will get ahold of you. US