I did this loop last weekend. The trail is in excellent shape, 99% rideable. Fantastic views. Have fun!
Josephine Saddle/Strawberry Peak - Sat. Dec. 17th
Me and some friends are doing the Josephine Saddle/Strawberry Peak loop this Saturday (12/17). It's a 16.6 mile loop (or 17.9 miles w/spur up to Josephine Peak) w/2500ft of climbing. Temperatures will be cold, probably in the 50's. Anyone game?
Guidebook comments:
"A single-track feast on some of the most challenging but fun paths in the area - definitely not for beginners or the squeamish."
"Aerobic difficulty: Difficult; a strenuous climb up to Josephine Saddle with intermittent, ateep single-track climbs."
"Technical difficulty: Very Difficult; an exceedingly narrow trail with steep drop-offs."
Some other info and GPS track can be found here:
http://www.singletrackmind.com/Trai...Mountain Biking Southern California Index.htm
We're gonna meet at 8:00AM Saturday at the "JPL" parking lot (from 210 Fwy, exit Windsor, head north and look for a parking lot on left at 1/5 mile). From there we'll carpool up the Angeles Crest Hwy to Switzer's Picnic Area. From there we will start and end.
Guidebook comments:
"A single-track feast on some of the most challenging but fun paths in the area - definitely not for beginners or the squeamish."
"Aerobic difficulty: Difficult; a strenuous climb up to Josephine Saddle with intermittent, ateep single-track climbs."
"Technical difficulty: Very Difficult; an exceedingly narrow trail with steep drop-offs."
Some other info and GPS track can be found here:
http://www.singletrackmind.com/Trai...Mountain Biking Southern California Index.htm
We're gonna meet at 8:00AM Saturday at the "JPL" parking lot (from 210 Fwy, exit Windsor, head north and look for a parking lot on left at 1/5 mile). From there we'll carpool up the Angeles Crest Hwy to Switzer's Picnic Area. From there we will start and end.
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Great loop, take your time climbing up to Josephine saddle it is a grind. Don't miss the trailhead at the saddle, to signs until you get down the trail a ways.
Picture of the trailhead at Josephine Saddle.
Yes this is the trail on the Gabrielino after last years rains, only a few hundred feet.
Picture of the trailhead at Josephine Saddle.
Yes this is the trail on the Gabrielino after last years rains, only a few hundred feet.
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Nice loop with great views.
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taken another day from the top of Josephine. LA in the distance
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wish I wasn't suffering from the flu, I would love to join you.
Have fun.
taken another day from the top of Josephine. LA in the distance
wish I wasn't suffering from the flu, I would love to join you.
Have fun.
If you've never ridden the trail, don't expect anything super technical. I never rode it, but have seen pictures and read the description from SingleTrackMind that make the trail seem really technical and dangerous. The ANF has made the trail practically wheelchair accessible. The trail is very rideable, save the short section in dsteppers picture (still can't make it down that damn section). Granted the section from Red Box to Switzer is a bit more torn up it is still very fast. A bit of trail destruction behind Strawberry Peak after the Arrow Rock before the fork to Colby Ranch but much cleaner now than last winter.
Don't get me wrong great trail, just not that technical IMHO.
Don't get me wrong great trail, just not that technical IMHO.
my favorite ride! well actually that jpl-inspiration point ride is the only ride i do out in that area. some guys showed my friends and i that ride 5 years ago and i fell in love. this ride was what inspired me to get my heckler a couple years ago. i still ride it on my hardtail but man do you get beat up. i remember the first time i did it, i could barely hold on and brake towards the end of the ride. my hands would cramp onto the bars and i couldn't get a finger on the brake levers a few times. i haven't met anyone else to show me the other good rides in that area. but i keep hearing about strawberry peak and redbox. i want to definately meet up with you guys one of these weekends.DtEW said:
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