Well, I'm still not sure about your discription but I think I know what I'm in for since it's at quicksilver and I go "the long way" as my friend and I put it. This entails starting from the parking lot and going all the way up to the benchs which forks off two ways... Up to the left or right on the flats toward the dam. Last time I rode (probably a month or two) I was able to go up to the benches in about 10min. or so; then I went left to the very top which was 30min. If I go to the right toward the dam I used to be able to do it in a hr. but I'd expect an hr and a half.BigLarry said:Do you know what sort of ride you're in for? Seems like Quicksilver by itself may be more than enough for a first ride back on the bike. A short loop there may be as much as 1500' and 9 or so miles. A longer loop in QS via Guadalupe Dam may be 2000' and 14 or so miles.
There is Mission Peak over near me in Milpitas area, but that's usually if I feel like killing myself... not getting a ride in. Only other really challenging places I've been is Stevens Creek or Saratoga Gap. Alum Rock also near me is probably closed.norcallifter said:Not sure, if you guys are going today or tomorrow, but I jsut went to Quicksilver off the hacienda entrace, and there was signs that trails were close for bikers/equestrians due to poor trail conditions. I'm so bummed. I dont know where else to go in San JOse.
You can find out for sure if Quicksilver is open by calling (408) 268-3883. The Rangers post on the voice mail for sure by 10AM, but often a ranger will answer before that. But these days I just know that if it hasn't rained for two days, it's probably open - which means it will probably be closed today and open tomorrow. If it's closed I just keep going south on Old Almaden from Hacienda and climb Hicks paved road up to Woods. Sierra Azul is alwasy open in the rain, only closed at dark.norcallifter said:I just read aboutr Joseph D. Grant park. But is there a number you can call to see if its open or close?
You're probably a little faster than me, or maybe about right if you're out of shape. I get from Hacienda up to that first picnic bench at Cape Horn intersection in about 15 minutes. I get up to the top picnic table at Bull Run (with the great view of Sierra Azul) in another 35 minutes.NRS1FREAK said:Last time I rode (probably a month or two) I was able to go up to the benches in about 10min. or so; then I went left to the very top which was 30min. If I go to the right toward the dam I used to be able to do it in a hr. but I'd expect an hr and a half.
Quicksilver isn't as wild as Santa Teresa or Henry Coe, but I did see a huge rattlesnake there once, all the way across the fire road it was so big, and also a bobcat.NRS1FREAK said:Quicksilver can get creepy, have you guy heard of the rumor that there are flesh eating albinos there?? ha ha...
I'd probably be fine with going all the way up. It's just that when I'm on my own I can't keep a pace so I try to "sprint" though the whole thing and end up hitting a big fat wall when I get to the last hill after the dam.BigLarry said:Did you want to keep on climbing up into Sierra Azul, or would that first climb in Quicksilver do you in?
Sierra Azul is open in the rain. We're going there tomorrrow. Only down side is that it's fire road.norcallifter said:Not sure, if you guys are going today or tomorrow, but I jsut went to Quicksilver off the hacienda entrace, and there was signs that trails were close for bikers/equestrians due to poor trail conditions. I'm so bummed. I dont know where else to go in San JOse.
I'm not sure you're getting it. I'm exiting Quicksilver at the TOP (using an access road between English Camp and Bull Run, off Castillero Rd and the last old kiln standing - see map here) and then continuing up to the top of El Sombroso and down Kennedy in Sierra Azul.NRS1FREAK said:I'd probably be fine with going all the way up. It's just that when I'm on my own I can't keep a pace so I try to "sprint" though the whole thing and end up hitting a big fat wall when I get to the last hill after the dam.
So you are going tomorrow at 8:30?
Yep, pretty much.NRS1FREAK said:ok, I sorta think I know where your going? so... will it be up hill the whole way like from the parking lot?
The parking lot IS the top of Hicks - no more climb on Hicks is possible. So I assume you mean starting the climb on Mt. Umunhum Rd? We're probably going to skip that loop up to Bald Mt. So from Hicks, we'll be starting almost level on Woods around 10:30.F.P. said:If you are starting from the parking lot and going up Hicks you will have about 5-10 minutes of warm up before you hit the climbing on Hicks....not ideal, especially when it is going to be maybe 50F outside.....nice.