PingWin.com - Mountain bike trips

1st Sunday of 2004, riding the burned Rocky Pick. man it was windy...
The watchword for today's ride was WIND!!! Arriving at the Kuehner Road pink shopping center this morning were 8 stalwart riders ready to tackle the climb up Chumash Trail. The weather was cold but sunny, the earth dry and firm after the Friday rain. But it was the wind which made the usually tough climb particularly challenging this first Sunday of 2004. With the wind at our faces we struggled up the barren, fire-charred trail, just trying to stay on the trail (and our bikes for that matter). Several times in the middle of trying to pedal over a rocky section a gust of wind would almost blow you over....walking often proved to be the wiser course. At the top of Chumash, Dean thru charred branches David pedals up the last of Chumash From the top of Chumash we headed towards the Johnson Trail with some great surreal views reminding me of Zabriski Point in Death Valley. All along the Rocky Peak fireroad we saw patches of ice, remnants of Friday's rain combined with last night's freezing temperatures. At the entrance to Johnson Trail the group poses in front of a rather large icy puddle (left to right: Tal, Dean, DavidR, DavidN, Matthew, Mitch, Brian....and that's me behind the camera). From here we enjoyed a great ride down Johnson. The recent rains have changed the nature of the trail but the rocky soil was well-packed and made for good traction and no trail damage. The ride down was pure pleasure as can be seen from the smile on Matthew's face. As we pedaled up and over the Santa Susana Pass Road, although a minority wanted to ride up to the Hummingbird Trail, the hungry majority ruled and we headed back to the cars where most went to grab some great food and gab at the See You Latte Cafe. Have a great first week of the new year. Robco Baggins

1st Sunday of 2004, riding the burned Rocky Pick. man it was windy...

The watchword for today's ride was WIND!!! Arriving at the Kuehner Road pink shopping center this morning were 8 stalwart riders ready to tackle the climb up Chumash Trail. The weather was cold but sunny, the earth dry and firm after the Friday rain. But it was the wind which made the usually tough climb particularly challenging this first Sunday of 2004. With the wind at our faces we struggled up the barren, fire-charred trail, just trying to stay on the trail (and our bikes for that matter). Several times in the middle of trying to pedal over a rocky section a gust of wind would almost blow you over....walking often proved to be the wiser course.

At the top of Chumash, Dean thru charred branches

David pedals up the last of Chumash

From the top of Chumash we headed towards the Johnson Trail with some great surreal views reminding me of Zabriski Point in Death Valley.

All along the Rocky Peak fireroad we saw patches of ice, remnants of Friday's rain combined with last night's freezing temperatures. At the entrance to Johnson Trail the group poses in front of a rather large icy puddle (left to right: Tal, Dean, DavidR, DavidN, Matthew, Mitch, Brian....and that's me behind the camera).

From here we enjoyed a great ride down Johnson. The recent rains have changed the nature of the trail but the rocky soil was well-packed and made for good traction and no trail damage. The ride down was pure pleasure as can be seen from the smile on Matthew's face.

As we pedaled up and over the Santa Susana Pass Road, although a minority wanted to ride up to the Hummingbird Trail, the hungry majority ruled and we headed back to the cars where most went to grab some great food and gab at the See You Latte Cafe.

Have a great first week of the new year.

Robco Baggins