A Snowy Ride Report - LPNF

[HammeredFlat4]

So today me and Ethan (Ethango from TT) decided to go check out Snowy Trail in LPNF to see what all the hype was about. The plan was to meet at Gold Hill Camp at 8am and then ride up to Kings Camp where Snowy starts or ends depending on which way you ride it. After snowy we would decide if we wanted to continue on down Miller and Piru or take the fire road back down to camp.

At the trail head in Kings camp:

The first part of the trail is awesome, smooth single track through the forest.

It starts to get a bit more technical at this point

You can see the climb out on the other side of the creek

Starting to head down the switchbacks

The famous spot where Neversurfaced's buddy looped out his KTM and took out the guard rail on video, they never did fix the railing

The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nK2s3QfF-I

We made it down to the Creek

I thought the water might be a little higher but it was only about 1ft in the deep parts

Looking at the climb out

Anyone know what the story is with the big cross? You can see it on the other side as you start the climb out.

 

[HammeredFlat4]

Some trail/scenery shots from the climb out. We had to stop twice and let the bikes cool down, they were starting to boil over from all the clutching.

We made it to the the top, the wild flowers are blooming up here.

Its beautiful once you get up to Alamo mt.

This is about where I almost crapped my pants, came around a corner a there were two bears standing in the middle of the trail staring straight at me. I came to a stop less than 10 feet from them and they turned around and ran opposite directions, this one went out to a clearing were he could see me and just watched me.

At the top of Alamo, we made it!

Last pictures of the day at the bottom of Miller Jeep

Next time I will ride the trail in the opposite direction starting from the top of Alamo and ending at Kings camp. I think the switchbacks will be a little bit easier to navigate than the super loose rocky climb up to Alamo, I just could not get any momentum and I found myself using up the clutch a lot more than I would have liked. All in all is was a great day, I dropped the bike once on the rocky climb and put a big ass dent in the muffler and a small hole in the clutch cover. I cant wait to go back!

 

[Travace]

awesome report. and yea does a human shit in the woods when he sees a bear ? i know i would

 

[TWS]

Most excellent report ! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Rack]

good stuff thanks for sharing! you need to invite ethango to join dba

 

[Weathergeek]

I was waiting for the "this trail scared the shit out of me rant", but it never came. This is supposed to be the hardest trail in LPNF and maybe SoCal. To date, have been too scared to go near Snowy as 1000 foot drop offs and the fear of a bike extraction will probably keep me away maybe forever.
So were you guys ever scared, or was it not too bad?

Nice report BTW. Frazier Mtn. still closed right?

 

[James]

Sweet ride

So Rack, are we hitting that trail when I get out there?

 

[Naturaledge]

Outstanding report Hammered!

 

[Rack]

Sweet ride

So Rack, are we hitting that trail when I get out there?

I have never been to this location so we would need a tour guide.

 

[Neversurfaced]

I was waiting for the "this trail scared the shit out of me rant", but it never came. This is supposed to be the hardest trail in LPNF and maybe SoCal. To date, have been too scared to go near Snowy as 1000 foot drop offs and the fear of a bike extraction will probably keep me away maybe forever.
So were you guys ever scared, or was it not too bad?

Nice report BTW. Frazier Mtn. still closed right?

Hardest trail in California - Not even close!

Carl (cleonard ) was with me on the ride from the video clip in the RR. There were 4 of us that day and only the dude who lopped his KTM had any real issues. He just ran out of steam about ½ way up the switchbacks. He wasn’t a bad rider, he just got sapped – I think he was fighting the switchbacks and the sun took its toll.

If you can ride steep switchbacks (personally, I prefer taking the trail in the opposite direction than HF4 and Ethan did) and have plenty of H20 I think you’d be fine…

 

[PBK]

I think i would have shit myself IRL if i ran into a bear Nice RR!

 

[HammeredFlat4]

I was waiting for the "this trail scared the shit out of me rant", but it never came. This is supposed to be the hardest trail in LPNF and maybe SoCal. To date, have been too scared to go near Snowy as 1000 foot drop offs and the fear of a bike extraction will probably keep me away maybe forever.
So were you guys ever scared, or was it not too bad?

Nice report BTW. Frazier Mtn. still closed right?

Deffinetely the hardest trail in LPNF but it really wasnt that bad. The worst part was the climb out but in the opposite direction I think it would be even easier. I think if you can ride up Arrastra it wont be a big deal. The rest of the forest may be open, I didnt check out tejon or east frazier but I know Gold Hill, Piru, Lockwood, Yellowjacket, Miller, and Snowy are all open. I think I am going to try and make it back this weekend to see if the rest is open, anyone that wants to join me is welcome.

Sweet ride

So Rack, are we hitting that trail when I get out there?

I have never been to this location so we would need a tour guide.

Just let me know I'll be your guide.

 

[cleonard]

Looks like the Snowy that I know and love. That climb out of Piru is one long slog. Stopping and resting the bikes and the rider is important. Some don't and pay the price. It is a little easier in the other direction, but not a lot.

The upper portion of the trail is one of the smoothest un-whooped and beautiful trails around.

Did you just ride Snowy-Miller-Piru?

If I get a foot peg I'm hitting those trails this weekend for sure.

 

[Weathergeek]

Hardest trail in California - Not even close!

Carl (cleonard ) was with me on the ride from the video clip in the RR. There were 4 of us that day and only the dude who lopped his KTM had any real issues. He just ran out of steam about ½ way up the switchbacks. He wasn’t a bad rider, he just got sapped – I think he was fighting the switchbacks and the sun took its toll.



If you can ride steep switchbacks (personally, I prefer taking the trail in the opposite direction than HF4 and Ethan did) and have plenty of H20 I think you’d be fine…

What is harder in So Cal? I know there is plenty harder up north.

 

[cleonard]

Well how about harder and 100% legal.

In LPNF the Ortega trail is pretty insane right now and Kerry Canyon was a tought one too before it burned over last year.

Rincon.

A bunch of trails in the Piutes

I've found stuff used in Enduros and H&H's out in the open areas that was completely off the hook. Things that made me go "you have got to be kidding me." Some of it I went down and some I passed on expereinceing the pain.