So, we had a ride planned for today. Saturday night I picked out a few
rides and was going to run them by JD when he got here but waking up this
morning I knew we had but one choice. And that was the ride that would get
us away from this gloom:
http://homepage.mac.com/getosx/5_Deer/1_gloomy.jpg (It was actually really
foggy this morning, didn't take this one until we got home)
I'd heard great things about 5 Deer and I'd ridden by the trailhead many
times on my way to ride the Pacific Cycling Trail on Sierra Pelona so it has
been on my shortlist for quite some time. We usually skipped it because it
shortened the ride considerably, some people do the main loop twice, but we
ended up doing one loop. Anyway, of the 4 rides I had in mind this one was
the furthest inland so I hoped it was going to be clear, and clear it was.
Here's JD pointing the way:
http://homepage.mac.com/getosx/5_Deer/2_clear_skies.jpg
JD had brought his SS and he was quite content with the grade on the 4.5
mile fireroad climb. I could see him way up ahead standing on the steeper
pitches but in general he motored along real good. About half way up you
pass by the exit of the 5 Deer trail. The climb was uneventful except for a
pack of 5 vehicles full of hunting yahoos coming down the road. I
encountered them at a narrow spot and not one except the last one in line
bothered slowing down while I struggled to get onto the berm at the side of
the road.
We made it to the top in a reasonable amount of time, and after taking in
the views of the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys we continued on the next
mile of fireroad to the trailhead. This was where disaster struck. I went
to take a drink at the top of the descent but the bite-valve of my Camelback
was stuck on the other side of the strap so I pulled the hose right out.
After walking up and down the trail looking for the bite-valve for a few
minutes with more hunters driving by wondering what we were doing I finally
decided to just dump some water into the bottle on my bike and use that. We
only had a descent and some flat sections ahead of us. When I leaned
forward to start transferring water I noticed the bite-valve at my feet, I
guess it was stuck to me and it used that opportunity to fall off of me.
Shortly we were on our way to what started out as an overly rutted by motos
trail (I mean, I came around a corner to encounter a rut that was deeper
than I am tall, that narrowed down to less than pedal width at the bottom)
down the face of the mountain but it soon showed us the goods.
Me on a flat mellow section:
http://homepage.mac.com/getosx/5_Deer/3_mellow.jpg
Jerry a blur through the grotto:
http://homepage.mac.com/getosx/5_Deer/4_grotto.jpg
Jerry moving down a fast, rocky section:
http://homepage.mac.com/getosx/5_Deer/5_jd.jpg
The conditions couldn't have better, about 75 degrees out and the top
portion of the trail was shaded and on a north facing slope so there were
still some wet parts from the rain a week ago.
It was a little short but I'm on my way to a Kings game so I'm glad I ended
a ride with a little strength left in my legs.
Greg