L. A. ADVenture Rides

[RAZR]

Originally Posted by bigtodd

ok, how about an XR650R with the electric start conversion? Looked at one in Fullerton 2 montsh ago that even had the big guy suspension set up and electric start ..... should have bought that one. The guy that looked at it after me bought it on the spot.

oh shit.
yeah. you shoulda jumped on that one.
I still don't understand why they haven't made a modern e start 650R.

[Team Longriders]

Originally Posted by browneye

Elbow Canyon road is a jeep trail. It's medium steep but there were a lot of wash outs and loose rock that would bounce you around. Several of us had trouble with the front knob grabbing the side slope and pull it up. I heard TBarstow almost went up a tree.

If you got crossed up and had to stop you were likely to fall over with the uneven terrain. As long as you could keep moving and pick a path through then you eventually got all the way up the hill. I don't know what the elevation gain was, but it was 18 miles up a mountain road.

The first tough section was a choice of a 3' berm step or a slot between two rocks. I picked the latter and bashed my skid which stopped the bike and it layed over. Picked it up and kept going, only to fall again in another section, now with the bike laying downhill. I could not pick it up. After huffing and puffing for five minutes I pulled the back of the bike around and was then able to pick it up. Seems everyone had a similar experience with this leg. Being heavily loaded with camping gear and extra fuel doesn't help matters either.

I'm sure the ranch charged for the sat call. Riddler probably handed them some cash. The lunch spread was cool though, and all of the ranch hands were very friendly and hospitable, they introduced themselves, invited everyone in and showed the amenities that were ours to use while we were there. And they topped up our fuel tanks, regular only, $15 for 2.1gl for the husky.

Yes, ranger-dick at Toroweap was there again this year. He made sure he stopped everyone as they came down the entrance road. It's very remote there. Since Riddler, Rruugger, Frank, and I were now the lead group he asked if it was just us and of course that's all we had coming. So he said to take a campsite to conserve space in the campground. So we took two, right next to the group site that Joel had reserved. Randy Ranger never bothered to show up, but did ask the second group if they knew us which they denied of course. He also asked us not to have a campfire because it had been blowing a gale, but by the time we got settled in the wind had quit. So campfire we had, later in the evening. Beautiful place to camp.

Everyone was pretty tired so they all went to bed pretty early.

I'm just uploading pix to host. RR soon.

Couple'a teaser pix...

Elbow Canyon Road - looks pretty easy here, this is the flat part.



Riddler coming thru the slot



Toroweap

Looked like a nice ride.

[tbarstow]

Toroweap at night, 5 minute exposure:

[herrhelmet]

Originally Posted by tbarstow

Toroweap at night, 5 minute exposure:

Nice pic, Tim... What were the temps out there day/night roughly?

[dunerat]

Originally Posted by tbarstow

Toroweap at night, 5 minute exposure:

Dang.... Snow in June ???

[tbarstow]

Originally Posted by herrhelmet

Nice pic, Tim... What were the temps out there day/night roughly?

It cooled off pretty good at night. Maybe in the 50's? During the day it was upper 80's, so it was kinda cold then as well.

[stewstew]

Originally Posted by johngil

5/31/2012
There is a long term closure of the PCT north of Islip Saddle. The trail is closed to protect the endangered mountain yellow-legged frog. Due to the long term nature of this closure, an official alternate to the PCT is in place. Hikers and equestrians should note that the alternate trails are not up to the standards of the PCT. They may be unsuitable for some, especially equestrians. Click here for a map of the Endangered Species Detour.

http://www.pcta.org/planning/during_...l-closures.php

5/31/2012
Much of the PCT has already been repaired and reopened in the Station Fire burn area. The current Station Fire Detour brings trail users around a section of trail that was substantially damaged in 2009. Be aware of Poodle-dog Bush while traveling through the Station Fire burn. This irritant has grown up after the fire and covers portions of the trail.

http://www.pcta.org/planning/during_...l-closures.php

4/13/2012
There are some really bad sections where poisonous Poodle Dog Bush exceeds a person's height and it is thick enough to make it impossible to avoid exposure. One thought would be to bypass the Station Fire area starting at Three Points to Soledad Canyon to avoid PDB altogether this season. I suggest long pants in addition to long sleeves, and to sanitize oneself, clothes, boots, hats, gloves, and any equipment after exposure. Pete Fish

4/4/2012
The frog closue and reroute starting at Islip Saddle is not passable by stock, definitely not pack stock so avoid this area and also the trail from Mill Creek Summit to North Fork station is not passable with stock, this area you can follow the dirt road from Mill Creek to North Fork

Thanks John! You da man and a hellovalot better at research I should add.

[loner]

Originally Posted by tbarstow

It cooled off pretty good at night. Maybe in the 50's? During the day it was upper 80's, so it was kinda cold then as well.

The next night was about 32 degrees. Just ask Joel how cold it was.

Elbow Canyon was the most difficult road I have taken. It was so brutal I was tired and sore for the rest of the trip. Riddler was the only rider to make it through without a dirt nap.

No complaints though, it was an awesome adventure.

[NSFW]

Originally Posted by stewstew

Thanks John! You da man and a hellovalot better at research I should add.

glad someone chimed IN with the 411. you're a good man john.

stewy, see you sometime.

Originally Posted by spafxer

That initial climb out of Mesquite must have gotten a bit more torn up. I remember that one climb after a sharp turn being loose, but in general I didn't have any problem riding the 950 fully loaded with a Heidenau rear tire up it.

I wondered if the Ranch charged you for the Sat call or was it included in the price of the sandwich?

Was the Ranger the same as last year? I'm sure all these questions will be answered

I agree we have a good group of riders that are interested in doing more of the long distance ADVenture rides.... Wait, i hear something... Colorado Calling


.

jim, that canyon was very challenging this time, several switchbacks, rocky, steep and loose. there are 3 other easier routes for the loaded big bikes and we could have taken any of them. just glad to see everyone made it through without injury and serious bike damage (besides, this one will be remembered for a long time). at the end, we proved to ourselves that with teamwork, it can be done except lunch will be 3 hours later.....


on the way up, my left fork bleeder came off and lost it; basically no front end damping. bike was out of control and bouncy....ersin and tim had a good workout....




we spoke to ranger todd and i showed him the permit, then he told us that he'll come over that night and check up on us..... he never did, maybe when we were all asleep.

yeah, let's do more long distance adv riding and camping.

folks, we will have a RR soon. right now, i'm having problem uploading pics.

[rruugger]

Jon may have made it up the Elbow trail clean, but it must have done some unseen damage



Beautiful camp site first nite...oddly enough the ranger was very cool.



Nice group of peeps to travel with





Good times!

[MNCherryinCA]

Looks like an awesome trip guys! Wish I could have gone.

[NSFW]

Originally Posted by rruugger

Jon may have made it up the Elbow trail clean, but it must have done some unseen damage

damn...

that for sure you will be watching the july 4th fireworks in your backyard....

jon is the only one who didn't drop his bike. i think he had only pillows and sleeping bag in his wolfmans.

Originally Posted by rruugger

Beautiful camp site first nite...oddly enough the ranger was very cool.



Nice group of peeps to travel with





Good times!

agree.........life is good!





ok, smugmug is somewhat fixed, uploaded my pics......over 750...

frank still having problem uploading...

only if we can get the kid to start the RR....

[NSFW]

Originally Posted by MNCherryinCA

Looks like an awesome trip guys! Wish I could have gone.

bob, other than day 1 and several challenging spots (rocky and loose hill climbs and sand) on the following days, the route with the option to take the detours - it can be very big bike friendly.


less load too is an advantage. going up a hill with most of the weight on the rear tire and having a huge tank bag (can't lean too far forward) made it difficult to conttol the bike. lots of lessons learned on this trip.

i'm biased, our LC4s are the perfect bike for this trip. smaller than that will make the long straighways and canyon riding somewhat uncomfortable. the bigger bikes are great, but i don't have enough skills to tame the beast.

[Riddler990]

Originally Posted by h8chains

damn...

jon is the only one who didn't drop his bike. i think he had only pillows and sleeping bag in his wolfmans.

Does this look like only a pillow and sleeping bag? I just tried to remember what Jimmy Lewis taught us, stay loose and steer with your feet. When it came to the silt pit.....get back and GAS IT!

[Riddler990]

How's this for fodder. What a bunch of posers, Starbucks and bikes on a trailer!