I've been wanting to hit up Mongo after seeing Bulldozer27's November video. Thinking of going out there Sunday morning. Anyone able to report conditions in the area post rains?

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Jeff

It has been dry since Tuesday.

Thanks for the reply torsp. Now I just have to decide if I want to chance a meeting with Marine security on the way back to the car, or take my chances with the on-again off-again fencing in the neighborhood on the other side of the lakes, among other options I guess.

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Jeff

Go in at Summit Dr. at the church(no military contact possible this way), you loose mileage but you get a great little DH back to your car.

I've never parked on summit. I usually park at the top of Princess J. when I ride that side. Maybe I'll try that.

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Jeff

I rode into Sycamore and surrounding trails yesterday. BIG DIFFERENCE between no rain since Tuesday and dry since tuesday. It is anything BUT dry. I've ridden that area since 1990, and from my experience with the place, we need 3-4 days of low humidity high sunshine out there before it firms up. Have not had a day like that since the rain stopped. It's more than just water crossings, its mud.

If you do, please take pics and post the conditions, I'd like to see if you find it any different than I did.

The last day of rain was Thursday, 108 hrs later(Tuesday) I rode Mongo which is the trail that 65mph12 was asking about. There was one one mud puddle with no standing water after the 2nd rock roll, that was it on Mongo. I don't bother with the XC type trails in sycamore so I don't know their conditions.

There was some road construction on Summit a few weeks ago, maybe done now, not sure, fyi.

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"We'll ride it until they pave it."

-Big Clyde

I was out there this evening. Still a few puddles (er, vernal pools) and mud in the usual low and/or shaded spots and some pretty good ruts to watch out for but it's rideable. First time in about 5 years I've seen any water in the creeks so expect some water crossings.

Did you ride High Anxiety?

If so, How did it look?

Ride on~!

I only had about 30 minutes of daylight and didn't feel like rigging lights so it was just a quick loop around the valley. Candygram and the upper part of high anxiety usually dry out fairly quick. The creek coming down that canyon is still flowing a bit so I would guess that trail coming down the canyon from the bottom of high anxiety is probably still pretty wet. I hiked blazing saddles last Sunday. The upper parts weren't bad but there was practically a pond and lots of mud at the bottom where it turns to the dirt road heading down to the lakes.

Rumor has it 15 more bikes confiscated out past Santee lakes today.

If ....the rumor was true we should see someone post up about it soon

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You never know what tomorrow will bring so go ride your EBike today or walk your pooch
Fear the Yeti
"Go ride your bike today, don't let the old man in.."

Mike

So I ended up parking on mast and taking my chances with Marine contact. I wasn't expecting any at the time I start anyway. There were fresh ATV tracks near the signs.

The whole area is ride-able, but your bike may get wet and dirty. Lots of puddles and small flowing creeks. The creek crossing north of the lakes is pretty high, but there are a couple of pallets to help cross. The whole valley area is mostly dry but moist enough to create drag.

Candygram is in excellent shape except for some nasty rutting at the bottom. Torsp is right about Mongo. High anxiety is in great shape, pretty firm soil, no slippery mud. Sorry, no pictures mtbchip. Slaughtcar is great up top with several small fun water crossings at the bottom.

The puddle GForce mentioned on Blazing saddles is pretty nasty right now. It's at the intersection where Mojo/Artichoke meet by the tabletop jump. No PRs on Blazing saddles today.

I didn't want to take any chances with security on the way out, so I went through the gate at Strathmore and subjected my tires to pavement. At 9:30 the lot was full and there was a group of eight or so were heading into the canyon.

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Jeff

From past years, there is a section on Blazing just below Mojo that can have nasty mud right after rains. Sounds like that is roughly where the puddle is. It is usually good after a couple days though.

High Anxiety has a section between the two gully crossings that is really nasty day of and day after rain. Usually by the second day it is the most amazing velcro mud... actually sounds a bit like velcro as you roll but tires pick nothing up.

Generally the fire roads out there are much worse than the trails. I think that is why Blazing can be bad lower down, that lower part is an old road.