A friend of mine organizes a Laguna campout every year at this time. Her main requirement is women, wine, dogs & bikes. Families and men are welcome, but optional. It is always fun and relaxed, with great folks.


It was interesting this year, because the meadows were prematurely brown, but yet there were still quite a few recently bloomed flowers.

It was getting hot, but there was a really good breeze, and the place is just so damn beautiful.

I nearly always run into DirtTreaders at BLT. This is Scott aka b5driver on his Yeti at the top of Los Gatos. I think this may have been the first time I've climbed Chico Ravine to the top without ever pausing or dropping into granny gear. Pretty damn slow, but steady. I will take any small victory I can get over decrepitude.

Seemed appropriate...a little out of focus, but so was I.

We were camped at a group site right next to a fenced-off habitat area for the Laguna Skipper butterfly, so I was hoping this was one, but it's not (I looked it up later). This is called a California Sister. We saw a very large and handsome Southern Pacific rattler on the BLT, a beautiful chocolate brown, but it got off the trail into tall grass before I could get my camera out, rattling as it went. I've never seen a rattler that big move that fast, so I didn't try to follow him into the grass for a picture.

Relaxed lap around BLT this morning. Back at camp, Carl headed out again for Los Gatos on his single speed before we left. I wasnt feeling energetic, and even with him on an ss, there's no way I could keep up with him climbing Chico. But I still wanted to ride more, and I wanted to try a trail I'd never done, so I packed up and parked at Pioneer Mail to do a solo Champagne Pass loop...even though I knew it was going to be much longer and harder than Chico, and in the hottest part of the day.

View headed to Champagne Pass. I did not see anyone else on this ride until I intercepted the Noble Canyon trail much later. I climbed a section of steep fireroad to access the Pine Mountain singletrack. I didn't realize I could've climbed pavement a little ways further and then cut back on all singletrack. Once I got on Pine Mountain trail, it was a really nice trail contouring upward, that even I could climb in the middle ring, which was a relief.

I got here sooner and easier than expected. The descent down Indian Creek was a blast, and I learned why it's called Pinball. It was top gear, flying over rolling dips and through scattered loose rock. I really had to curb my enthusiasm though, because I did not want to screw up way out here by myself.

The climb out of Indian Creek up to Noble was beautiful. Very narrow singletrack, lots of flowers - lupine, Indian paintbrush, ceanothus, and firecracker weed here.

Paleface looking mighty red on Indian Creek. I never had to walk the bike, but I took short breaks in the scant shade. I was feeling pretty overheated at this point, so I took a picture of myself to see how red I was. Very, so I drank lots more water and electrolyte. After the three road crossings, I was tempted to hit the FS road out to the highway, but continued uphill over to Penny Pines, thinking how good water from that faucet would feel on my head. And it did.

White line fever on the highway back to Pioneer Mail, lunch and iced coffee. I had thought it was a day use fee area and had a fiver ready, but it was an Adventure Pass lot, and I didn't have a pass. As I started out, a ranger pulled in, so I stopped him, and he said not to worry about it. Nice. A good day.

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Great TR as always Dan. Sounds like you really enjoyed the day out there

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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

Great day out there yesterday, nice to run into a familiar face towards the end of our ride. We ran into a couple of rattlers too on BLT. Tis the season I guess.

Friends, bikes, camping, some exploring, beer and coffee... Posts like this make me happy!

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It is not enough to fight for the West; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it's still here. -Edward Abbey

Ha Ha! I just want to be clear, the priority would be on single men if any would show up - just sayin'! But after that, Dan is absolutely right! Dogs, Wine, and Bikes!!

I was up there yesterday, too, but it seemed pretty hot to me. Climbs that I usually just scamper up I was walking, so I headed back to the Ray-van and kicked back in the shade until around 3:30, and then rode the Los Gatos Chico loop.
I guess I can add heat to conditions I don't tolerate too well.

BTW, for those of you who camp up there, BLT and connected trails makes for a blast of a night-ride!
Not to mention the Perfect Cycling Trail.

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Scum on a Bike

Well all right...joined two years ago and we now get the first post! She organizes this and pays for the groupsite herself, then just asks her camping friends to donate to California State Parks instead of paying her. But I changed it up this year and donated to the IMBA Access Fund instead. I figure if she ever reads this comment she might like it.

[BTW, if anyone wants to try that short Champagne Pass loop sometime while up at BLT, I reckon from the map (no GPS for me) that it's about 9 miles and 1500' elevation change.]

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Thus, if we are to understand the world, we should live somewhere between judgement and amazement — Alfredo Lopez Austin

Finally on the site (again) and re-read this post - what nice pictures Dan!! Thanks for the memories!