I couldn't wait to post these pics from Saturday.... I'll let someone else write the Treader Report:

A few more:








thanks everyone for waiting for my slow ass...it was still fun even with all my mechanical issues.....

What a kick ass ride, well except for the OTB and when I fell over. My arms and legs look like I got in a fight with a bobcat, but I am not complaining. I'll bring some armor next time and there will be a next time (before the sheep start having babies) Can't wait to see the stats from this ride, I just know I sure didn't pedal all that much.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Offical Ride Stats:

49

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blog

Stay close to home and look what happened, no broken bones on our ride

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

evdog, GP_Pilot, moondogg, Ozz, 406, EMFC, Quiet Storm and I did a Palm Canyon Superepic on Saturday. Most camped up at Pinyon Flats while 406, EMFC and I got up around 3am to drive up and meet the crew at 6.


We hopped in Sean's Superepic shuttlemobile and drove up the Santa Rosa Truck Trail to near the top of Santa Rosa Mountain.

The road was pretty bumpy in a big van with a big trailer, and the bike's demon's were all shook out my the time we got to the top. Well, except for Ozz's rig that would suffer all the mechanicals of the day. He'd already had a broken valve stem while his bike sat in the trailer before leaving that set us a half hour back.


Temps not quite as cold as I imagined at the top, but a stiff breeze urged us to move. We climbed just a few hundred feet to the summit of Santa Rosa, then came back down and descended to the Sawmill Trail. This singletrack was way more fun than I expected with tight switchbacks, rocky sections, all combined with a loose surface and deadfall everywhere to keep it interesting.


Here the singletrack ends and tees into a dirt road. While Evan said he hates the road portion, I found it to be among the most fun roads ever, riddled with rocks, ruts and a multitude of lines to pick from.

12 miles later we arrived back at camp and filled our bottles and packs to the brim for the rest of our ride, which is the standard Palm Canyon epic. Let the singletrack resume!


Eric gets a feel for the prickly landscape. He took the award for most blood lost by the end of the day.


Matt feels the flow.


There's some bikers mixed in there. The Palm Canyon trail was more sandy than I've ever seen it, which made it quite a bit slower than normal and some of the fun factor was lacking in this part.


But once it got a little more rocky, the fun was on.


Eric singlespeeded it.


Brian seemed to be pleased with his inaugural Palm Canyon run.


Evan the desert explorer.


We gather at the end of a real sweet section.


Sean bobs and weaves.


Brian and Eric coming out of "thorny branches that will slice your jugular" valley.


Matt, you're ugly.


Mike pedals, THAT'S RIGHT - PEDALS!, up out of the valley. He did pretty well for a guy that claims to hate climbing.


The city comes into view.


Evan can't wait to get to the technical downhill on the other side of this hill.


Sean that Arrogant Bastard.


Ozz, just happy to have his bike running!


And we begin the dreaded, cursed, 3-mile but feels like 10-mile sand wash.


Who says there's no shade on the wash? Eric and I chill for a bit. With a breeze coming from behind you at the bottom, the only way to feel it is to stop.


Sean keeps it rolling.


The top of the wash is always a good moment.


Brian says "that ain't so bad!"


Ozz fixes his second flat, bitches about a loose bottom bracket and chain tensioner and is yet to suffer his broken chain.


On to Hahn Buena Vista trail.


Peak bagged and one of the most fun descents of the day awaits.


A shallow incline with some fun whoops brings us back to Dunn Road.


Heading back down and then up one last wash.


The final summit of the day is just past the Clara Burgess trail, and there was some serious cramping, bitching and questioning on how much more climbing at this point. "Just 3 more miles" became our answer for everything.


We rode (or walked!) out on a ridgeline to a final summit point. From here you could see Santa Rosa Mountain waaaaay back there where we started the day.

A super technical descent brought us to the fun of the goat trails. Facing diminishing light, we hauled as fast as we could and then wrapped up the day with the rocky stair step trail by the water tanks (after Ozz fixed his chain).

As Sean posted: Over 40 miles, over 3100ft of climbing, and over 10000ft of descent. Superepic sweet!

Way to go guys! That looks like an awesome day. That night, 406 said every time he closed his eyes he just saw cacti. Now I see why!

Great photos and write up Rob.

Thanks for the report on another impressive epic.

-James

Thanks for planning a great trip evdog! I had been wanting to do Pines to Palms for a few years now, but the logistics had always stopped me.
Thanks GP_pilot, EMFC, and moondog for driving.
Had a blast and can't wait to do it again after it rains. Was a little stressed that my tire might fail and/or get destroyed by cacti, but other then that a perfect day.
Nice photos Robo.

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strava:instagram:activejunky

killer writeup all. looks like an epic day, congrats!

Another OTB Eric? How is the wrist? Hope you are all ok.

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THOSE WHO KNOW, RIDE TURNER

Great job Robo.

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THOSE WHO KNOW, RIDE TURNER

I have learned to fall after the wrist issue, tuck and roll. Plus there was some big torny plant to catch my fall.

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A mountain biker who doesn't ride road has no legs
A road biker who doesn't ride mountain has no soul

Impressive guys, thanks for the awesome TR, felt like I was a part of it.