Ride 4 - Xmas Valley Death Slog & Mr.Toad's Wild Ride
The Toejam started off another fine day prepping the rigs for the trip & reloading the cooler with about $80 worth of groceries. Then some time was spent in downtown SAC visiting Crashette's 'Alley Cutz' salon ( KB had to pick some CD's she had for the day's drive up to Tahoe) where dB spotted Stevie Ray Vaughn on the wall, and saw the most tattooed and pierced guy he'd EVER encountered. A visit was also paid to Mike's Bikes in SAC to see about a pivot-bushing for KB's Titus 'Blade... but no luck there, we did score some new maps though and really enjoyed all of the Chris King jewelry they showed off in the showcases.
Once on the way our drive out to Tahoe was high-speed and the WX clear. Once at the trail head, maps were examined and the route configured. The day's jaunt would include over 4,200' of climbing, with over 500' of that hike-a-bike-boulder-scrambling up Xmas Valley Trail (no, we did NOT realize this as we started out).
Leaving the bottom of Mr. Toad's (Saxon Creek Trail) at 2:30 PM, daylight was to become an issue. We had originally planned to do the descent as a nite ride - but had talked ourselves out of it - WHY? There was going to be a free gourmet meal at the end of the day... oh, and it was GOOOOODDDDDD too!
As we mounted Xmas Valley Trail we encountered a few local bikers wearing incredulous looks and a cute hippie chick hiker who stopped to ask us, "are youse guys going UP this?!?!?" Our progress was soon slowed by triple black diamond ascents through boulder fields the size of Peterbilts. This first leg was all uphill technical ride/hike-a-bike. Now we knew why the hippie-chick wished us luck when we told her we were going up.
We did see a couple guys riding down before the nasty stuff really started - they were oblivious to us - we soon found out why... they'd just had the shit pounded out of them!
"The ascent took us through areas that had recently burned, vital to the area's ecological function." - CRASH
Lots of rocks and roots gave finally way to ultra-smooth buff trail as we ascended into the Sierra Nevadas. After about three miles of sketch-o-matic climbing, the trail became very much to our liking and we finally reached our first checkpoint which put us on a steep grade switchback ascent. The bikes seemed to fly up the ascent with no chain. Upon reaching the end of this section we found a super-fast buffed ribbbon of singletrack that wound down to Big Meadows. On the way Crash tried to pass dB in a chicane,the pressure caused dB to overcook a turn-in, bail off trail - saved it - and come right back into the track just ahead of CRASH who was trying to complete his pass - CRASH went off the trail and had to do a flying dismount as his rig somersaulted throught the air behind him.
AHHHH!!!!! Just like the good old days at Pandapas!
After reaching Big Meadows, we re-continued our climb on more buff singletrack (Jeffro and KB were wishing they were coming down this instead having to slog uphill with tired legs, dB was LOVIN' it).
The climbing included a stop to filter some water from one of the many creek crossings.
Two older ladies came hiking down the trail as doubleB led the climb and commented, "it is so nice to see young people in shape!" That was kind of weird.
Eventually this awesome climb with Nevada scenery gave way to a phenomenal downhill known as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - but before we could finish the climb, we had a temporary delay - Thanks to dB leaving his glasses behind at one of the picture taking points.
(dB Note - I did the same thing on this same ride five years ago and had to double back to find them then too!!!) Fortunately it was only 3/4 mile back down the trail and the trail was SWEEET!!! So dB left his pakpak in the Toejam's safe hands and hurled himself back down the mountain at ridiculous speeds to recover his shades. They were found exactly where he'd left them. Then humped it back up in time to see KB and Jeffro impatiently starting back up the trail.
Jeffro Note - We (Kevin and I) weren't about to ride downhill to look for Ben's glasses, instead electing to stay put while Ben went back to search. I declared this trail was to only be traveled in one directon (towards the downhill) and we occupied our time by stuffing Ben's Camelbak with rocks for him to haul the remainder of the way up.
... insert pic here.
(dB Note - When I hefted my pak upon my return I noticed it felt rather heavy, but discounted this due to the extreme altitude, thinking I must have filtered more water than I had remembered and due to my extra effort expended racing back up the trail.)
Mr. Toads Wild Ride lived up to its billing... a super burly rock garden started us off, claiming 2 of the 3 members of the traveling party. Crash led the group down, rounding a corner hit HARD after getting the right pedal hung up on a protruding rock. We heard various bashing sounds of metal - rock - bone and flesh down below and dB hustled down toward the eeerie sounds of disaster braving his own death and dismemberment in order to reach his fallen friend.
... insert pic here.
--dB - "The first thing I saw was CRASH all splayed out on the ground spread eagle on his face with his bike clear off the trail - both sprawled across rocks the size of cinderblocks. He was moaning and gasping and the blood was beginning to pool near his mid-section so I quickly put my rig up against a nearby redwood and began digging for my camera. A good cameraman always documents these things before offering help to the disabled. Eventually CRASH did one mighty pushup and began to recover his usual staid demeanor."
... insert pic here.
After laying on the ground & moaning for what seemed like an hour, Crash recovered strong for a scorching descent along the remainder of Toads. From here he was a Man On A Mission, pumped full of adrenaline and riding like a lunatic - it was all dB could do to keep him in sight as he styled, weaved and bobbed his way down this most heinous and technical NAR-NAR descent - the BEST downhill in California. dB managed to take the lead in one section, but promptly washed out in a corner of some deep powder and ended up on his head underneath the rig - this too was photo documented.
... insert pic here.
From there, CRASH could not be passed, and we all rocketed down the plunging mountain side trail.
The day's effort resulted in... 25.8 miles (dB), 4,200' elevation gain, 3:44 ride time, 40.1 max speed (CRASH), CRASH acheived full Regime points, and took the BadMoFo wallet for his post crash descent.
Once on the way our drive out to Tahoe was high-speed and the WX clear. Once at the trail head, maps were examined and the route configured. The day's jaunt would include over 4,200' of climbing, with over 500' of that hike-a-bike-boulder-scrambling up Xmas Valley Trail (no, we did NOT realize this as we started out).
Leaving the bottom of Mr. Toad's (Saxon Creek Trail) at 2:30 PM, daylight was to become an issue. We had originally planned to do the descent as a nite ride - but had talked ourselves out of it - WHY? There was going to be a free gourmet meal at the end of the day... oh, and it was GOOOOODDDDDD too!
As we mounted Xmas Valley Trail we encountered a few local bikers wearing incredulous looks and a cute hippie chick hiker who stopped to ask us, "are youse guys going UP this?!?!?" Our progress was soon slowed by triple black diamond ascents through boulder fields the size of Peterbilts. This first leg was all uphill technical ride/hike-a-bike. Now we knew why the hippie-chick wished us luck when we told her we were going up.
We did see a couple guys riding down before the nasty stuff really started - they were oblivious to us - we soon found out why... they'd just had the shit pounded out of them!
"The ascent took us through areas that had recently burned, vital to the area's ecological function." - CRASH
Lots of rocks and roots gave finally way to ultra-smooth buff trail as we ascended into the Sierra Nevadas. After about three miles of sketch-o-matic climbing, the trail became very much to our liking and we finally reached our first checkpoint which put us on a steep grade switchback ascent. The bikes seemed to fly up the ascent with no chain. Upon reaching the end of this section we found a super-fast buffed ribbbon of singletrack that wound down to Big Meadows. On the way Crash tried to pass dB in a chicane,the pressure caused dB to overcook a turn-in, bail off trail - saved it - and come right back into the track just ahead of CRASH who was trying to complete his pass - CRASH went off the trail and had to do a flying dismount as his rig somersaulted throught the air behind him.AHHHH!!!!! Just like the good old days at Pandapas!
After reaching Big Meadows, we re-continued our climb on more buff singletrack (Jeffro and KB were wishing they were coming down this instead having to slog uphill with tired legs, dB was LOVIN' it).
The climbing included a stop to filter some water from one of the many creek crossings.
Two older ladies came hiking down the trail as doubleB led the climb and commented, "it is so nice to see young people in shape!" That was kind of weird.
Eventually this awesome climb with Nevada scenery gave way to a phenomenal downhill known as Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - but before we could finish the climb, we had a temporary delay - Thanks to dB leaving his glasses behind at one of the picture taking points.
(dB Note - I did the same thing on this same ride five years ago and had to double back to find them then too!!!) Fortunately it was only 3/4 mile back down the trail and the trail was SWEEET!!! So dB left his pakpak in the Toejam's safe hands and hurled himself back down the mountain at ridiculous speeds to recover his shades. They were found exactly where he'd left them. Then humped it back up in time to see KB and Jeffro impatiently starting back up the trail.Jeffro Note - We (Kevin and I) weren't about to ride downhill to look for Ben's glasses, instead electing to stay put while Ben went back to search. I declared this trail was to only be traveled in one directon (towards the downhill) and we occupied our time by stuffing Ben's Camelbak with rocks for him to haul the remainder of the way up.
... insert pic here.
(dB Note - When I hefted my pak upon my return I noticed it felt rather heavy, but discounted this due to the extreme altitude, thinking I must have filtered more water than I had remembered and due to my extra effort expended racing back up the trail.)
Mr. Toads Wild Ride lived up to its billing... a super burly rock garden started us off, claiming 2 of the 3 members of the traveling party. Crash led the group down, rounding a corner hit HARD after getting the right pedal hung up on a protruding rock. We heard various bashing sounds of metal - rock - bone and flesh down below and dB hustled down toward the eeerie sounds of disaster braving his own death and dismemberment in order to reach his fallen friend.
... insert pic here.
--dB - "The first thing I saw was CRASH all splayed out on the ground spread eagle on his face with his bike clear off the trail - both sprawled across rocks the size of cinderblocks. He was moaning and gasping and the blood was beginning to pool near his mid-section so I quickly put my rig up against a nearby redwood and began digging for my camera. A good cameraman always documents these things before offering help to the disabled. Eventually CRASH did one mighty pushup and began to recover his usual staid demeanor."
... insert pic here.
After laying on the ground & moaning for what seemed like an hour, Crash recovered strong for a scorching descent along the remainder of Toads. From here he was a Man On A Mission, pumped full of adrenaline and riding like a lunatic - it was all dB could do to keep him in sight as he styled, weaved and bobbed his way down this most heinous and technical NAR-NAR descent - the BEST downhill in California. dB managed to take the lead in one section, but promptly washed out in a corner of some deep powder and ended up on his head underneath the rig - this too was photo documented.
... insert pic here.
From there, CRASH could not be passed, and we all rocketed down the plunging mountain side trail.
The day's effort resulted in... 25.8 miles (dB), 4,200' elevation gain, 3:44 ride time, 40.1 max speed (CRASH), CRASH acheived full Regime points, and took the BadMoFo wallet for his post crash descent.
posted by doubleB at 12:44 PM
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