Tour De Los Padres 2016

[Roons]

OK - so planning a trip to LA at the end of Feb (26th) and figured I would possibly use the opportunity to ITT the Tour De Los Padres route. Being one of the earlier starters in the year I have a few questions to those who have done it before.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/11144097

1) Starting the end of Feb - will this be to early (potential for rain or snow?)
2) I will be arriving in LAX - does anyone have any suggestions to get to the start in Fraizer Park?
3) Any must see or stops along the way?
4) Anyone want to join me?!

Cheers
Dave

[ec_duz_it]

Hey Dave

1) It is already dumping snow in the northern Sierras. It seems like the weather pattern is different than the last 2 years.  You just won't know until about a week before.  You could skip the Mt. Pinos section which is the highest section at the beginning and just start in Pine Mountain Club instead.

2) The cheapest way would be get a bus from LAX to Santa Clarita, then an Uber cab from there.  Fastest way would just get an Uber straight from LAX.  Since the route ends in Santa Barbara, transportation back to wherever you want to go is very accessible via the local train station or airport.  

3) Cue sheets are posted from last year at tourdelospadres.weebly.com/ride--route-info for planning purposes. This explains some of the cool stops along the way and water sources.  The route might change a little for 2016.  

4) If you end up going I might join you for a portion of the route.

[ec_duz_it]

Just saw this photo on FB. New multi use trail going in along Mil Potrero Hwy in Pine Mountain Club, which will mean less pavement and more dirt for 2016 

[peteshoe]

Any idea on dates for 2016? It's new years resolution time in my household. I'm hoping to join you this year. Thx
Pete

[ec_duz_it]

Friday, March 25, 2016.  All info here: http://tourdelospadres.weebly.com/ride--route-info.html

[peteshoe]

Thanks Erin. That's the week of my kids's spring break. Bummer, maybe I can pull of an ITT.....

[ec_duz_it]

A little bit of scouting for 2016 yesterday for an alternate starting point.  The first half of the ride was a "maybe". The 2nd half was a "hell no".  Still an excellent day outside though.  

I am thinking the weather will determine where the starting point is this year.  With El Nino, there is a good chance the Mt. Pinos section of the ride might have to be skipped in 2016.  There is already snow and more on the way this coming week.  

[Roons]

Hey Erin

Do you think the 2016 gpx / route will be finalized by the end of Feb? If not I may just choose to Mt Pinos and do the 2015 route.

Cheers
Dave

[ec_duz_it]

I have not finalized a 2016 route yet, mainly due to the unpredictability of El Nino this year. It is pretty stormy along the route today! http://www.frazmtn.com/mount_abel_cam/

Here is what I am thinking at this point and I will try to post a GPX file that reflects these thoughts by later this week:

-None of the scouting riding I did last week will be included. 

-Start at a campground instead of in Frazier Park. 

-There will likely be too much snow on Mt. Pinos, particularly towards the summit. The summit of Pinos will not be included this year.   

-The hike to the summit of Big Pine Mountain will be included. Yes, its an on-foot hike, but it is worth doing. There will be snow there too probably. 

-Possibly having a different ending point, but I don't think that is in the cards this year. I was hoping the Franklin Trail in Carpinteria would be open by now, but phase 3 of that trail is still not complete.  http://franklintrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Franklin_Map-Kiosk.pdf   Maybe this trail will be completed by 2017.   

[robotfury]

Wondering if a 4/1 start date revision could be discussed now that SC400 has changed to March 11??

[ec_duz_it]

The start date could potentially be revised. There is nothing sacred about 3/25/16. If anyone else has any input on the start date, now would be the time to speak up.  

The thinking with the 3/25/16 start date was to ride through the Carrizo Plain during the peak of wildflower season which is mid March to early April. I know the last two years the Carrizo has looked like a desolate wasteland due to the drought, but with enough rain this winter, it might just look like this once again:

[robotfury]

Wow, I had no idea it looked like that.

[gmcdonald]

I'm new to the forum, but very strongly considering checking this event out this year! It looks like an incredible route and a lot of fun

I will say one of the nice things about a start date of March 25 is that many folks in the area get that day off as a holiday (the day Cesar Chavez is observed. I know UCSB gets this off)

[ec_duz_it]

Here are final 2016 routes and updated info:  http://tourdelospadres.weebly.com/ride--route-info.html

The starting date could potentially move to April 1, but I have only heard 2 opinions regarding that.  Starting on April fools day could be asking for trouble too!   

The starting point is at the store in Lake of the Woods instead of Frazier Park, so that those wishing to camp out the night before can easily do so at Chuchupate Campground on Frazier Mountain (that campground will be closed to cars until May, but will be an easy ride up to the day before and it is legal to bikepack up to it). There will be no late starts this year due to the shuttle breaking down!!!  

The initial climb and descent of Mt. Pinos is very abbreviated this year due to expected snow (only about half way up and down). If there is too much snow on Mt. Pinos to even ride that section, there is a chance that the starting point could change to mile 29 or so at Toad Springs Campground.  

Other changes from 2015 are:

-The on-foot hike up to the summit of Big Pine mountain was added (the summit is wilderness, but well worth the short walk up).

-Minor change in the Santa Barbara front country (makes that section slightly easier).  

I would like to emphasize that the "Proper" route is real mountain biking. There are long stretches of dirt road, but there are also some really technical singletrack sections that require adept mountain biking skills. There is also more walking on the "Proper" route. Those expecting not very technical dirt road riding and no walk-a-bike, should definitely do the "Tour" route first. The tour route is also a great route if you are short on time and only have 2 days or so. Don't try to surf big waves before you learn how to swim, would be my analogy.  

I will be riding the route again this year.  I think conditions on the trail this year will be vastly different and more interesting than the last two years.

Roons, it is your call where you start for your ITT.  For late February of this year, Toad Springs Campground is a likely scenario for you. If you start there due to snow, yet finish the remainder of the route, you will still be counted as a finisher. Just get on the Trackleaders 2015 map (that route is close enough). Here is a very simple website that will give you pretty good updates on current snow conditions: http://www.frazmtn.com/fmcoc/snowcond.htm

[robotfury]

Nice work. I like the new start. How do you expect trail conditions to differ from last year?

[ec_duz_it]

I would expect more snow, rain and mud and less dust. But the water sources that were stagnant last year should be flowing much better.

[Roons]

Hey Erin - for the on-foot hike - do you expect a hike-a-bike walk or leave bikes at the base and hike up?

[ec_duz_it]

Leave your bike along the fireroad(the road itself is not wilderness). Then the hike up to the summit of Big Pine is about a half mile. There is tin can register at the top where you can sign your name in.

[Roons]

OK - so looking at my set up for my ride end Feb.

Weather wise for that time of year - do you think I will be OK sleeping out or do you think a shelter of some sort would be better? Not necessarily just for wet - but also considering the temperatures?

You mentioned water will be more abundant that time of the year - what would be the recommendations for carrying capacity?

How safe is the route to ride at night? Are there any sections that are treacherous or non-advisable to do at night?

Thanks
Dave

 

[ec_duz_it]

For end of February this year, it is very likely you will need a bivy or other type of shelter, but if the weather forecast is good, you might be able to get away without a shelter.  Last year I did not use any shelter (but the weather was perfect and very dry).  Keep checking the weather as things get close.

There are two big dry stretches:

1) Ventucopa to Gilliam Spring (miles 45 to 129). The Selby Campground water spigots are midway during this dry stretch at mile 108, but those spigots are a man made water source (a water tank that is refilled by the BLM), so they can dry out from time to time. Although I have never seen the spigots dry at Selby, it is recommended that you do not count on those spigots having water. 5 Liters of water between Ventucopa to Gilliam Spring is recommended (then you won't have to do the out and back ride to get to the Selby Campground spigots anyways).  

2) Miranda Pine Spring to Chokecherry Spring (miles 145 to 189).  There are some "maybe" sources of water between these two water sources (see cue sheets and blogs), but they are definitely not "for sure".  Probably 4 to 5 liters would be recommended here as well.  

In other sections, carrying 2-3 liters will be fine.  

I would try to avoid these sections at night (although plenty of experienced riders have done these sections during night in the past) miles 112 to 134, miles 214-234, and miles 241-270.