x-mas valley DH good to go

[gimpy]

just a shout out to the mtn biking folks who frequent slt's finest. rode xmas valley dh on fathers day and only 3-4 spots of snowwalking on the way up and the downhill is totally clear of snow. well axctually, there's like 2-3 tiny patches that you can ride through/around but it aint !@#$. trail is in great shape w/ a nice wet muddy section so you still remember you're riding after a big winter, but its a good mud and in keeping w/ tradition, i endo'd at the bottom tech section crux. one of these days i'll get a squishy bike and clean that shit.
also, lower toads is completely free of snow but i haven't heard the word on upper toads yet. anybody???????

[Arty50]

HELL FUCKING YEAH!!!! This is awesome news. Thanks, gimpy!

[watersnowdirt]

July 4 weekend should be fun!

[lph]

thanks for the update T. That is great news.

Congrats on the new addition to the family!!!

[Arty50]

thanks for the update T. That is great news.

Congrats on the new addition to the family!!!

No shit!!!! Congratulations, gimpy!!!!

[ja_surf]

Did a dawn patrol up Toads this mourning from Big Meadows. Did not have high hopes looking across to Waterhouse and seeing all the snow. At just under 3 miles you start hitting snow drifts that are manageable about a dozen of them up to the first lookout. From the Lookout up there is just to much snow still, going to be another couple weeks for toads to go. The Rim trail from big meadows is in great shape right now and it was a blast dropping back down to the car. As another sign of the huge snow year we hade the dormers on the outhouse building at big meadows were torn right off this winter.

[lph]

Thanks for the beta ja surf.

I am not surprised there is that much snow above the first lookout. I bet the first half of the downhill is almost all snow.

I guess I picked a good year to wreck myself so early. Probably gonna continue with the road bike until the weekend of the 4th.

[ja_surf]

Not surprised either after 15 years of riding that trail. One nice loop while the snow level is were it's at right now starts out a big Meadows climbing towards toads. Take the first right about 2 miles up and head down to grass lake. Go left on 89 just past the Luther pass summit go right on old Hwy 89 and drop down to Hope valley. Go right on 88 for about 1 1/3 miles and head right on the fireroad, I think it's the second left, it's pretty clear because it starts climbing right away. Take the fireroad up to Scott lake. Not to far past Scott lake the fireroad turns into a super fun single track down to the TRT. Either go right back to big meadows or head left for the x-mas valley down hill.

[lph]

Not surprised either after 15 years of riding that trail. One nice loop while the snow level is were it's at right now starts out a big Meadows climbing towards toads. Take the first right about 2 miles up and head down to grass lake. Go left on 89 just past the Luther pass summit go right on old Hwy 89 and drop down to Hope valley. Go right on 88 for about 1 1/3 miles and head right on the fireroad, I think it's the second left, it's pretty clear because it starts climbing right away. Take the fireroad up to Scott lake. Not to far past Scott lake the fireroad turns into a super fun single track down to the TRT. Either go right back to big meadows or head left for the x-mas valley down hill.

Ok sounds like a good ride, i know most of what you are talking about, except:

what is old highway 89? i am going over luther tonite? is their a landmark or something for the entrance? then when you get to into hopevalley what fireroad are you talking about? I know the fireroad that goes up to scotts lake and know the singletrack trail that goes from scotts lake to TRT.

[ja_surf]

Just as you start downhill on 89 over the summit keep looking to your right. There shold be what looks like a trail entrance, maybe some barbwire and some big boulders. I have not been up there since last fall so I dont quite remember what it looks like, will proably do it Saturday AM. Anyway poke around a bit and the trail will quickly turn into an old paved road that you can take all the way down to 88, ends up at the bathroom and parking area just west of 89 on 88.

To get to the fireroad you have to ride west on 88 about 1 1/3 miles and take a right. Then it sounds like you know the rest of the way.

[lph]

damn the more you describe it the bigger this loop sounds!

Ok, i will look for the trail entrance as i come up luther from hope valley tonite. I know where on 88 it will dump me from your description. but then I go west on 88 to get to the fireroad from scott's lake? won't that put me way west of pickett's jxn and on the wrong side of 89 from scott's lake?

i guess the fire road i was thinking of that went up to scott's lake was on 89 about half way up (or down) from luther pass?

now i am confusing myself.

[lph]

Ok, that clears it up, I was thinking about it ALL wrong. I had moved Scott's lake about 2-3 miles to the east in my mind.

that looks like a fun loop.

[Lou]

Schaweet.
Thanks for the info looks like the mountain bike is coming along from now on.
Nice tip on old hwy 89 also; I like to come down from Kirkwood (in the car most often) and ride up to Scott Lake, hit xmas valley and then go back down the way I came up. Heard about your route but now I need to give it a shot.

[Sierra Cement]

Thanks for the info on that ride Jeff. I've heard others rave about it, but have never done it myself.

FYI - High Meadows / Cold Creek downhill (from the top) is 100% ridable with zero snow patches. The middle third of the climb is especially brutal with the road sporting some big ruts. Keep your hands in the car at all times on the descent.

[lph]

FYI - High Meadows / Cold Creek downhill (from the top) is 100% ridable with zero snow patches. The middle third of the climb is especially brutal with the road sporting some big ruts. Keep your hands in the car at all times on the descent.

Did a combined corral loop high meadow loop the other day.

damn, that highmeadow climb is humbling. thought i was strong and in fairly good shape, but with that pitch and those ruts, it is one of the toughest climbs we got around here.

and the downhill. I am still a little gun shy from my fall, but that was a bit more technical than i expected. and yeah, you gotta duck, swerve, weave and bob to avoid some of those trees/tree limbs just waiting to knock you on your ass.

highmeadows is a beautiful ride right now. the meadow is incredible the creek is running high and there is still alot of snow above you.

thanks for the route description ja surf. that entrance for old 89 you are talking about is the same one people use for waterhouse.

[ja_surf]

Hey Joe

Did you ride all the way to Star lake?? I've dropped down a couple of times from Star lake thru High meadows, riding down those times was enough to convice me I never wanted to ride up!

[Sierra Cement]

Hey Joe

Did you ride all the way to Star lake?? I've dropped down a couple of times from Star lake thru High meadows, riding down those times was enough to convice me I never wanted to ride up!

Jeff -

I've ridden up to Star Lake.....once. It's more rutty road grinding (although not as consistent as the High Meadow grade). You end up riding back down the same road, I'm not aware of a single track from Star Lake down to Cold Creek - although if there were one, it would be worth it.

Len,
I didn't know you injured yourself. Hope everything is O.K.....but if you're riding High Meadow/Cold Creek you must be doing pretty well. Good luck on the Death Ride this weekend.