Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Race Across the Sky

Leadville, a tiny city cradled at the top of the Colorado Rockies tests the dedication of avid cyclists who converge in August to tempt fate and the mountain. At a lofty 10,152 feet in elevation the air is thin and the 14,000' ascent of raw earth even more challenging. With places like Sugarloaf, Pipeline, Twin Lakes Dam and Columbine Mine the picturesque Leadville 100 Mountain Bike Trail is an awe inspiring race.

I visited the race in August 2007 to watch a celebrity cyclist, Floyd Landis ride. The perseverance of folks who achieve a goal where only 65% succeed spoke of their endurance both mental and physical. After the Sunday ceremony, infused with the passion and determination of regular people who love to ride bikes I have been working my own way up the local mountain.

Having seen only a small section of the course, I have the opportunity to see all of the Race Across the Sky on October 22. The celebrity match up is Dave Wiens, six time winner of Leadville and Lance Armstrong seven time winner of the Tour de France. Check out the trailer and a theater near you!

Rain Dance

The forest including the unburned portions will remain closed until the first significant rain has occurred. With that in mind here are a few rain dances to help jump start the weather.

The Native American Rain Dance





Sunday, September 27, 2009

Road Status Sunday afternoon 9/27/2009

Needed to check on Big Dalton this afternoon after ferreting out two sheepish teenagers this morning from smoking a joint or two. Some how the large signs about Extreme Fire Danger just didn't sink in. I hiked a bit around the trail and didn't find anything smoldering. Headed up to the gate and chatted with a new young blonde guard with a faint Eastern European accent. I decided the question of when will the forest be open is less important and less tangible for any of them to answer. So I am now asking if there be a guard here Monday and Tuesday. The answer was yes. She will have the Tuesday duty.

So with that in mind the road will be closed Monday and Tuesday based on the guard schedules.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Road Status Saturday 9/26/2009

Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road remains closed. The Angeles National Forest remains closed. The US Forest website has a new message

The main (southern) portion of the Angeles National Forest remains Closed due to the station fire and critical fire weather conditions. Once conditions have
improved, the closure will be modified to allow public access to some unburned areas that have been deemed safe for forest visitors.


Thirty two days and counting. Does anyone know of a group who will perform a rain dance?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

By the Gate

Met Ben a Senior Communications major at Azusa Pacific University at the gate last night. It's been many months since our paths crossed. He was preparing for Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Gran Fondo on October 3rd. It has been problematic with the GMR closure -- 28 days and counting. We talked alternate routes. I forgot to mention the obvious!

Baldy Road to the ski lifts are open. Take Route 66 to Baseline. Left on Mills. Right on Baldy Road. Through the village to the ski lifts.

I also mentioned Mount Diablo near Daneville in Northern California. Diablo Scott covers this mountain. Tell me about the Levi ride. Send a photo from your adventures, Ben!

January 2009:

Sunday, September 20, 2009

More on Palomar

Martin and Edith of Riverside Bicycle Club, as well as Ron of GMR have flocked south to Mount Palomar. Those cattle guards were mean! Did I mention how hot it was?

Road Status Sunday 9/20/2009

Road is closed awaiting containment of the Station Fire, however if a red flag warning is called due to the Santa Ana winds and low relative humidity as predicted the forest and the roads will remain closed.

Here is the information from InciWeb Site:
A closure for the Angeles National Forest remains in effect due to firefighters and crews at work. State and county highways within the Angeles National Forest continue to be closed for the safety of the public. Due to the intense fire conditions throughout the burn, roads are experiencing increased hazards resulting from destroyed guard rails, falling boulders, rockslides and hillside erosion.


The hillside erosion is impacting GMR on a daily basis from what we can glean from folks in the know. There is a flare up of the Morris Fire today. Those hot spots stay hot for a long time even after containment.

Heavy equipment and personnel continue to work around the clock on road and utility repairs. And there are still large numbers of fire crews and apparatus involved with the ongoing fire mop-up operations. Please call the California Highway Patrol for further information at (323) 982-4900.


Aircraft have been flying overhead all day today. Helicopters and fixed winged vehicles.


For the weather forecast...

...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER AREA - PORTIONS OF INLAND SRN CA LATE MONDAY NIGHT...

PRIMARY CONDITIONS: INCREASING OFFSHORE WINDS AND VERY LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITY (RH)

HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE GREAT BASIN LATE IN THE PERIOD...RESULTING IN INCREASING OFFSHORE WINDS LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUE. DURING THE DAY ON MONDAY...IT WILL BE VERY WARM WITH HIGHS WELL INTO THE 90S F AND MIN RH IN THE LOWER TEENS AND SINGLE DIGITS WELL INLAND. A MARINE LAYER WILL EXIST ALONG THE COAST AS WELL. OVERNIGHT...NLY WINDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH PASSES AND CANYONS WITH LOCAL GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 MPH INTO TUE MORNING WITH POOR RH RECOVERY.


I am ready to conduct a rain dance. Gentle rain only please.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Morris Fire Arsonist Charged

A 13-year old boy was charged on Friday with starting the Morris Fire. His arraignment is scheduled for November 17, 2009 in Pomona Juvenile Court.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Road Status - Friday 09/18/2009

Road remained closed and will be closed for the weekend. Security guards manned the gate round the clock to keep the general public out. US Forest Service personnel stated the road opening depended on the full containment of the Station Fire. I spoke with the guard Adrian at 4:30 pm Friday. Closed for the weekend.

The Station Fire Incident Commander Mike Wakoski requested additional helicopters to cover the hot spots over the hot dry weekend. Expect increases in aviation activity as well as smoke into next week.

The Station Fire is now at 93% containment. When referring to a fire, the difference between a fire being contained or controlled can be unclear. When a fire is contained a fuel break had been completed around the fire manually by hand line, and/or mechanically by dozer line. These breaks may also include the use of natural barriers such as rocky outcroppings. When a fire is controlled, it has been extinguished completely, including hot spots. When a fire has been controlled, the fireline is secure enough so that flare-ups within the fire perimeter will not break through the line. Therefore, just because a line is contained does not mean that the fire is controlled. The estimated containment date is now September 22, 2009.


I am more than ready for this fire to be over.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Meeting Tonight on San Gabriel Recreation Area

There is a meeting tonight September 14 from 7 pm to 9 pm at Glendora Library Bidwell Forum on a National Recreation Area for the San Gabriel Mountains. All of you who use the Glendora Mountain Road should attend.

San Gabriel Valley Tribune article covers some concerns rasied during the El Monte Meeting: Bicyclists, conservationists disagree over best uses for San Gabriel Mountains.

My concern is that there have been 17 deaths so far this year with approximately 100 accidents. What plans are there for the safety for those who already use the area for recreation?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Mt Palomar

After two weeks of smoke filled air, the Angeles National Forest still an active fire zone and a closed Glendora Mountain Road, my triathlete brother-in-law Steve and I headed south to San Diego County to tackle Mount Palomar on Tuesday September 8th. We found clear air, open road and 5,000 feet of climbing over 12 miles.

On the freeway by 7:30 am, Steve took 210 East to I15 and arrived two hours later at Pauma Valley. We passed several Indian Casinos along the way: Pala Casino on Highway 76, Pauma Casino and Harrah's Rincon Casino. Swank, four start "tents" in my mind.

We stopped at small mart adjoining Jilbertos Tacos for a snack.




Then we drove the course and spied one lone cyclist climbing the mountain. Eight miles up South Grade Road, there was a confluence of streets crossing paths at the Palomar General Store and Mom's Kitchen. The General Store opened at 11:00 am. We were a bit early. Mom's Kitchen opened on Thursday through Sunday. Doh!



We glimpsed the dome of Palomar Observatory via the auto and turned around to the Red Gate Road turnout near South Grade Road. This minimized the cycle time on Highway 76. We started biking at 10:46 am with a hot sun and occasional breeze. The scenery was breath-taking.



The climb was steeper than GMR. The traffic was light and enjoyable for a Tuesday. We took a break.







I took it slow. After two hours of climbing I was done. It was 100+F. We turned around after refueling at the General Store. Downhill was steep.

Steve's pictures are here.



It was a good ride and I certainly made use of the passenger privileges by snoozing on the way home. Thanks for driving Steve!

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Road Status - Saturday 09/12/2009

Road is closed and personnel are manning the gate.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Road Status

Friday morning. The portable sign blared the message "Glendora Mountain Road Closed Due To Fire". Not only was the road closed, the forest was closed to all non-essential personnel. While the Morris Fire has been contained, the neighboring Station Fire has slowly come under some bit of control.

Spoke with a US Forest Service personnel on Wednesday evening at the gate. He estimated at the road being opened within a week or so. This was better than the official statement of "indefinitely closed" given over the phone.

The Morris Fire jumped GMR burning vegetation up the hillside. Without this vegetation rocks tumbled down and littered the road daily. Berms and guard rails must also be rebuilt and replaced. The public works crew worked unencumbered with the road closed.

Saturday I will ride intervals up to the gate and back down. I will go out early to get status as of Saturday morning.

...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

GMR Signage

The electronic sign blinked "CAUTION" this morning. The additional signage at the gate was updated with Stop No Entry Fire Hazard.


Photo by Matt.

The Public Works Site said:

Glendora Mountain Road (FOR INCOMING TRAFFIC ONLY)
Closed from to Glendora Ridge Rd

Status: Completely Closed
Reason: CLOSED DUE TO FIRE. CLOSED TUESDAY 8/25/09 AT 7:00, CLOSED TIL FURTHER NOTICE
Closure Date: 08/25/2009
Reopen Date: TBD

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Station Fire

As of September 6, 2009 around 9 pm from the Mount Wilson Webcam:


The Station Fire continued its journey in the mountains. I am soooooo very ready for that fire to be done. Out. A memory. A nice dose of gentle rain to clean out the air would be most appreciated.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Forest Closed for Labor Day Weekend

Fallout from the Station Fire blanketed San Gabriel Valley the entire week. The fire consumed 147,418 acres with over 4,800 firefighters battling the inferno. The cause has been determined as arson.

The Angeles Forest Closure for the Station Fire covered a wide area. Glendora Mountain Road will be in effect for the Labor Day Weekend. The fines mentioned in the order were $5,000 for an individual and $10,000 for an organization. Serious money.

Additional signage posted by the lower GMR gate.



Photo by Matt.