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

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.

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?

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:

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.