Smoke Signals Fall 2002

Morton Peak Ride, A View From The Back Of The Pack

By Genny Devries

As all rides go, this one started out just fine. Long warm up to the climb, temps were just right for riding, legs were feeling pretty strong for a 27-mile ride along the Santa Ana River Trail, the scenery is just beautiful...and then there is the realization that the ol' fitness level isn't all I thought it was and the pack has pulled away, leaving me to my own devices on Highway 38.

The 3-mile road ride on Highway 38 from Mill Creek Ranger Station is neither steep, nor challenging, and it is a chance to look over the side of the road at the Santa Ana River below. Rebecca Sieder rode with me for the duration of the road ride, and once we got onto Old Highway 38 at Loch Leven, her stronger legs and better fitness left me back to enjoy the scenery on my own.

Old Highway 38 is a steady, middle chain ring climb that crosses old sections of asphalt still sporting old, faded paint that once divided automobile traffic. Most of the road has been reclaimed by Mom Nature, and a well-worn singletrack developed through the dirt. Eventually, Old Highway 38 reconnects with the new Highway 38 in Angeles Oaks. At the 11-mile mark, we regrouped at the Angeles Oaks Country Store for water and snacks.

As a group, we pedaled off on the fire road behind the Country Store and onto the Santa Ana River Trail, whooping and hollering down the swoopy singletrack. At the base of a quick downhill, I heard a little twanging coming off my rear wheel. A quick look and I noticed a spoke dangling from the hub, snapped clean in half. Keith E. dispatched the broken end with his Leatherman, checked the wheel's trueness, and we were off again, this time riding with Bob Loeffler, Tam and Allison.

Swooping through the pine trees and descending slowly into oak trees and chaparral, we came to the first fire road crossing and continued on SART. The singletrack here is not as well maintained and is narrow in sections and sometimes extremely sandy. Tam and Allison made good time down the hill, with Bob following closely behind them.

At the end of a short, steep downhill section, we reached the last fire road climb up to the Morton Peak fire lookout. Actually, at this point we could have bailed out and taken a left down the fire road back to Highway 38 and ridden the road back to Mill Creek Ranger Station, but we turned right and climbed in the heat and smog up to the junction of the fire road and the last two-mile stretch of singletrack.

Midway through the climb, I had a whiney moment and right about the same time, I ran out of water. Looking back over my shoulder, I could see the climb we just completed and where the fire road joined Highway 38. Oh the temptation to just point my pimp-stylee machine back down the hill and onto that pavement! But Bob, Tam and Allison kept on toward the singletrack, and my pride and ego would not let me go back down that hill!

Finally, the promised singletrack and we're nearer to the end of this ride out of the heat and smog! We already covered 27-miles before we descended and it seemed to take a little wind out of our sails. We finished onto a fire road that took us back to the Highway just below the ranger station and the last mile and a half up the pavement was a nice break to drop your head and spin.

Just over thirty miles into the ride and six hours after we began, the only person left from our initial group was Dennis Gallegos, waiting patiently in the parking lot. Next time he goes out on a group ride, he'll choose to carpool with someone who can finish the ride with the group! Mucho mahalos, Dennis, for being such a good sport!

We finished the day with a stop for Mayan food, where we met up with the main group as they were leaving the restaurant. They were relieved to see that the five of us finished the ride unscathed and all with smiles. To sum it up, Morton Peak is a great ride, but maybe better left for the cooler part of the year. October would be just about right!

Hydration Essentials

Complied by Ed Kostiuk

Water's Role in the Body:

Water helps nearly every part of the human body function. Considering that our bodies are almost two-thirds water, understanding water's important role in the body can be a fountain of health. The following are just some of the things water does in the body: