This thread has been created as a forum to discuss the following trip:

Trip Name: Noble Canyon .......then PIE!!
Date: from 11/10/2007 to 11/10/2007
Posted by: Maurice Biddles

Please post any question or comments about the trip below.
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Ok so I am leading the faster group.  By fast I do not mean racer.  I mean we will not stop to take pictures and commune with nature.  We will keep it moving.  It also means your bike is ready for it.  Tire pressure, shock pressure, etc.  We are planning to be pedaling at 7:30.  This means that you will probably need to be in the parking lot by 7.

 

Option A – Standard Noble, we can do extra credit group willing.  Extra credit adds a mile or two at most but significant difficulty.  We head up and then at mile 3.6 or so we turn down a 2 track.  This is a fun rolly jeep road that will take us to the bottom of Indian Creek.  Indian Creek is the kind of single track you dream about, the only issue is you are climbing it.  It has sections of 14% and is around 2 miles long.  This will take us to the summit of Champagne pass.  From here we do a sweet DH to the valley and another small climb up to Noble.  When we hit Noble we will go left and climb to the top.  This is usually where we have something to eat and regroup.  At this point we just turn around and descend Noble.  There is only one appreciable climb from this point to the cars.  This whole ride is only about 22 miles plus a couple if we do “Extra Credit.”

 

Option B – AKA Figure 8 Death March.  The route is the same as above but at the top of Noble we go out onto the Sunrise Hwy and go to the top of Pine Mtn Trail.  We do a small climb then a small DH and end up at Champagne Pass again.  We turn down Indian Creek which we climbed about 45 minutes before.  This is class A DH.  At the 2 track we back tract to the Oak Tree and turn up the road to the 2^nd road crossing on Noble.  This adds about 10 miles to the above route give or take and is well worth it.  I have done all the variations here and this is the best by far – most bang for buck.

 

We will just see what the majority wants to do and go with it.  Be ready.

 

Note – I have ridden all these trails many times with no issues but last time I was here I broke BOTH my hands.  Believe in your self and there is nothing all that hard here.  It can all be ridden.  Doubt your self and keep in mind it is a long bumpy trip to the car.  Ride within your limits.

 

Verizon cell phones work on and off in this area.  Email me and we can trade cell numbers before the big day.  I suggest beer and burritos in Alpine afterwards.  I know a good spot.

UPDATE*****

I called the Descanso division in Cleveland National Forest and as of today (11/2/07) the entire national forest is Closed. This includes Noble.

I'll call back Tues or Wed to get an update. If the situation doesn't change we'll start talking alternatives.

Justin route A describes the route that I'll be leading with a couple of differences.

Maurice,

I want to do this ride but I don't think I quite ready for it yet.  Next time , if there is a next time.

 

Lois- from what Maurice described, I think you can do it. no problem.

well, it looks like I will probably not be ready myself for Noble and I'm really bummed about it. I hurt my back this past weekend on the Nelson trail near Kernville (awesome trail! reminded us all of OR). I tried to do a 2 foot jump and landed hard on my back. I'm not sure why I even tried it since I can't even do a half foot jump w/o feeling like i'm going to endo. Stacy cleared it. Geno made it look so easy and FUN, which I guess, is why I went for it.

I'm feeling better today (I can tie my shoes now w/ only slight pain) but its not looking good for a long, high mileage ride this Sat. selfishly, I'm kind of hoping we will have to postpone Noble...maybe Dec 1st?

Linh!!!   We'll have to get Stacy to give us jumping lessons.

Dec 1st I have to do the family Thanksgiving thing in Big Bear.  (anyone want to ride Big Bear?)  What about Dec 8th or 9th? 

Damn, Nelson's on the MTBR radar. Time to move on.

L- Dec 8/9th also works for me.

G- actually, I don't think Nelson is on the MTBR radar. we were at the MTBR tribal gathering but we did our own rides. A friend who lives in the area and knows the trails well, planned out all our rides for us, for both days.

Linh,

I have Lois' walker and a bunch of extra pain meds if you need them.

R

Sweet. It's not Jeff Sherman or one of his buddies? If so, we're friends of friends of friends or something like that.

Early November probably meant that there weren't too many people up at Nelson.

Heal quick.

no, not Jeff. its Geno and he help build many of the jumps you see along the trail.

thanks, Randy, but I can still walk :)
I'm just having a difficult time bending. Its so rare that I take meds that the bottle of advil I just opened is expired. I think they're still good for a few months after DOE so i'm taking them. Stacy got the first part of my fall on video and i gave Geno publication rights. he wants to put it on his website, probably titled "whats the worst that can happen?" (my famous last words to Geno).

Lois, i'll keep Big Bear in mind for that weekend. maybe we can get Grayson to show us some trails and stay at his hostel (unless it burned down).

It's my fault, I talked her into it. But I do have the video on my camera if you are interested.

Are all the Nobel riders coming to Julian for the Sunday ride?

Youtube!!!! Sorry Linh....

As I wrote in the email going around, it looks like way, way too many trees down at Noble right now. I heard you can't ride a clear 100 yards the whole way (but that may have been exageration).

I am going to postpone my visit until we get a good trail condition report

OK, so what's what? I'm putting it out there to postpone and want to get some feedback from the group. Again, if kent is even partially correct this weekend may not be the best. So lets here it......IS NOBLE A GO OR A NO GO. Chime in if you're signed up for Sat

on a different topic, I for one CAN NOT WAIT to see the Linh's video!! You've all seen my bumps and bruises so lets see it. YouTube it is!!!!!

I suggest postponing about 6 months and I might join you.

Winston and I will be riding the Julian MTB ride on sunday.  We have to do football on Saturday.

lois, ucla is playing az st. it won't really be a football game. more like lambs to the slaughter.