Bad Moon Rising....

This was actually the end of the ride...as viewed from the trail's end right at the main road. Not really a bad moon. I just had that CCR song stuck in my head when we first saw the moon rise on our way down the trail.

I had debated much where to ride for Columbus Day Weekend. H couldn't go anywhwere as she had to work Saturday. I couldn't get any one else to step up either. So, I was going solo.

I'd heard a lot about the "Cannell Plunge" ride out of Kernville (hour or so north of Bakersfield near the Kern River Valley) and wanted to check it out. It is about the same driving time for me (maybe slightly less) as getting to Downieville. With the weather forecast showing it to be REALLY cold in D'ville and cold in K'ville, I decided to go with the warmer option and the chance to check out a trail I have been wanting to for some time.

So, Kernville it is. I managed to get a seat on the shuttle to Sherman Pass from town with Mountain River Adventures. There were 18 folks going on today's run. I ended up riding in a van that had, of all people, the owner of the bike shop in South Lake Tahoe that Peter goes to when he is in town. Garry and his wife Becky were there with thier fellow adventure couple friends Mike and Kirby. It sounded like they were the only ones that were going to attempt the bonus climb at the top up to Sherman Peak at 9850 feet on the topo map. Because I was there, I felt that I had to do it as well.

That would at times be a decision I would regret. I think we started riding at around 10am. It was bitter cold at the drop off point at 9200 feet. Someone said it was in the teens and I believie it. Riding to the top of Sherman Pass (at times pushing the bike), my toes, fingers, cheeks and lips were stinging numb. My core was fine. I even managed to sweat. But, my face was so numb, I couldn't quite talk very well. I think it took a little over an hour to reach the top, and for the climbing portions...I assumed my position for much of the ride...the anchor. The two couples had to be in their mid to late 40's, and here I am...the weak link in the climbing portions.

The view on top was pretty good. As you are clearly at the highest point around for many miles...you can see Mt Whitney in the background.














After warming up in the sun for a bit and attempting to dry out what bits of gear we got wet from sweating, we headed back down to Sherman Pass and the trail. Did I mention it was cold? Most of the trail on the way back down to the pass seemed very similar to various parts of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

We got to the trail and the downs were a welcome break to the climbing or bike pushing. Did I mention it was cold? At some point not too far after we passed Sherman Pass, we came across a frozen stream. It had probably been 2 hours or so since the other 13 riders passed through this section. In that time, the ice had re-formed to the point that you could not tell it had any traffic. It was that cold!

We spent the next several hours doing climb-descend-climb patterns...all between 8000-and 9500 feet. We got lost a couple of times. Lots of almost nasty rock gardens. Some good fast sections. Some crappy climbs. During many of those crappy climbs...I was at the point of wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was ready to quit. I didn't want to ride anymore and felt SO out of shape. It isn't often I end up on a ride that I am ready to give up early on.

We also got lost a couple of times around Big Meadow. Most folks say that you should avoid the ride through big meadow and instead take the fire road. Well, it isn't exactly as easy as it sounds. I even had a GPS track loaded on top of the topo map on my GPS. Due to what I think is receiver error in the trees...it was hard to find the track relative to the different fire roads until we got out into the open. Big Meadow...notice in the 2nd meadow picture...we are riding through it....hence the lost portion:

After what we thought was the final climb on the fire road (also finally along what we belived to be the right track), we got to do some sustained downhill. It was now probably 3:30 pm. And still cold. However, I think we were still up above 8000 feet. We rested and ate up a bit before hitting the trail. Started out fun. Then some uphill. Argh!

Eventually we had real good (and very welcomed) sustained down hill portions. Once we got to the "Plunge" portion of the ride where you descend around 5000 feet in 8 miles, the scenery opened up in dramatic fashion:


In the center is Lake Isabella, with a portion of the trail in the lower right hand portion of the frame. At this point, the trail isn't very technical. Just fast and LOOSE. It felt like I was driving a front wheel drive car in the snow, never sure if the bike was going to go in the direction you try to point it (massive understeer for me). Garry, the shop owner...was on fire. He was absolutely flying down this section...apparently some combo of great skill, experience, and perhaps a better setup to not experience the confidence shredding understeer issues I was having.

Here is another pic, just to prove I was there!













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And finally, we get to see the town again. Here is another shot looking at the last bit of trail. This particular section is pretty fast. I remember thinking to myself on this section: "I can't believe I am going this fast on a bike!" I have no idea how fast I was actually going since it was still too cold for my cycle-computer to function (batteries don't like the cold)





Overall, a real fun ride (minus the self doubt portions). Certainly worth the 5 hour drive. I was so tired...that if I returned home the next day...it still would have been worth it.

Now for the data points. According to my watch....3300+ feet of climbing. 9300+ feet of descent. About 5 hrs, 45 mins of riding/bike pushing. Somewhere around 32-36 miles...bike computer wasn't working and it is 32 on the GPS which is usually straight line distance. Factor in the backtracking for being lost and the distance covered due to elevation...well it is more than 32. We started the ride at 10 am and got back to the shuttle pick up point at 6 pm.

DAY 2: Whiskey Flats

I slept real well the previous night. I think I went to sleep around 8:30 pm and woke up at about 7 am. I think the last time I felt that I had been that worked over was the "Star Lake Fiasco." Maybe not even then. It was a welcome feeling of sorts. Brought back memories of trips to Moab where we'd ride all day, go into town to the Brewery for a beer or two and dinner (while sitting there with shell shocked blank experssions on our faces), go back to camp, pass out...wake up and do it all again the next day.

So, I didn't return home. After all, part of the mission objective for this trip was to scout trails to determine the fesability of taking H on the trails since her parents live in Bakersfield. I had heard of some other rides, but it looked like they were best done as a shuttle. Being solo and no shuttles being run by MRA and feeling a bit worked over still, I didn't think trying to do some of those rides without the shuttle was the smart thing to do. So, I tried to find out about other trails. Try is the key word.

I went into town to check out the MRA storefornt. I thought I'd be able to get some trail recommendations there. No joy. They had one girl working the store and she didn't ride. No maps either. Just a book that turned out to be the biggest waste of $17 I can think of. I asked here if there were any bikeshops around. She said maybe Lake Isabella. So, I drove there. Couldn't find one. Even fired up the Iphone to google "lake isabell bike" and got next to nothing usefull. Frustrated, I turned to the book.

I remember Paul and Sue said they rode Whiskey Flats when they were passing through last December. They recommended it. So, I looked it up in that worthless book. The book made it sound bad. But, I figured I'd still try to find it. Well, the book's directions to the trail head aren't quite right, but I managed to find it.

At the trailhead, I met two guys from Corona. They just got into town thinking it was kind of like D'ville where you had about an even chance of hopping on a shuttle with no reservation to get in a run. Kernville just isn't that big of a biking destination. So, they ended up tagging along as we explored Whiskey Flats. It is always nicer to ride a trail you don't know with other folks....even if they don't know it either.

This trail paralles the Kern River. Lots of Rocks in sections. Lots of short steep ups and downs...with an overall increase in elevation as you head up river. The short ups and downs seemed as steep as some sections of the Slickrock trail in Moab. Only throw in loose sand and rocks instead of super grippy sandstone surface. Yep. You guessed it (or maybe not). I was pushing the bike often again.

I read somewhere on line that someone had a good time doing the ride as a 6 mile out and 6 mile back where the whole trail is 14 miles up river. I decided that was a good goal considering the state I was in. Well, after 3 miles in...the two guys from Corona cried uncle and turned back. I pushed on...how could I only do 6 miles of riding? I tried to reach my goal of 6 miles out. But, frustration with the hike a bike portions and the eventual closing in of the trail at around 5 miles out (felt like the remaining portions of the ride were going to require lots of bushwacking), I turned back. The return trip was more fun, but again, some sections I couldn't ride up.....so I had to push. Like it seems with so many other trails here...I am guessing this would be more fun starting from the other end at 14 miles and riding it as a shuttle. Oh what fun it would be to have another person (and vehicle) to ride out there with.

Here is one of only 2 pictures I took on this ride....looking at the Kern River: