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Ride to 12,000 Foot.

At the Summit 12000 Foot.

The day started at 7:45 heading toward Bishop to meet with my buddies to go for a trail ride. For fun, we add a little something to the mix we ride our play bikes. CRF 150's 11 HP and low (I mean low) clearance. Way fun to ride.

We met up and got on the trail at about 9. Out from the yard to the dirt trail adjacent to the road and on toward the mountains. Each of us with a full tank and with a backpack with a antifreeze bottle filled with extra gas. We anticipated a long ride. From Round Valley up to Swell Meadows via two track in sand, to Wheeler Crest, up sand canyon and one of the original sites fo the Kamikaze downhill, down to Rock Creek to Toms Place for lunch. Then back down to swell and back to round valley. Total we estimated 115 miles.

If you know anything about off-road racing, and the Class 11 car, that is what it is like riding the 150's For those that don’t know, Class 11 is stock VW Bugs. Low suspension low on power just a lot of fun. Same reason we ride 150’s Just because its fun.

Back to the trail, good spirits and full of go, the first three miles were on dirt road, dirt track style we all try to race one another. Then to sandy two track. Berms and quad groomed ruts make it extra fun to set the front wheel and carve the turns. Lot of rocks! We are cut short by a flat five miles into the ride. Turn around and back to the house to get a tube. At the house we found a CR 80, we pilfered the tube from the tire and off again. This time we are ready. The two track is really sandy and we are all over the place. Each section is unique and fun. For about 10 miles of criss cross sandy two track we finally come to highway. On to the pavement. This is a road any road racer can appreciate. Clean, curvy and sans people. Well almost. We started right into the turns. Before we knew it we were pinned and hanging off the sides trying to Supermoto the 150s the best we could. There from Round Valley up to Sky Meadow ranch. A secluded home area mostly second home owners. This is where the road narrows and the terrain goes from desert to forest. Under the pine trees and not much dust we start back up the hill at full speed. Across creeks over the rain run outs, and up to Sand Canyon. Pumice, beach sand and rock all rolled up into one slightly larger lane then singletrak. A preferred trial for mountain bikers for its degree of difficulty, steep grade and deep sand. There to the plateau and up sand canyon and to wheeler ridge. The road is laden with granite river rock. The poor 150’s have a hard time getting over them. Along with the threat of a flat you go as easy as you can but still with speed. Basically your using body English to align the bike to the line you want.

 

The Meadow on top of the plateau
The sign points up to wheeler crest.
Up Wheeler crest, the trail up is an old mule trail. The local riders keep the trails burned in because as the roads grow over the local agencies threaten and sometimes close them. This particular trail done on a 450 is usually a blast. Short straights with stair rocks and berm to berm turns. This trail was created back in the early 1900’s with mules and wagons soon to be replaced by loaders. There was a mine up there, I guess when money is to be made anything is possible. Back on the 150 it makes it a little more trying. Almost more effort to thread the front wheel between the rocks and up and over the sharp edges. Approximately 30 minutes later and using all the 12 hp which is now down to 7 hp We come to a stop for a rest. Just below 12,000 feet only five more miles to the summit. We added the gas from our back pack about a half gallon each A piece of jerky, some water and up the single track to the summit.

Looking over the Valley
The trail to this point is so narrow even the 4x4 quads don’t try it. I am told there are loaders mine equipment and even a jeep from the 80’s over the side. The punishment for failure is thousands of feet over the edge. So from here out the trail is hardly used. Standing there we were thinking.  How many people have stood there? We took in the sights and took some photos then headed back.

We headed down and wanted to get some lunch. On the way down the plateau, Somehow someone had driven their Ford Explorer to 'Explore' but they had high sided it on some rocks. OWWW. Bad place to be stuck. Not far from people but not real accessible. We got caught up in the ride down and forgot about the turnoff for Rock Creek. In doing so we explored new trails and ways over the mountain but only found the USFS thinning the forest and they all looked at us sideways. We headed home. We got back to the house around 3. Overall the ride was a success. Only about 75 miles but we were ready for a beer.

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