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A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 9:08 pm
by dima
This weekend Taco, Kris and I went out to ride a big loop in the Anza-Borrego desert. It was supposed to be a chill, deserty ride: warm and dry.

We started riding from Pauma Valley on Fri morning by climbing the unpaved Nate Harrison Grade up to Palomar Mt. It was steep, so Taco used his manual transmission to switch into the granny gear

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It worked, and he was delighted:

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The road is steep, and nice views open up as you ascend

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Apparently gliders use this area as a launching point

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After ~ 4000ft of gain, you could see the top of the main climb

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And soon after that, we entered the state park, met a paved road, and found weird white stuff on the ground.

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It would come and go; at this point traction mostly wasn't a problem. We kept riding, admiring the getting-more-pleasant surroundings. Then we stopped for caffeine. I made coffee, and Taco drank his "Bang" cotton-candy flavored energy drink. It contains super creatine, bcaa aminos and natural flavors. It is also a potent brain and body fuel.

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We kept riding. The pavement disappeared again, but the terrain was still top notch.

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We then crossed this creek:

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The crossing was frozen, but the ice broke through when Taco was riding on it, sending him over the handlebars. He was banged up, but was in good-enough shape to keep riding

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Then there was a meadow

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and an observatory

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The road we were on (Palomar divide road) passes behind the observatory, with no obvious access to it. We were running short on time, so didn't try very hard to visit. That's ok; we looked at San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and the craggy Cahuilla mountain instead.

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The lookout tower at the high point of Palomar Mt came into view, and we took a small detour to visit. The area immediately around the tower has burned recently:

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No matter. We summitted, found an unopened beer sitting on the table, and celebrated a succefful ascent by splitting it 3 ways.

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Miller Lite isn't the best beer I've ever had, but at least none of us got the plague; yet.

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I couldn't find the benchmark, so this reference mark would have to suffice

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The descent down was more icy than the climb. Traction was a problem, and there were some falls. Nothing requiring rescues.

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But there were views!

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We popped out onto the highway just after dark. Now we were just 30 miles away from the day's destination: Borrego Springs. Taco remembered this being mostly downhill, so it was going to be a breeze. After many cold hours of riding and 1400ft of gain, we crested the top of Montezuma Valley Rd, and descended into town.

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The next day was a 70-mile paved ride back via Julian. We passed by lots of metallic wildlife

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Then we climbed over Yaqui Pass, and took a photo by some road marker.

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After climbing Banner Grade we arrived at Julian, and were surprised to see it completely full of non-cycling folk. We had the customary pie: Boysenberry-Apple crumb. It was quite good.

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Then it got dark, and started raining. And 40 short miles later, we were done!

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:10 am
by tophwedg
It probably would've been a good idea for me to bring pants for the rainy/snowy bits.
Here is what the campsite looked like before Dima and Taco woke up with the sunrise over the Salton Sea. -kris
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Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:06 pm
by Taco
Ok so let’s go again but in spring, when conditions will be warm or whatever. Right guys? Alright guys.

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:39 pm
by Sean
dima wrote:Then it got dark, and started raining. And 40 short miles later, we were done!
I bless the rains down in Julian!

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:18 pm
by headsizeburrito
Nice report, looks like a very cool trip!

I've passed Palomar Mt many times and wondered about it while driving in and out of Borrego Springs, but never actually stopped to check it out. Looks nice a nice spot and I'm glad you all survived the plague beer (so far).

Montezuma Valley Rd is quite a hill, I've definitely been a little worried for the bikes I've seen there due to the limited shoulders and blind corners!

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 5:32 pm
by dima
headsizeburrito wrote: Montezuma Valley Rd is quite a hill, I've definitely been a little worried for the bikes I've seen there due to the limited shoulders and blind corners!
Oh, that's OK. We did it in the dark.

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 9:50 am
by tekewin
That's a wild trip. You got to see some rare San Diego snow.

There is no public access between the Palomar high point and the observatory, all private in holdings and fenced roads. The plague warning is kind of scary. The pie looks great!

Follow up info on plague in ground squirrels on Palomar

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 12:39 pm
by Girl Hiker
Nice report. I enjoyed the pics especially the one where one of you is peeing! LMAO! sorry guys but that's what it looks like.

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 1:52 pm
by HikeUp
Girl Hiker wrote: Nice report. I enjoyed the pics especially the one where one of you is peeing! LMAO! sorry guys but that's what it looks like.
It's called electric fence testing method #1.

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2019 5:32 pm
by JeffH
There was a Mythbusters episode on that topic.

Re: A bike loop in Anza-Borrego

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:54 pm
by AW~
Good deal. Ive been to Julian a couple times. Palomar looks nice too. Thanks for sharing.