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Not too many new posts this week, resulting in my spontaneous decision to hop in the car and go. Don't know where, but I have to back by Monday for work. Hope a few others out there read this, and decide to do the same (before we're all paying five dollars a gallon for gas!)
See you on the road.
ab
AB,
I was working in the office -- read your post -- and started looking for the keys to the rig. I will be on the road in an hour...
Mark
And I've got to stay and work, dammit!
Don,
Luckily, I have one of the amazing jobs were "working" looks remarkably like "goofing off" to the rest of the world. We did a quick roadtrip from Las Vegas to Temple Bar Marina in Arizona. The Brittlebush is in bloom and thanks to a recent rain squall, much of the desert is green,
Lake Mead at Hoover Dam is so low that there is evidence of long-lost items dropped from the top of the dam.
Sunset tonight was glorious. Now I am back in the office...
Just took a day to myself, hitting a few trails in the San Gabriel Mountain area.
Good to be outside.
ab
AB,
Have you ever driven the length of the ridge route highway? It is a classic. It needs to be done before the fire season starts and closes all of the access gates. Several Springs ago, I made it most of the way, but a large wash-out required a u-turn about 2 miles from the southern end. But ran across a LARGE bear out there when scouting one of the muddy sections.
I have some favorite trails in the San Gabriels, hope you had a great day.
M.
Where is the Ridge Route exactly?
Is it called by any other name?
ab
AB,
I found some great web sites with complete virtual tours of the old road. In brief, it was the orginal road over the pass, connecting Castiac and Fr. Tejon before I-5 was built. A really good map is on-line at http://www.ridgeroute.com/map.asp.
The last time I drove it, I used a late model Cadillac and it was a little iffy in some of the muddier sections. I made my passengers get out and walk in case I slid off the road.
I think you should use your roadtripper skills and go explore for us!
To get the Ridge Route, exit I-5 at Templin Hwy (about six miles north of the town of Castiac) and follow the old route up to Hwy 138.
We may organize a special RoadTrip America tour along the route is folks are interested.
M.
Hey, I didn't know you guys were around this area. I was looking for a drive over the weekend, ended up starting around the SG mountians, up to SB, across the 150 and 33 (great road!) and back down the 5. I've always wanted to go to the Ridge Route, but didn't have a chance to make it. I did stop to see fort tejon and pyramid lake, after 10+ years of driving within 20 ft of it, I never knew it was there. Kinda fun and interesting. Anyway, I'm trying to compile a list of interesting sites in Southern California, you guys have any favorites you wanna add? Not that the list on this site isn't great, but too bad there isn't one huge central list taylored just for me. I guess that's why I'm the one doing it.
We really like that road that goes east from CA-33 thru Frazier Park too -- some truly magnificient stands of manzanita along there..
In that same area, the road thru Lake Hughes is pretty fun. Be sure and stop for a soda/brew at the rockhouse: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/eats/rockinn.htm
Another road this is fun is to follow 33 north and then turn west of CA-166 to Highway 101
My favorite road is the one that passes Pine Mountain Club, from Frazier Park Rd to the 33/166 intersection. I don't know the name of it, but it's has good views and is fun to drive.
I don't think I have traveled on that one. Is it paved all the way down the slope?
You have to drive the Ridge Route. It is a classic.
Yeah, it's paved the whole way, about 34.5 miles. Either they just repaved it or there's very little traffic on it, because it's nice and smooth the whole way down. Next time I'm going up the Grapevine, I'll take a detour through Ridge Route. I wonder if this is the same road that was featured in Sunset Magazine about a year ago? I remember reading something about a route Starting from Gorman or something.
Harrison Scott is credited with almost single-handily "saving" the Ridge Route from total deterioration. The most scenic section of the route starts near Castaic. Going northbound, exit I-5 at Parker Road and turn right. This is the start of the Ridge Route. The road winds thru the mountains and eventually reaches CA-138 where you can turn west to return to I-5 at Gorman. A great web site has maps and photos at http://www.ridgeroute.com/
Enjoy!
Mark