One Thousand Feet At A Time

Why on earth would someone climb the San Gabriel Canyon Trail from Azusa, CA to Angeles Crest Highway? Easy, there are gates blocking you from experiencing the lure of stunning scenery, difficult yet rewarding climbs and heart stopping descents. Of course you have to go!

These pictures are a compilation of six or so trips to the top of San Gabriel Canyon. My first trip to the top was in April 2010 with John Corta and Victor Boradora. These guys are the typical skinny cyclists every clydesdale like me fears and loathes.

Below, it's a shame some of the elevation signs have been stolen because there's a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you see one coming up and then just ride right past it.

Only the beginning...

The air is going to start getting thin real soon.

This one is special. Only one more marker and that one's been stolen. The crest is at  6600ft.

The view from 5000' looking back.

At 6000' we had to tiptoe through a rockslide, though no worries.
It was all good after crossing 25 yards of freshly cracked mountain side.

Somehow I've never taken a panoramic shot from the top of Angeles Crest. It's stunning because to the east you can see clear across the high desert to Victorville and beyond. Walk to the other side of the road and you can see the steel and concrete of Los Angeles and if you're lucky you might get to see Catalina Island.

On July 15, 2011 I made my most recent climb with a relative newbie. Guy wanted to go to Crystal Lake which is open to the public. Yes, San Gabriel Canyon road is now open to within 4 miles of Angeles Crest.  Hopefully the last part will be finished before California runs out of money as this is one of the most beautiful climbs in Southern California.