Southern California Mountain Bikers

Chantry Flats to Mt Zion

Mar 27 Sat 9:00 AM

Location: Chantry Flats Access Road

Arno Dr and Santa Anita Ave
Sierra Madre, CA 91024

How to find us
"Look for my silver Ford Escape, plate #3FBC - Phone # [masked]"

Attendance: 12 people attended.
5.005 (5 ratings)

Rescheduled to 3/27 due to expected heavy rains 3/6.

Due to the technical nature of this trail, steep climbs and strenuous hike a bike sections, big bikes are not advised nor would they help you much on the way down.

Check out the photos from our last trip here:
http://photos.3fbc.co...

We'll start this ride at Chantry Flats (that's the top of the road noted in the directions). We have two options on the climbs:

Interactive Ride Map:
http://www.mapmyride....

TOPO Map
http://topos.3fbc.com...

From Chanty flats, your first two miles of climbing up a tight switchback are rideable but slightly challenging. You'll have to watch out for protuding rocks and roots on your left while focusing on not falling down steep embankments on your right most of the time. Error margin is about zero on this part of the trail and the penalty for failure is severe.

After the first 2 miles, we have a little fun dropping into a canyon for the next 1/2 mile, and then soon after we begin our hike-a-bike section: a solid and very steep mile or so switch back hike up to the Mt. Zion.

From Mt. Zion, you'll be pleased to know that the rest of the trip except for the climb out at the end on pavement is ALL downhill. However, this 3 mile section of bliss is combined with many rocky sections that will require your focus on the trail. You are almost certain to get wet in this area.

Once at the 8 mile mark, we begin a short climb up a steep paved road to get back to the cars (about a half mile).

Don't let the mileage fool you. This will be some of the most challenging climbing you've ever done if you're accustomed to fire roads. The terrain in the San Gabriel mountains is far more difficult. We're going to be doing quite a quite a bit of hike a bike stuff, so be patient with us slow guys!

Warning: If you are afraid of heights, sharp rocks, steep climbs, sheer drop offs, gnarly and rocky water crossings, hikers, horses, and/or God, this probably isn't the ride for you. Embrace your fears and you should be fine, but there is no guarantee. You might become seriously injured or die on this ride. It all depends upon your own bike handling skills and speed. We are NOT responsible for you safety, but we will be there with you the whole way to guide you through this adventure and call for a rescue helicopter if needed.

Overall stats if parking at Chantry:
Mileage: Approx. 9 miles.
Climbing: Approx. 2300'
Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced, Strenuous Technical Climbing and Technical Descents
Time: Approx 3 hours or more with breaks

Radios: If you have one, bring it. We're on channel 7/7.

A forest adventure pass is required to park at Chantry Flats. If you decide to wait until you get there to buy one, be advised, they are double the price at Chantry ($10).

Photos of this Meetup

No photos yet.

Talk about this Meetup

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Mark Warrick
Everyone's comments are greatly appreciated! Thank you!

Posted Mar 28, 2010 4:37 PM
matt
Great ride! The skill level in the whole group was awesome which made for a challenging fast paced ride, I'd happily ride with any one of you again! Great weather, met some great new people to ride with and happy hikers, what more could you ask for in a ride. Thanks for putting it together Mark! Oh yeah and Colleen is a badass for sure!

Posted Mar 28, 2010 8:35 AM
Drew
Hey Mark, Sorry I took off. I waited a couple of times, but had some stuff to do... no one told me about the cement wall at the end. The garmin stats are cool!

Posted Mar 27, 2010 11:55 PM
Colleen
Can you see me smiling? Please, guys, don't try to top my "no brakes" fly-down adventure. The trail was amazing today. Lots of hikers which made it even more challenging to maneuver & keep a level head. Thanks, again, Mark. A quick stop at Incycle on the way home & now I'm set to go back in the dirt w/the proper braking power.

Posted Mar 27, 2010 9:20 PM
Sam Reynolds
Well that was a bit more than I anticipated! Lol. Awesome ride. Great meeting all of you. My apologies for riding ahead but the legs do what they must. Mark, thanks so much for putting it all together. I agree with Will, Colleen gets the Hard Core Rider of the day award for finishing without rear breaks. See you next time. Ride on!

Posted Mar 27, 2010 7:01 PM
Will Wright
Thanks for the ride everyone, nice meetup! Way to rock it Colleen!

Posted Mar 27, 2010 4:33 PM
peter
The whole time i tought they where behind us! LOL...Good times....

Posted Mar 27, 2010 3:32 PM
Mark Warrick
Sorry we couldn't keep up with you guys but glad you all made it around the loop just fine! I'm beat. Garmin stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/28192932

Posted Mar 27, 2010 2:58 PM
matt
It's not that I'm fast, I just know that trail is tight and crowded so getting 12 bikes through there is gonna take some time but it should be alotta fun, see you there!

Posted Mar 27, 2010 8:30 AM
Mark Warrick
No problem Matt, and anyone else who wants to go faster or take off - if us slow guys are holding you back and you know the route - go for it. See you all soon.

Posted Mar 27, 2010 7:35 AM
matt
Wow! That is a lot of people, I may have to cut out early if it starts to take to long, got some prior engagements to make but I'll make that diecision at the Zion trail head I guess.

Posted Mar 26, 2010 12:33 PM
Mark Warrick
Holy crap a dozen people? Man I hope I remembered the route! lol

Posted Mar 26, 2010 10:51 AM
Mark Warrick
I like Paul's excuse - too much local snow to show up for a Chantry ride.

Posted Mar 26, 2010 10:51 AM
Mark Warrick
Ahhhhh Chris that would take all the fun out of it if we made the trail smooth.

Posted Mar 25, 2010 11:10 AM
chris g
mark, why dont you clean up some of those rocks off the trail while you're out there...

Posted Mar 25, 2010 10:53 AM
Mark Warrick
The hike a bike section is technical, steep, and rocky with some tight switchbacks. If you're a super strong technical climber, you might be able to ride up most of it, but the switchbacks will be quite a challenge. Here's a photo of part of the hike a bike: http://photos.3fbc.com/20091219_Chantry_Flats_to_Mt_Zion/... - much steeper than the Backbone trail.

Posted Mar 24, 2010 8:24 PM
Sam Reynolds
Now when you guys say hike-a-bike, do you mean it totally unridable, or just really technical? Can anyone equate it to rides in the West Valley like Chesebro, Sycamore Canyon, Backbone etc? For example, Hummingbird trail at Rocky Peak is pretty technical but ridable. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Posted Mar 24, 2010 7:57 PM
Mark Warrick
Yeah the hike-a-bike part sucks, but it's worth it. We could do the ride backwards and do a much easier climb, but then the downhill part would be pretty short and pretty steep - and possibly have some sections you'd have to walk DOWN. Now that REALLY sucks!

Posted Mar 24, 2010 2:50 PM
chris g
hike-a-bike for a mile...yuck :(

Posted Mar 24, 2010 2:43 PM
David Covert
I'll make sure not to forget the pads for this one :o)

Posted Mar 8, 2010 2:26 PM
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Who attended?

12 attendees
- Mark Warrick
  
  “ Could have asked for better weather today. That was nice! We should definitely start the ride earlier in the day the future rides - lots of hikers! ”
- Mauricio
  
  “ Awesome riding! ”
- peter
  
  “ Awesome,Fun,very dangerous and i want to do it again next week... ”
- Sam Reynolds
  
  “ Great ride! Mark is a great organizer and picked one hellofa ride. Highly recommended. ”
- Rodney
- matt
- Colleen (+1 guest)
- David Covert (+1 guest)
- Will Wright
- Drew