hey mark! is there a possible date for the newbie camp and ride?

Eddie,
I am going to plan an Encore trip up there the following or the following, following weekend. I cannot make it to this trip. Keep you looking balls peeled on the calender.

LOL! (<i don't use the lols that often) will do! thanks!

Will there still be snow up there at the end of May ?
Forecast looks sunny from now on. L

First time I did this ride was during May a few years ago. It was freezing at night, but beautiful in the day. As for snow - probably not, but if there is we'll deal with it.

Yes it can be very cold in May. Last May I was up there and it was 36, fog and a light drizzle of rain mixed with snow at the top. However, as the day progressed it warmed up into the mid 40's at the top. Naturally as you drop down it got warmer and really turned into a great day. Be prepared for cold and warm. One year I left LAX on April 10 to go heliskiing in Cananda and it was 110 when I left so you never know.

I'm thinking I may just do the day ride myself. I won't know for sure until next week.

can't be as cold as out last trip there. couldn't even start riding til about 10.30am cause everyone was huddled around the fire. if it gets really cold in the evening i may pass on the dusk/night ride.

I heard that there was a ton of snow up there today.
Better take your snow ploughs.

Looks like some snow on the lower part of Mt. Pinos in this webcam: http://www.frazmtn.com/pmcwebcam/ - I'll be checking with the forest rangers over the next couple weeks as the weather warms up to see just how much snow, if any, is still there by 5/22.

To give you perspective on what you're looking at in that webcam of Mt. Pinos, check out this map: http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/c/2/5/high...

The north face of a mountain is always colder and holds snow longer than the south face. Where we ride is generally on the south face of this mountain range.

Daily snow conditions posted here: http://www.frazmtn.com/fmcoc/snowcond.htm - the one we're worried about is Mt. Pinos. As of today is' 0-12" of snow, which tells me we should be fine in a couple weeks.

Ashford was there yesterday and said there was a ton of snow.

we're not going for another 3 weeks. a few days at higher temps and that snow will be gone. hopefully it'll make for more tacky conditions on the trail. look at the bright side lisa...more snow = fewer snakes!

No snakes, but what about abominable snowman? We could always bring snow shovels and have everyone clear the trail on the first run down!

Sure, sounds like a fun weekend.

Might still be a good bit of snow by then. Come prepared!

http://www.frazmtn.com/pmcwebcam/last24hrs_pmc_mtpinos.ht...

if everyone bring a snow shovel we can clear the trail on the first run!

FYI: Wendy and friends are scouting the trails out this weekend (May 16th I believe.) You can thank her personally on her Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=624202357

One of the group from STR was up there yesterday and had this to report:

"Rode there yesterday. A few big downed trees and some snow patches above Mt. Pinos campground. All in all in great shape."

Is there a designated time and location to meet, yet?

Here's a photo of one of the trails taken today: http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=1164587&o=al... - LOOKING GOOD!

hopefully no new snow with the rain this week

Doesn't really matter this time of year if it snows a bit. The ground is warm enough that even several inches will melt off quick. The sun is also much higher in the sky than in winter and there is a much greater amount of solar radiation coming in.

3 cheers for solar radiation...hip hip hurray!

Hey ya'll....riding in the snow is FUN!!! I've done it there at Frazier Park, the mountains outside of Seattle, in the streets of Brooklyn, NY....etc.

Hi Everybody, I am driving an RV and my bike rack will have room for 3-4 bikes and I have plenty of room inside. I would like to drive it to the top for the first run. I will be up there (lower parking lot) at 8am if that is when everybody is going to arrive.

OK gang, I scouted out the place on my way back from Sequoia yesterday. I only wish I had my bike with me. It was gorgeous! Some snow patches in the shaded areas but the trail looks tacky and ready for a day of riding!

The only campground that is open was Chula Vista at the top. Mt. Pinos and McGill will open for the season the day before Memorial Day according to the Mt. Pinos District Station.

The best review of the trail I have seen:

http://www.mountainbikebill.com/MtPinos.htm

Will probably have only 3-4 from STR at most it looks like

Some pics from yesterday:

Top parking lot
http://i50.tinypic.com/vy8ktv.jpg

Beginning towards campground
http://i48.tinypic.com/t7eq83.jpg

End of 1st section
http://i48.tinypic.com/10pu3b7.jpg

Start of 2nd section - log crosses trail at bottom
http://i50.tinypic.com/292r09i.jpg

End of 2nd section
http://i48.tinypic.com/2it4g77.jpg

Section 3 start
http://i49.tinypic.com/11gmzr7.jpg

I'll be doing the later, 9am start. Save some trail for me!

The campgrounds are in fact closed except for the one at the top that you have to carry your stuff too. There is one open called Campo Alto which is west of Pine Mountain and about 6 miles off the main highway. One can actually camp anywhere in the National Forest except in the closed campgrounds. A fire permit is required even for the use of a stove. You can get a permit from any ranger or on line. Just go to the Los Padres National Forest website and type in fire permit. I'm planning on camp

I'll have a small group of campers so when we are all together tomorrow we can figure out where to camp. I actually plan on Campo Alto but there might be something suitable closer that is unimproved?

Hey All, Just got a message from Paul. The trails are clear all the way down. The three campsites mentioned in this post are closed, however, you can camp anywhere along the road. Also, Paul and friends are camping over at Campo Alto which is open. (Check Google Maps for the location.)

Managed to get one run in yesterday in the late afternoon which was perfect. Woke up to a snow blanket ! Too cold to ride with the clothes I took up so we all agreed to get the hell out of dodge. It will be perfect in a week or 2.

Great trip everybody. I got 4 runs in on Saturday and the weather was EPIC! Woke up on Sunday morning to 3" plus inches of fresh powder on the ground and is was still dumping when I left. Should have brought my snow gear..... Can't wait for the next Pinos trip. A BIG THANKS to Chris G for giving us a ride back to the top on his way out on Saturday.

For those of you that didn't go you missed a great day. Seemed like fall instead of spring. The trail was in great shape and a fellow rider cleared the fallen trees. Thanks to him because they were big.

Check out the photos of the top on Sunday morning. It was 17 degrees when I woke up and beautiful blanket of snow covered the mountain. I did see three guys do the run in shorts that morning and I saw their tracks at the bottom when I left. Too bad we didn't get to ride Sunday but 4 runs on Saturday was sooo GOOOD.

What what wa - all the trees are chopped and gone? Really Paul?

check out some video i posted from the trip, sections 1 & 2 of the trail. i'll work on getting section 3 edited. i posted it on the SCOA site:

http://www.scoaoutdoors.net/cjg1964/videos/375

hmmm, this says 19 attended but i only counted 5...well, really 4.5 since lisa didn't get there until later in the afternoon.