Boulder Creek Semi-Epic Ride on July 5, 2009: Ride Report, Images, and Video

After first riding different parts of this route over the past year (see the videos here on YT) we invited others to join us for a Rough Riders Semi-Epic Ride on July 5, 2009. Eleven riders enjoyed a fantastic day of cycling in the first real hot weather of 2009: It hit about 100 at some points. The route featured "the greatest hits" of the Mt. Laguna back country: Viejas Grade, Boulder Creek, Lake Cuyamaca, Descanso, and Wildwood Glen Ln (AKA "Mad Max Road") with a start/finish in Alpine, CA. Total distance: 58 miles with over 8,000' of elevation gain. This route can best be ridden by an accomplished rough rider on a bike with 32mm or wider tyres. This is really a phenomenal ride and we highly recommend it!

Above: Viejas Grade

Above: Descanso store

Above: Boulder Creek

Above: Peter Bridge at the bottom of Boulder Creek

Above: Boulder Creek at the very bottom. Not much water in July!

Above: Catching some shade on the ascent out of Boulder Creek

Above: Working our way up and out of Boulder Creek

Above: Rookie Rough Rider Eric Larson with his Moots YBB CX

Above: After a refresh/refuel at Lake Cuyamaca

Here's a link to the video slideshow.
Turn up your speakers: enjoy the music & pix!

Route Sheet:
The 58 mile loop starts and finishes at the relatively new Starbux located at 2963 Alpine Blvd in Alpine, CA 91901 (along the I-8 corridor in eastern San Diego County). (Start location and mapping here.)
0.0 Start at Starbux in Alpine and head east on Alpine Blvd. (El. 2080')
1.1 Cross over I-8 at West Willows Rd.
1.3 Continue east on the opposite (north) side of the freeway.
2.1 Veer left shortly thereafter on Viejas Grade Rd. into the Indian Reservation.
4.7 Road turns to gravel - head uphill into Rough Rider heaven!
8.6 Summit Viejas Grade (still gravel).
9.0 Pavement resumes: Continue straight and downhill to Descanso.
11.2 Left on Oak Grove Drive (at Perkins Store in Descanso: GET WATER!)
12.8 Right on Boulder Creek (but first check out the llamas on the left at the turn).
16.6 Pass Sherilton Valley Road (Need to investigate this road. Looks interesting.)
16.9 Pass Dubois Truck Trail on left (Need to also research this dirt road). (El. 2780')
17.9 Pavement ends! (El. 3340')
23.6 Bottom of the canyon. Careful for water running across the road. (El. 2500'; 2:30 elapsed time)
24.0 Pass Ranchita Margarita: watch for ostriches.
24.5 This is the very bottom of Boulder Creek Canyon, during 1/3 mile of pavement.
25.7 Pass two truck trails on the left at a hairpin. (Need to research them, too!) (El. 2780')
29.5 Tiny church and a cemetery on the right, within the Inaja Reservation.
29.8 Mile Marker 17. (El. 3630'; 3:40 elapsed time)
30.8 Pavement resumes: Right (uphill) on Engineers Road at Pine Hills Fire Station (where you can get water if you need it).
34.7 Summit.
36.0 Right on SR 79 (Stop Sign, T-Int.): Go around Lake Cuyamaca.
36.6 Lake Cuyamaca Store on left; Food and drinks for sale. Bathroom down and around in back. (El. 4410'; 4:50 elapsed time)
39.0 Pass the Paso Picacho State Park on right; begin descent.
44.3 Pass East Mesa Fire Road on left (Must research this dirt road!) (El. 3770')
45.0 Pass Oakzanita Springs / 1000 Trails on left. Bathroom and store.
47.7 Pass Viejas Blvd on right (or you take it and get to the same place after passing the Perkins Store in Descanso); fruit stand.
47.9 Right to continue on SR 79 (Stop Sign, T-Int.). (El. 3390')
49.3 Pass Riverside Drive (our outbound route earlier). (El. 3210')
49.8 About a mile before hitting the I-8, turn right on Wildwood Glen Ln (AKA "Mad Max Road").
50.8 About a mile later, there is a gate across the road and then the pavement starts to disappear: keep going to the end!
52.1 Hike down onto I-8 and continue west on I-8 (this is a bike-legal shoulder).
53.5 Take first offramp, then left over the freeway, then right on Alpine Blvd, continuing west back to Alpine.
56.8 Cross West Willows Rd. (the way we headed out this morning); continue straight west.
58.0 Finish at Alpine Starbux. (El. 2080'; 6:20 elapsed time)

Riders and Bikes:

Brad Zlotnick on his 1989 Miyata Elevation 5000 mountain bike (fully rigid)
Peter Bridge on his Redline CX bike
Dustin Sharp on his ti Black Sheep with Rohloff hub
Chris Kostman on his 1984 Holdsworth road bike with Ritchey 32mm cross tyres
Elizabeth on his 1974 Williams road bike converted to 650B wheels
John Byrne on his GT I-Drive with 6" of travel, front and rear mountain bike (dual suspension)
Bob Hartman on his Fuso by Dave Moulton
John Corkill on his Aegis carbon CX bike
Lawrence Cayton on his Lemond CX bike
Mark Tolivar on his 1972 Albert Eisentraut
Eric Larson on his ti Moots YBB XC bike

Thanks for your enthusiasm, everyone, and thanks especially to all the Rough Riders who rode today! We look forward to seeing you "out there" soon! (Stay tuned for the announcement of another Semi-Epic Rough Ride in the near future!)