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Gorman aka Hungry Valley OHV Area 3-26-2014

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Just got back from an amazing trip to Gorman..

Never been there before but some of my Supermoto buddies that live up there rave about it so i went to check it out.. WOW!!!!

We covered 65 miles of fast paced single track and only did maybe a 1/3 of it..

All of the trails are labeled like ski slopes, Green Circle, Blue Square, Black diamond.. They even have a huge MX track inside the park, and a small one for the kiddos..

First time here and definitely not my last! Its a drive, but well freaking worth it! Oh, and they allow camping too! Probably a good idea to spend the night there (i spent night BEFORE, and did it backwards, FAIL) after riding all day..

Place is freaking amazing! Highly recommend it!! Oh, and cost is $5 PER VEHICLE!!

Plates arent required, but registration is.. Red sticker ends May 1.. Then Green Sticker or Plates only, and yes, they were checking!

Some pics:

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This is an example of one of my favorite things about being part of SDAR.

Having such a huge varity in riding styles is super cool and I really enjoy reading about what people like to ride.

Stoked you had a good ride and this is in no way taking away from the fun that you had....

This is my thoughts on the place from a ride there with Jon about a week ago.

One Mans "thumbs up" is another Mans "thumbs down"

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Id rather tack my satch to a hardwood floor, then do jumping jacks rather than ride that place again!

Again with the disclaimer...

I am an Idiot and have no idea what I'm talking about. I never say anything with the intent to hurt feelings.

Most times my .02 does not equal face value. End disclaimer.

I know there had to be some sweet single track in the nearby hills. We just couldn't find it.

Anyways; road tripp'n is always a blast, sweet pics n It's rad you were jazzed!

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Glad y'all had a good time,

done 2 enduros there, one 2 day qualifier and 1 one day event. for me it was fun but the highlight of the 2 day was the special permit forest section to the north west that was real single track up un the pine forest thats not part of the park. most trails at gorman are quad size, but even then they are fun to road race on. Spaugh also did the last West Chec enduro there and knows what Im talking about as well.

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attachicon.gifSAM_0730(1).JPG

Id rather tack my satch to a hardwood floor, then do jumping jacks rather than ride that place again!

lol- Vic... tell us how you really feel... not your fave, huh?

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although, if that picture is any example of how they maintain the trails.... sheesh

that being said; I'll need to see it for myself before I make a judgment

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Completely Rob. You could see the hills and knew there had to be some sweet trails out there but we even got a stern warning about poaching just going through the entrance.

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there were some good single track sections in the race. Not spectacular but was not anything like the photos you guys posted.

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I hear tell that the rangers are very strict up there, and even check your gas cans for EPA approved "no spill" spouts. They will write you up a nice expensive ticket if you have a "race" style jug and spout. No spill spouts aren't very expensive, and fit on many standard gas cans, so it would be a good investment to buy one before making a trip up there. Just sayin'.....

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This is an example of one of my favorite things about being part of SDAR.

Having such a huge varity in riding styles is super cool and I really enjoy reading about what people like to ride.

Stoked you had a good ride and this is in no way taking away from the fun that you had....

This is my thoughts on the place from a ride there with Jon about a week ago.

One Mans "thumbs up" is another Mans "thumbs down"

attachicon.gifSAM_0730(1).JPG

Id rather tack my satch to a hardwood floor, then do jumping jacks rather than ride that place again!

Again with the disclaimer...

I am an Idiot and have no idea what I'm talking about. I never say anything with the intent to hurt feelings.

Most times my .02 does not equal face value. End disclaimer.

I know there had to be some sweet single track in the nearby hills. We just couldn't find it.

Anyways; road tripp'n is always a blast, sweet pics n It's rad you were jazzed!

Bawahaha! How do you really feel? Hilarious! Yeah.. The trails were DEFINITELY no where near as groomed as that pic is your posted (when was that?) if it was, i would of went home!... About 50% of about 1/2 that width, but definitely not groomed or smooth...

The guys i went with basically live up there and ride it weekly and know all the good stuff. There is single track all the way to Ventura from the park man! :) Check a map and look at the trails outside the park. As long as youre plated, good to go!

Glad y'all had a good time,

done 2 enduros there, one 2 day qualifier and 1 one day event. for me it was fun but the highlight of the 2 day was the special permit forest section to the north west that was real single track up un the pine forest thats not part of the park. most trails at gorman are quad size, but even then they are fun to road race on. Spaugh also did the last West Chec enduro there and knows what Im talking about as well.

Yes, the NW area is referred to as Snowy trail, and that was closed due to a mud warning. The trails that were open on the NW part of the park were my fav.

although, if that picture is any example of how they maintain the trails.... sheesh

that being said; I'll need to see it for myself before I make a judgment

Yeah, its not super challenging, and terrainwise, i thought Lark was more challenging, but this place is huge and you can move along at a good clip and still have fun with some challenges. The black diamond designations were definitely misleading. Nothing there is "HARD"

I hear tell that the rangers are very strict up there, and even check your gas cans for EPA approved "no spill" spouts. They will write you up a nice expensive ticket if you have a "race" style jug and spout. No spill spouts aren't very expensive, and fit on many standard gas cans, so it would be a good investment to buy one before making a trip up there. Just sayin'.....

Hahaha... Um... No... Ranger lady had a little stick and just put it in our exhausts to make sure we had spark arrestors,and checked our reg. We had 3 of the race style cans at the rear of the truck where she was checking the arrestors.. No issues, and talked to several rangers through the day and all were cool. Heard it was a whole different story there on the weekends, since its so close to LA, u get all the riff raff, hooligans, and retards up there and trails are almost unrideable so crowded. We rode from 8am to 4pm and didnt see a single other person out there! Winning!

Completely Rob. You could see the hills and knew there had to be some sweet trails out there but we even got a stern warning about poaching just going through the entrance.

Yes, epic trails up there for sure. Glad they are "hidden" keeps the riff raff out! :)

there were some good single track sections in the race. Not spectacular but was not anything like the photos you guys posted.

Yeah, nothing extreme really.. Just dig the fact they have bits of everything and the place is HUGEEEEE

That is all..

-K

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No- I refer to that as "flat billers", "riversiders" or "east county"...

Vic is more like the guy that the sheriff requests ID for no real reason...he ALWAYS gets pulled into secondary...that kind of riff raff

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Whoa...easy on the feelings here.

The new medication my Counselor has me on is causing me to be extra sensitive.

They tell me by being different I'm special.

I'm special.

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Vic doesn't experience fear...he'll just have more boredom for a shorter amount of time

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Stoked you had a good ride ...

Yup

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Is this place not liked but you guys? No big deal.. I'm just curious... Love trying new places...

So far... Fav is big bear!

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Since you asked, my opinion stands as Hungry Valley is Ocotillo Wells with trees and bushes. If you like riding Ocotillo Wells you'll like Hungry Valley. I am bored at OW and no amount of throttle makes it more exciting.

On our trip we spent about 5 hours there and both felt it was 3 hours too long. Now if we could've found, or wanted to stay later and find, the singletrack that was reportedly closed maybe my opinion would be different. Maybe more time there would've been good, however we had a date with Ballinger Canyon and there we found a larger riding area with exponentially better trails.

I'm glad you like it at Gorman and I'm even happier that the weekends are full of people that love riding there. As long as everyone is happy at Hungry Valley they won't venture out in search of new riding places. And THAT makes me happy.

And yes Vic, very special indeed. If you ever need a ride partner I'll be the first in line.

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The 2012 Gorman 2 day qualifier enduro highlight mountain section I referred to is not part of Gorman/Hungry valley its actually part of the (state/national forest? ) park and on some years the Westchec crew gets special race permits to ride the hiking trail up into the forest. we were escorted by a CHP up the paved road then directed onto the transfer trail. After the special test the trail led down and right back into the SVRA park directly, it was big loop and the longest special test of the 2 day event.

Here's Harry (250A) on that special test, even the transfer trail from the road leading up to the special was mountain view side hill epic, I rode this entire thing (Day 2) with a blown rear shock (mentioned before in post race report).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0HfvL_Z3sw

you can find all kinds of video from west chec VCMC qualifier (2013 1 day and 2012 2 day) at Gorman to see the other standard Gorman trails that were closed off for special tests. In 2012 I had way more fun and felt on my game, the 2013 event I was off my game a little and never got comfortable with the speeds and dust. Yes Gorman can be fun (anyplace to ride is fun), its just not my 100% happy place having ridden a total of 3 full days there under enduro racing conditions. Also please note how slower riders move over in special tests....this is proper racing, in enduro its you against the clock/course, make every effort safely to let faster guys by.

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2013 for the 1 day we had the Spaughs. ISDE97, Mitch and myself from local crew.

PS SicVic (Sierra Victor) would have loved this event, but would they let him race???........ at viddy 28:37 on left that was the Anna Cody crash, she recovered well after but had to be airlifted off the mountain that day, we were lucky to get by the scene (I passed as well) because they closed the test to allow the medevac helo to come in and everyone was backed up for had to be an hour or more, even LR was stuck back behind the scene, it caused scoring and safety issues for the org. It was a tough day for all. sorry for the hijack... back to Gorman riding now........

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Since you asked, my opinion stands as Hungry Valley is Ocotillo Wells with trees and bushes. If you like riding Ocotillo Wells you'll like Hungry Valley. I am bored at OW and no amount of throttle makes it more exciting.

On our trip we spent about 5 hours there and both felt it was 3 hours too long. Now if we could've found, or wanted to stay later and find, the singletrack that was reportedly closed maybe my opinion would be different. Maybe more time there would've been good, however we had a date with Ballinger Canyon and there we found a larger riding area with exponentially better trails.

I'm glad you like it at Gorman and I'm even happier that the weekends are full of people that love riding there. As long as everyone is happy at Hungry Valley they won't venture out in search of new riding places. And THAT makes me happy.

And yes Vic, very special indeed. If you ever need a ride partner I'll be the first in line.

Yeah, i would agree with you here. Was fun because it was new to me.. Can see it getting old pretty quick though, and would of been horrendous without a guide..

I like riding all different types of terrain and styles. Would i go back? Yes, it is one of my favs... Meh... No

K

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I will be heading up there at the end of the month. Looking forward to it. STill trying to decide whether to ride my CRF250X or take the dualsport to head into the forest. Unsure if forest roads will be open on April 25th.

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I grew up in the LA area and rode up there alot however we only used the park to connect the single track,,, which is awesome. Camping accomodations there are great. You camp at around 3k' elevation and ride to over 8k'. 90% of the people that go there dont even know the forest trails exist because the trail heads are tricky to find if you dont know where they are. Most are intermidiate with a few black diamond options here and there.

Due to recent fires all of the single track, or LPNF as its called, is closed. I keep a really close eye on it in the spring and fall and try to get at least two trips in a year. I would be happy to lead a ride up there if they open it back up.

You can check the status of the forest trails here. http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/lpnf/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5307967

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