surfnride 0 Posted November 13, 2015 After getting a taste of the riding in the Piute Mountains this past summer I had been longing for a chance to get back to Lake Isabella for further exploration. When Jon posted this trip I cleared my schedule and looked forward to a challenging trip with a skilled rider that knows the area. We arrived on Thursday evening and made camp next to a large oak tree in the Keyesville BLM area, on the west side of the lake. The temperature dropped to 27 F and we awoke to frosty dirtbikes. My bike took some serious kicking till it warmed up, then we ate some breakfast and headed out to the west. We started out on some nice single track that leads to a steep jeep trail. We followed that to a dirt road that leads to an old fire lookout that is available for rent. After a short break to enjoy the scenery, Jon mapped a route back toward camp that consisted mostly of cow trails on steep cliffs that I dubbed "Half Track" because they were far too skinny to be considered single track. The concentration level and fatigue factor were high (at least for me) as we rolled back into camp just before dusk. A few beers by the fire to soothe my aching knees and twitching forearms and I was out like a light for a SOLID TEN HOURS! WIPED OUT!! I woke up feeling like I had fallen down a flight of stairs and prepared for day 2, the harder stuff, since day 1 was just a 70 mile warmup. We headed out to the north towards the Greenhorn Mountains and straight into a steep climb with some rocky sections. I fell once on a rocky spot and flooded my bike, which led to lots of kicking before my second attempt, perfect! At the top of the trail we came to a dirt road that we followed up and into the forest. Pretty soon we were snowmobiling and decided to head back to lower elevation and find some dirt. We came across the entrance to a trail called Just Outstanding that Jon had told me about and began our descent. The trail lived up to its name and will forever be in my memory for its twisting downhill berms through the manzanita tunnel! Amazing! On our way back down to camp we decided to take a trail that was labeled on the map as (steep). Ha, what do they know! With both the front and back brakes locked up and feet out, I still lost control and cartwheeled down a badly rutted and loose section of it. Good fun!! Day 3 we explored a few more trails near our campground in the morning, then packed up camp. We headed east and staged on the south side of the lake at the KOA campground in Weldon. After a pizza lunch we rode south for the Piute Mountains. The trail was a very rocky switchback to get up into the mountains. After a serious arm burner we were rewarded with some nice shady forest trails through creeks and meadows. Of course, what goes up must come down and we eventually had to descend through the steep and rough stuff one last time just to finish us off! I have never looked forward to a 4 hour drive home so much in my life! So content to just sit on my comfy truck seat and listen to the radio. Thanks for a great trip Jon! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wierdrider 187 Posted November 13, 2015 Sounds like a great trip. Nice photos, what a beautiful area. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dress4Less 162 Posted November 13, 2015 Excellent photos and write-up. Looks bitchen...thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sdhydro 0 Posted November 13, 2015 Looks like fun. Nice pics Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dirt dame 559 Posted November 13, 2015 Nice report and pix! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 195 Posted November 13, 2015 Nice report. I spent some time in that area on my big bike in May. I didn't get to hit to fun stuff like you did... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Schweddy Balls 0 Posted November 13, 2015 Hey guys, looks like a great time up there by Greenhorn. I've been there more times than I can count and its one of my favorite riding areas. I recognize the fire tower and here's a pic of that same Manzanita Tunnel! Let me know when you go again, would love to join you and know that area fairly well but its been a while since I've been up there. Great write-up! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Suspenders 43 Posted November 13, 2015 Is summer the best time to go? Been through there from Kennedy Meadows but never did any single track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildwood 11 Posted November 13, 2015 Is summer the best time to go? Been through there from Kennedy Meadows but never did any single track. We stopped there for a day of riding at the end of July, on the way up to the Mammoth Bluesapaloosa. It was 102 during the day, the low was 74 at 3am. You would need to be on it early and done by 1pm unless you got lucky and caught a break in the heat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Oracle 195 Posted November 13, 2015 I was there in mid May and it was perfect temps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
meatmord 0 Posted November 13, 2015 Manzanita tunnel awesome. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skeelo221 0 Posted November 14, 2015 Cool pics -- the tunnel is sweet! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
97xr400r 122 Posted November 14, 2015 Wow that looks Great! Thanks For the post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mufflerbearings 0 Posted November 14, 2015 Great pics! I was up there last weekend also, but on my mountain bike. I skipped Just Outstanding this trip because I assumed a good portion of it would be snowed in; looks like it was from your photos. Was Dutch Flat the steep trail you guys rode from the bottom of Just Outstanding? I've done a lot of pedaling up in that area, but one of these days I need to drag my KDX along with me since there is so much legal single track to explore. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastaPilot 17 Posted November 16, 2015 I guess it's about time I chime in. Big thanks to Surfnride for wanting to join me on an Isabella trip. We rode a ton of trails and he rocked them all on a bike he had never ridden until Friday morning. The day we set out on a 70 mile singletrack journey through the hills. Is summer the best time to go? Been through there from Kennedy Meadows but never did any single track. Anytime of year is good to go. In the summer we camp and ride in the high country. In the winter we camp in the valley and ride below the snowline (sometimes above it Great pics! I was up there last weekend also, but on my mountain bike. I skipped Just Outstanding this trip because I assumed a good portion of it would be snowed in; looks like it was from your photos. Was Dutch Flat the steep trail you guys rode from the bottom of Just Outstanding? I've done a lot of pedaling up in that area, but one of these days I need to drag my KDX along with me since there is so much legal single track to explore. To get up to Just Outstanding, from Keyesville we rode up Snake Pit to Dutch Flat and then a number of jeep trails to Sawmill Rd where we took Wagy Ridge all the way up to the snow. From a snow covered dirt road we connected to Just Outstanding and then rode it down. There was just as much of a network of trails and dirtroads to get to the steep as fook and deeply rutted Hogeye Ridge Tr that dropped us back into Keyesville. Your trips need more KDX! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastaPilot 17 Posted November 16, 2015 Looks like surfnride posted all my good photos. Here's one he didn't post and my be an example of the "halftrack" he mentioned. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
