Jlburgess

Great ride! Thanks David! 🤗👍😉

On the way to Packard's....

Can't wait. All packed already! 😄

Cool, I will call Cleveland Rangers before we try the turn from Julian otherwise it is a dead end. See ya at 10. John. (5ohThree)756-three three 53.

Sweet! I've been eager to try out Black Mountain! I was looking at Eagle Peak rd too. I rode it once to Cedar Creek Rd. It is 13S11. The gates are occasionally open if not too muddy but I can't find the road conditions on Cleveland NF Roads page. Have you ridden it? Pic:

I'd be in with a 10 am KSU. Maybe a detour up to Black Mtn? 👍 Coming from Jamul....

I haven't ridden this route before but I believe it is fairly easy. Might wait until 12/30 if anybody wants to join in? I'm coming from Jamul so meet up in Ramona? I'm on a DR650 and not riding fast, just enjoying the ride. I'll probably do a border ride between Portreo and Camp this week too. It is usually really sandy so the rain today should give it more traction. I'm on vacation this week so very flexible....

Just an FYI for anyone that is planning to ride Tecate' to Campo along the the border route: There is a massive construction project underway replacing the border wall and putting in a concrete road next to the wall. It isn't a good time to ride there although they didn't stop me to say turn around. I had intended to go as far a Shockey Rd but couldn't find a way around the construction. Oh well, still better than work! 😉

I'll do the border ride today and check the Cleveland NF Roads page when I get back for Black Mountain conditions.

Where would you be coming from? Can you recommend a meet-up spot? I usually head that way up just north past Sutherland Dam near the falls. There's a gate that is supposedly open at FS12S07. It's near the abandoned bridge as I recall.

I have only ridden part of this area with a DR650 but I want to see more easy trails including the summit viewpoint loop. I know some areas remain closed due to the Valley Fire. Anyone want to join in tomorrow 12/20? I usually ride alone but hoping one rider might join up around 10 am? Probably big bike friendly and slow is ok. I'm just interested in the scenery and exploring.

The light blue line circled is marked "no trespassing" on the north end off of 94 while traveling south towards Tecate Peak although I suspect it is an easement. It isn't marked at all from the other direction coming down from the peak going north so I only ride it in that direction. You never now when an angry homeowner with a gun will come out and hassle you. It happened to me before in another area so always wary.

Back home. That was a lot more fun than working! Conditions are perfect out there. 🤗

Heading over to Sycamore Canyon off Marron Valley Rd. Return email posted here NLT 1:00 PM today.

According to the Cleveland NF website Lower Pine Creek Rd is now open! I'm not sure if that is really true after the Great Arroyo Toad Incident. Has anybody tried it since 10/28? A recon mission may be in order.... https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cleveland/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5340229&width=full

Here is a pic I took this morning. Yay!!! It is open up to Sunrise. No camping or fires allowed. They filled many potholes with gravel. Watch for suicidal mountain bikers coming downhill and have fun! 🤗

There's a fire going on near the border by Doghouse Junction as of yesterday.

350 Thumper, I understand your frustration. I invite all responsible riders to help keep our access points open by lending a hand if they will allow us to help. Tracy isn't the enemy but has her hands tied due to protections in place for endangered wildlife. The real problem is those irresponsible riders who blazed a trail through the wetlands when Coral Canyon was closed due to Covid. Let's find a way to make up for the reckless actions of a couple of morons to get us back open! I will share the two most recent emails: From: john burgess <jlburgess@hotmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, July 7, 2020 7:11 PM To: Knapp, Tracy - FS <Tracy.Knapp@usda.gov> Subject: Re: Pine Creek Road and toads? I heard about that incident. It was when Coral Canyon OHV was closed due to Covid and a couple of people on the SD Adventure Riders forum saw the aftermath when the rangers were closing the gate. It's the old thing where a few bad apples spoil it for everyone. It was probably some idiots who decided they were going to the next nearest riding area. It will probably be a different set of idiots the next time but please don't block off my place of solitude and peace. As a Gulf War veteran I need some nature and reflection time to get back to my happy spot. John Muir had it right from the get go! 🤗 That is a semi-paved road. I can assure you that as a responsible on road rider I would certainly chastize and or report anyone I caught blazing a new trail because it wrecks it for everyone including myself and the plan for the NF. I have heard of some adventure riders who would volunteer to help repair Pine Mountain road storm damage. If you can allow some people to help restore our legal access I will send out a plea. I am an current DoD civilian and would make sure that the area would be helped the best as possible with limited manual labor. If people are ignoring the toad habitat a cable arrangement or even signs would alert them to the issue. Thanks for listening to me Tracy! Be well in these tough times. John Burgess Tracy's reply received the next day: I totally agree! It’s unfortunate how sometimes people who don’t follow the rules end up ruining it for everyone else. I will keep you posted with anything I hear about Pine Creek and Pine Mountain Roads. Thanks for your patience with the road reopening and I hope you stay well during these difficult times. All the best, Tracy Knapp Assistant Recreation & Lands Officer Forest Service Cleveland National Forest Descanso Ranger District p: 619-445-6235 x3435 f: 619-445-1753 tracy.knapp@usda.gov 3348 Alpine Blvd. Alpine, CA 91901 www.fs.fed.us Caring for the land and serving people

Bad news. Just got this email when inquiring about lower Pine Creek rd. which is still closed. This stupid toad is nocturnal and hibernates in an underground burrow during late summer but using the road is a danger apparently? Breeding season just ended so was hoping for some good news but it's just easier to keep the gate closed so you can't enjoy your public lands. Hi John, Unfortunately we don’t have a date for when the lower portion of Pine Creek Road will be open. We are consulting with US Fish and Wildlife due to potential disturbance of Arroyo Toad habitat and we are still figuring out the best management actions in response to this. Keep checking the road closure page, that will be your best bet on figuring out if the road is open or not. Thank you, Tracy Knapp Assistant Recreation & Lands Officer Forest Service Cleveland National Forest Descanso Ranger District

I am interested in doing Black Mtn which is supposedly open but don't want to try it solo. Anyone in between Wednesday and Friday this week? I'll come up from Descanso area to Santa Ysabel. I'm not fast but I get there eventually and enjoy the scenery along the way. Also interested in Fred Canyon if that is open?

That ride is over. Nothing to see here. Nice "talent" spotted at the falls by Sutherland Dam rd. The gate to Black Mtn is confirmed open there although I don't want to try it solo. If you can join send PM. I'm off for a week so no priorities. The gate to Eagle Sun rd at Sisters Falls was also open although the hiking trail itself is barricaded with 0% compliance.

I'll probably do Mesa Grand in the morning and bypass Black Mtn turnoff unless somebody wants to join? Leaving about 9 am from Jamul. Just fitted my bike with an Airhawk and Alaskan Sheepskin. I will now be calling it the Dirty Barcolounger! 😁

Anyone riding tomorrow....

Too hot for me today but would be up for Fred Canyon Thursday or Friday?

So I have been waiting for the lower section of Pine Creek Rd to open up and it still hasn't. I sent an inquiry to Descanso FS and received the following reply. I'm hoping this is just "Toad Season" otherwise we might be waiting a while. >I received your question about why the lower gate to Pine Creek Rd is closed. The lower portion of the road is closed due to potential disturbance to the Arroyo Toad, which is an endangered species. The lower portion of the road is temporarily closed and we will open it as soon as feasible. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you! Tracy Knapp Assistant Recreation & Lands Officer Forest Service Cleveland National Forest Descanso Ranger District p: 619-445-6235 x3435 f: 619-445-1753 tracy.knapp@usda.gov