Looks like work is rolling in again next week, so it was now or never today in my effort to bring the ride to Crystal Lake to a conclusion. Unfortunately I am going to have to hook you with this (again, I know) because glutton for punishment that I am, la familia and I are now off to the County Fair. I hope they sell new legs there, because I think I am going to need them. And now, in conclusion: Needless to say, though the urban area down below was sweltering under triple digit temperatures, it was not much cooler up high, the thermometer on my computer was telling me it was in the high 90s. It honestly did not feel like it; mind over matter, I guess. I have noticed a lot of talk on local forums, lately, about the Glendora Mountain Road (GMR) climb. For my money it just can not compare to Highway 39. You do have to put up with a little traffic in the opening miles, but once you get past West Fork, the traffic becomes a trickle, and then past Valley of the Moon, it becomes non-existent. As we all know there is something especially appealing about riding along a car-free road in absolute solitude. People who do not think they could do this whole route from Duarte up, should keep in mind that there are any number of places further up that you can start from - West Fork, has a large parking area, as does Valley of the Moon (the furthest up you can drive). Just don't forget your Forest Adventure Pass. For the entire out and back ride, I ended up with 52 miles, over 5800 feet of elevation gain, and I rode it in just over four hours.
About the point I left off last time
2000 comes easy enough
That's right, up there
Once past West Fork, the road looks like this, and autos are a rarity
Still climbing. All that greenery in the canyon bottom marks the course of the North Fork, San Gabriel River. If you click on the photo look for a shallow "V" in the distant mountain ridge with a dark patch of trees below it, I believe that is where the bowl holding Crystal Lake lies
Same again, just slightly further along the road
Requisite handlebar shot
There is this wide sweeping turn here skirting what is called Valley of the Moon Plantation. While riding along here once, long ago, there was a group singing hymns from somewhere in the forested area just visible to the right. Never saw anyone, so it was kind of surreal. Just at the end of the sweeping curve in the distance is a locked gate, beyond which lies a car-free paradise
Look at that, the West Fork Road is a National Scenic Bikeway. Unfortunately the Bear Creek Trail goes through the Wilderness area so you can't get to it by bike from this point (Valley of the Moon Plantation)
Another one of those signs, meaning more climbing ahead. Just around the bend is Coldbrook Campground which, since it is on the uphill side of the locked gate, is unused right now. Kind of spooky, really
A 12% switchback, about as steep as it gets
Getting higher and more scenic. And there is that dark patch of trees beneath the peak in the distance
The high country
How many layers of roadway can you count. Looking down on Coldbrook campground
A little further along you reach this area called Falling Springs where the roadside gets very lush and green. There are numerous cabins hidden away up here, and streams with little waterfalls tumble down the mountainsides
Another little waterfall. Notice the ruined chimney in the background and the burnt trees; forest fires plays havoc with the scattered homesteads up here. There are a few more switchbacks from this point before reaching the turn off to Crystal Lake. Unfortunately this is where my camera batteries ran out of juice
Just so there is not doubt, there be bikes on the road here.
