GPX Mt. Baldy Tour - October 17, 2015

GPX Tour to Mt. Baldy

THE CLIMB FROM 800 FEET TO 8000 FEET or

IF IT'S 100 IN THE VALLEY, IT'S 70 AT THE RESTAURANT

GPX will use the route of the 2013 Escape to LA Tour for a day of driving the "Twisties".

Azusa is where our fun and history begins. 

As the most productive  gold mining area in the San Gabriel Mountains, it began in the 1840's. It had a mini-boom during the Depression as many man tried to scratch out a flakes from the river  bed. To this day weekend gold hunters can still be seen with shovels and pans.

During World War II one of the reservoirs (Morris Dam) was used to test airborne torpedoes. Easily seen from the road is a steep concrete ramp that simulated the drop of a torpedo from a plane into the water where the propeller sped them away to check survivability. They must have done a lot of testing as American torpedoes were not very reliable at the beginning of the war.

The historic Crystal Lake Café and Trading Post has been serving the campers and fisherman since 1934. Sadly the Lake is now only a dusty basin, but the coffee and  food is a superb stop.

Further up the East Fork is the US Forest Service's Experimental Forest. Established in 1933 with 17,000 acres and working with major California universities, its research reports over the years have covered flood control and watershed utilization, vegetation and water quality effects, fire effects and slope stabilization and many more.

If you had continued straight to the end of East Fork Road it would take you to the trailhead to "The Bridge to Nowhere". It was an ill-fated attempt to connect the San Gabriel Valley to Angeles Crest Highway. The road washed out twice and was abandoned but the bridge stands tall. But, we take a "180" onto Glendora Mountain Road instead of going to the trail.

More recently Glendora Ridge Road is part of the route used by the Tour of California Bicycle race that finished at the Mount Baldy Ski Lift.

At Mt. Baldy buy your PCA discount lift and lunch ticket.  Price for a lift ticket depends on the number of attendees.  Please present your PCA membership card, when purchasing your parking, lunch and lift ticket.  There is a $5.00 Forest Service parking fee for an Adventure Pass which must be hung on your rear view mirror.  If you have a National Parks & Federal Recreation Land Annual or Senior Pass, parking is FREE.

Ride the chair lift to the Top of the Notch Restaurant to complete your mechanically assisted climb from 800 feet to nearly 8000 feet. 

 

This is a “Rain or Shine” event.