LKHC is in our neck of the woods again folks! And as of right now its looking like it might not rain on us.
This week's LKHC is #7, Mountain Charlie. We head up Page Mill to Skyline, roll south to Saratoga Gap, drop down Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then through Felton and Scotts Valley to Glenwood and the Mt Charlie climb (~4 mi, ~1,100 ft, with a few pitches over 12%). Hit the climb as hard as you like; we'll regroup at the top. Then Summit Rd and Skyline back to Saratoga Gap, and down 9, Redwood Gulch and Stevens Canyon home.
Regroups & stops:
- ~mi 12: Top of Page Mill
- ~mi 18: Saratoga Gap fire station (quick water)
- ~mi 48: Bottom of Mt Charlie Rd (off Glenwood Dr). Regroup and start the LKHC together
- ~mi 52: Top of Mt Charlie (regroup)
- ~mi 65: Saratoga Gap (quick water, then home together)
Pace: endurance (~3.5 w/kg) on the flats and rollers. Climbs at your own pace, with a regroup at the top.
Safety:
- Skyline and 9 get busy with car and motorcycle clubs on weekends. Ride right and single up when needed.
- Expect damp descents and possible debris after Friday's wind. Take Redwood Gulch (10%, shaded, leafy) and Hicks slowly.
- Bring lights and a vest. There may be fog around Boulder Creek and Scotts Valley late morning, and it'll be low 50s up top.
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3555072989541712496
Summary: 84 mi / 7,960 ft: Summit Bicycles > Page > 35 > 9 > Boulder Creek > Felton > Scotts Valley > Glenwood > Mt Charlie > Summit Rd > 35 > 9 > Redwood Gulch > Stevens Canyon > Foothill > Summit
Start: Summit Bicycles, Palo Alto
Time: Meet 9:00 AM, Leave 9:10 AM
Ride etiquette: https://www.altovelo.org/ride-rules
Ride Leader: Phillip Maier (first time A ride leader yay)
⚠️ Weather: Friday's storm should clear out early Saturday morning, and the forecasts for ride time are dry. But the Santa Cruz Mountains are expected to get around an inch of rain on Friday, and the redwood roads around Mt Charlie stay wet… in the event the forecast takes a turn for the worst we will do:
Plan B– Mt.Umunhum (rain route)
Route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3556338407886390142
Summary: 76 mi / 7,440 ft: Summit Bicycles > Mt Eden > Los Gatos > Kennedy > Hicks > Mt Umunhum > reverse home
Regroups & stops:
- ~mi 22: Los Gatos (quick water, fill up: no water until we're back in Los Gatos)
- ~mi 37.5: Mt Umunhum summit (regroup, no water)
- ~mi 52: Los Gatos (quick water)