Maple Springs Rd.

Last Saturday (11/20), I got out early for Maple Springs Rd. Well, I woke early, but didn’t get out terribly early (about 7 am). I love Maple Springs Rd., though I don’t choose it often (especially during summer). It’s a slow drive to get to this particular switchback up Old Saddleback. Like most the other switchbacks, it leads to The Main Divide (the truck trail that runs along the ridge). The speed limit through Silverado is 25 mph, making the drive just under 90 minutes from my front door to my not-so-secret parking space where the asphalt ends.  I was thrilled to find the spot open to park at the end of the one-lane asphalt road. I thought for sure that I’d need to get out a heck of a lot earlier to get this awesome parking place. I felt lucky.

The time was perfect now that it is fall and the weather’s cooled own. If my records prove correct, my last trip up Maple Springs Rd. was January 27, 2021. Not even a year ago but it seems so distant. Feels surreal.

Being that Maple Springs Rd. is one of the only roads that lead to The Main Divide that is open to vehicles right now (Bedford Rd. being the other that I know of) it was quite busy with motor traffic. I’m okay with that. There were times when trucks or motorcycles rumbled by and there were times when I didn’t know there was another person on the mountain:

About 9 miles with some decent elevation – still haven’t uploaded my watch. I need to do that.

Silverado Loop with Emmett

Last Friday, January 22, I left about 6am to meet up with my friend Emmett in front of the Christmas tree farm on Black Star Canyon Road. Originally, we had planned to hike to Santiago Peak from Maple Springs Road. But I learned online just before heading out that morning, that the gate at Maple Springs Road was closed. A gate closed here would add about 7 miles to my pre-planned route. So, plans changed on the spot. We still drove my truck into Silverado Canyon and began our hike on Maple Springs Road. But we began it on the paved road, where the gate was closed and hiked it to the dirt road and then up to The Main Divide. But instead of turning right on The Main Divide toward Modjeska and Santiago Peaks, we turned left, toward the minor peaks, Bald and Bedford, to close up a giant circle that is often called The Silverado Loop.

Heading up Maple Springs Road:

It was a beautiful day and quite chilly. So chilly, that my teeth chattered during the earliest hours. But hiking up that mountain tends to warm things up, especially when hiking up with Emmett. One step from the ultra tall ultra runner is about three of mine (and I suspect that he was even slowing down for me).

Being that the gate was closed, there were no vehicles anywhere, which is very nice. As a matter of fact, there were no people anywhere either. We didn’t see another person until the very end, just a couple of miles from my truck.

After climbing Maple Springs Road, there’s a nice little down hill section, but after that, there’s more climbing. There’s a tremendous amount of climbing on this loop in fact. Talk about suffering. There’s plenty of glorious suffering on the Silverado Loop. Also, plan for lots of hours away from home if you do this hike. Our moving time was 5:41:33 (actual time was of course greater due to occasional stops.)

The Main Divide:Looking back on Maple Springs Road:Heading down Silverado Motorway:

Great company and great trails encompassing approximately 17 miles, with 4,500’ of elevation gain I didn’t get many pictures however. I didn’t notice until I arrived home that there was gunk on my lens and many of my photos were blurred (even the “group” photo of Emmett and I at the top of the motorway was blurry).

Oh, and there was lots of climbing! Did I mention that? My Gluteus maximus muscles ached for 3 days (just in time for my next hike).

I Understand the Lure

I have been yearning for Maple Springs Road for a while now. And then the Silverado fire happened (which wasn’t in Silverado) and Santiago Canyon was closed for travel. I was afraid that I would miss the Maples turning yellow this year, which would definitely be apropos with how things have been going.  But I did not miss the Maples turning yellow – I finally made it out last Saturday (November 14). I think that it was perhaps the most crowded that I have ever seen Maple Springs Road. With much of The Main Divide still closed due to #HolyFire, this is one of the few ways up the mountain. Being that the gate was open, I was able to drive the asphalt portion of the road. I parked at a bend in the road where the road turns to dirt. From there I hiked up Maple Springs Road (about 4.5 miles and all uphill, but not excruciating uphill). In all, the trip was about 9 miles with 1,500’ of elevation gain.I didn’t see another person on foot. But I talked to one guy in a truck parked at one of the turnouts on the way up and another on a bike (as in bicycle) at Four Corners where Maple Springs Road ends. Both of them expressed their shock that I had hiked “all that way.” This of course puzzled me. I must look really old and out of shape.

Maple Springs Road

The weather was perfect. I could see the San Gabriels capped with snow. They are calling my name as well! I recalled my first trip up Maple Springs Road (with Tom Fangrow and a group of other runners). I remembered a tunnel of Pine forest that signified we were near the top of Maple Springs Road. That Pine forest burned down soon after that, and now it is bursting back with young pine trees as as tall as me and even taller.  I did a little running on the way back for no reason at all, in other words I wasn’t running late or anything. A running urge just came over me.

I really didn’t mind the crowds so much. I understand the lure. Even with the multitude of vehicles, motorcycles and cyclists travelling up Maple Springs Road, there were many moments of solitude on the way up. And I was almost completely by myself on the way down.

It felt good to be back, even with all of the crowds. I am optimistic about fall! I have not been optimistic in a long time. I am also looking forward to some winter snow on Maple Springs Road in 2021 – stay tuned because I will be there clicking my camera like a fool.

Silverado Loop

Saturday, January 11 I headed back to Silverado Canyon for my longest hike/run since I decided to "train" for Calico. The gate to Maple Springs Road was open, so I was able to park directly in front of the trail that I would be ending on -- Silverado Trail. Starting and ending here made what I (& others) call The Silverado Loop measure 16.86 miles on my Amazfit watch (with 3,727' elevation gain). 

The first 7 or so miles were a climb up Maple Springs. It was dang cold at the bottom of the canyon, and that's perfect practice for Calico! Things warmed up after about 8 miles when I finally took off the beanie and long sleeves (also perfect practice for Calico). There was the last remnants of snow toward the top of Maple Springs Road and on the Main Divide in the shadow of Modjeska Peak (which still had snow on its backside). 

As I write this post, I am one week out from Calico . I suspect I stand a good chance of placing last 🤣. Go DFL! But that's okay. Not near the shape I wanted to be in, but in much better shape than I started 3 months ago. So yay! It's been a long time since I've done the Silverado Loop. I cannot deny that I have progressed in the past 3 months. 

Those first 7 miles up Maple Springs are nowhere near the course at Calico (which is mildly rolling hills through desert sand). But the Main Divide to Silverado Trail, that was quite tough, and more comparable to some of Calico's terrain. There was so much climbing in the overall downhill along the Main Divide, that reaching the Silverado Loop took much longer than I expected.  

After turning onto The Main Divide, I focused on running long stretches to make up time for the Maple Springs Climb. I saw no other person on foot. Occasionally I'd see one or two motorcyclists and they'd nod or wave as they went by. I was completely alone and wonderfully lonely. The kind lonely where I don't focus on myself, but instead, on things outside me. I could see for miles and miles in every direction. It was beautiful. And some parts were hard has hell (which I took like a tortoise but recovered quickly after the climbs -- my saving grace in being able to tackle these longer distances). 

When I finally arrived to the top of Silverado Trail, I took note at the sun's position in the sky and thought, "Oh no, did I do it again?" With a quick calculation I realized that I had two hours before dark, and I knew from the last time I got caught out in the dark, that I could make it down that treacherous trail in more than half that time. And I did.

The Silverado Loop was a wonderful experience last weekend. There should be crowds, droves up people up there. Do they know what they're missing? I think not. One of my favorite routes in these local mountains, so I'm not complaining.

Maple Springs Road

Looking back at Maple springs Rd from the Main Divide

On The Main Divide

Ocean View from Silverado Trail

Caught by Darkness

I am really not that reckless, though it may seem so occasionally. Actually, I am quite careful. First off all, I got out fairly late last Saturday, January 4. Still, I had several hours to make it up to Bedford Peak and I thought I could make it before dark even with a hell of a climb like Silverado Motorway (Silverado Trail). I'm not afraid of the mountains and I'm not afraid of the dark -- but I treat them both with mild caution, sort of like I treat water or fire. Water or fire are both wonderful things -- they can save your life, but they can also kill you.

I was behind on that Saturday from the start (taking too long to get out of the house) and then I didn't get to start my hike/run at the trail head. All 5 parking spaces were full and the gate to Maple Springs Road was closed. So, I had to park alongside the road about three quarters of a mile away \.

As I made that miserable but lovely trek up the motorway, I would wander in and out of cell service, and here and there I would hear a ding to signify a text. Turned out that my oldest son had some questions regarding an auto loan he was pursing. And even in the mountains on some God forsaken trail, I'll get back to my children. But when you get cell service marching up that trail, you have to stop in your tracks, otherwise you'll lose it. So, I plopped myself on the side of the cliff a couple of times to talk several minutes with my boy. I suppose the reckless part of this journey came about then. I really should not have wasted any time. I hadn't realized that I would be racing against the darkness. It was reckless not to realize.

Maple Springs Road on way to Silverado Motorway (Trail)

Silverado Motorway is a tough trek with a constant climb. Those phone calls put me back time-wise, but it took my mind off the trail's difficulty and it was good to talk with my son. I probably should have turned around at The Main Divide when I finally reached it. Problem was, I had my heart set on Bedford Peak. I was looking forward to hanging out there for a bit of self-reflection and peaceful moments. I will say however, being a former Girl Scout, I came somewhat prepared having packed warm clothing and the last thing I grabbed out the door was a flash light.

Climbing Silverado Motorway

At Bedford Peak (notice snow on backside of Modjeska Peak in background)

The bench that I expected and looked forward to Bedford Peak was gone. My time at this magical spot was lovely regardless. So much so, I spent too much time taking it all in. I was completely alone on top of a mountain. And I liked it very much. That's not reckless is it? 

The weather was cold, the kind of cold that makes you feel alive. I bundled up with long sleeves, gloves and beanie.  I had one hour before dark. One hour to travel more than four miles across rocky difficult terrain (but thankfully downhill!). I figured that wasn't going to happen, especially because I was going to lose a lot of visibility before dark, during the twilight. I ran at a fast pace (fast for me)  for much of the return, however, with fading light and technical terrain, I had to slow down quite a few times. I lost good visibility at those final (seven!) switchbacks toward the bottom of the canyon when I decided to take out my flashlight. What a great little flashlight my parents put into my sons' Christmas gift bags. It lit up the mountain for me and changed the game. It turned twilight and into day. 

I didn't make it down before dark. But I ran down the motorway much quicker than I would have if I wasn't racing against darkness. I concentrated hard on kicking out the back so that I didn't fall. I've been at this game long enough to know that one shuffle could send me flying (don't shuffle your feet on technical terrain!). By the time I crossed over the creek, I was in complete darkness. Right at that time, fire truck with sirens blaring pulled into the trail head lot. A paramedic came in afterward, and another emergency vehicle raced up the road as I ran down Silverado Canyon to my truck parked alongside the road. As I ran past all of the commotion, I overheard a mountain biker talking into the fire truck. He was describing someone who was sprawled out on the trail, and in "pretty bad shape." People stood on their porches looking up toward Maple Springs Road as I made my way toward my truck. It seemed that this little sleepy town was coming alive with lamps and porch lights and decorative lights roped from trees. A couple of people called out from their porches asking about the emergency vehicles. I hollered back what I knew as I ran by.

I did not learn anything further about the injury that night on Maple Springs Road. (I recently Googled it to no avail.) When I finally arrived to that desolate turnout on the side of the road (as there were no homes on this stretch) my car was one of four remaining. Which one, I wondered, belonged to the injured party? I felt relieved back at the truck, and calmer, and a little bit more alive. It was a good trip. I appreciated being caught by darkness. I wouldn't do it on purpose again, but I was glad that it happened and that I made it back safely.

Total trip was just under 9 miles and 2,265' of elevation gain.

Heading Down