Harry, Dan and I got in early enough to get a quick, stretch-your-legs, check-it-out ride, so we set off up
the Albanita Trail. We didn't bring any cameras and immediately regretted it, even though we had two
full days of riding to look forward to. I don't know if it was last week's monsoonal rains or if we just
happened to have timed it right but the forest floor was alive with snow plants and the meadows were
carpeted with mountain wild flowers in full bloom.
The Albanita Trail soon intersected Blackrock Rd, which we took to the parking lot at the end, hung a
right, and took off down the Fish Creek Trail (34E06). Although this singletrack is short (2.5-3 miles),
it is very fine. As we swooped down the trail through the forest I couldn't help but grin and
think to myself, "Yeah, I could do this every day!" Soon we began crossing verdant meadows with lush,
swampy plants and mountain flowers as tall as our handlebars. It was apparent that no one had been down
this trail in a long time yet it was
still well maintained. After some nice little technical spots, we reached Smith Meadows and our campsite.
We got a big fire going with an abundant supply of firewood while Dan got to
work on some very fine victuals.
In the morning we went back to look for trout in Fish Creek, as well as to get some pictures in the
meadows, while we waited for anyone else to show up. It didn't take long, however, for the anticipation
of the day's ride to scuttle any ideas of waiting long. We soon headed off on the Albanita Trail (35E06)
towards Jackass Peak. At around 4 miles we reached the end of the Albanita Trail and the beginning
of the Jackass Peak Trail (35E03). This turned out to be a really fun downhill singletrack with some
nice rocky sections as well as fast sweeps under huge trees. At about 9.5 miles we reached Broder Meadow,
a huge meadow that feeds into the larger Monache Meadows. We crossed the meadows and picked up the
fireroad section of the Granite/Broder Trail (35E02) heading into Monache Meadows and the South Fork of
the Kern River.
We stopped at the river briefly to cool off and to have a look at the fish before continuing around Monache
Mtn. At the end of Monache Meadows, we headed west to Bakeoven Dune, a large, hard sand dune in the
middle of nowhere over which the trail goes. Shortly after this we began climbing an old fireroad through
the forest. The road became steep in places with roots, rocks, and ruts that, under normal circumstances,
would have been fun to ride over, but which were now quite challenging with our rubbery legs. We climbed
for several miles and probably 1500-2000' before the trail turned back down. We passed a small, almost
home-made looking sign on a tree informing us that we were now passing into the Golden Trout Wilderness.
Now I know that bikes are usually not allowed in Wilderness Areas, but there were fresh 4WD tracks and
no other way to go so we continued on. Very soon we were passed by 2 ATV's. As far as I know, not even
rangers are allowed to use "mechanized travel" in a Wilderness Area, so we figured that there must be some
kind of funky grandfather laws in force or that the rules didn't apply to a 4WD road. Next came a pickup, five
minutes later an old jeep with Billy-Bob workin' a case of cold ones, and finally a Cherokee with a
Barca-lounger strapped to the top. And they thought we were crazy!
After just a few miles we came to what was supposed to be our turn-off onto a singletrack that would
quickly take us out of the Wilderness Area to Little Meadows. The trail was sign-posted but it was
obvious that it hadn't been used in a very, very long time. It was almost impossible to discern, and,
with all of the deadfall, would have been impossible to ride. So we continued on the grandfathered 4WD
through the Wilderness towards Casa Vieja Meadows. After a few more miles of up and down and impossibly
beautiful meadows, we came upon a sign that promised to take us to Casa Vieja Meadows if only we would
follow the singletrack to which it pointed. I believe we went through Dry Meadows before finally coming
upon Casa Vieja Meadows after about 21 miles.
Now also in the middle of this so-called Wilderness Area is a cattle ranch operating over most of Casa
Vieja Meadows. If anyone knows how this can be I'd like to know. Anyway, we now knew for sure where we
were and where we had to go.
While crossing Casa Vieja Meadows, we found a small Golden Trout trapped in a small pool of a small stream.
Dan caught the fish with his hand, I snapped a picture, and we returned him to a larger pool. On the other
side of the meadow we picked up the trail back up to the end of Blackrock Mtn Rd, climbing another 650'
in the process. Our spirits were renewed, however, when we picked up the Fish Creek Trail again, grinning
all the way down to Smith Meadows. In one larger section of meadows we saw three large mule deer. They
quickly ran off into the trees when they heard us. Steve was then passing through some particularly thick
and tall meadow when he saw what he thought was downed tree or a stump on the trail directly in front of
him. Then it moved. He was only 20' away before he realized that he was about to rear-end the rear-end of
a black bear! The bear finally realized he was not alone when Steve slammed on his brakes and turned around
as fast as he could. The bear didn't seem alarmed - he just ambled off the trail and into the woods.
Unfortunately he ambled too fast for me to see him but Steve claims to have gotten a picture after he had
put a little distance between them.
