Noble Canyon: What a Day!
Bike, Beer, and Youthful Angst
Ten years ago, a couple months after moving to San Diego, friends flew in for a week of riding trails in San Diego and Kernville. One of the outings involved parking in Pine Valley at the Noble Canyon trailhead and climbing up Pine Creek Road to the Lagunas, making a loop of sort around the meadows and then back around and down Noble. I hadn’t climbed up Pine Creek Road that far since then, until yesterday. Over the past 10 years, a Noble ride always meant going all the way up and back and then up some more to Champagne Pass. From Champagne, I go down and over to connect into Noble. Shuttle? Never done it!
Under a beautiful blue bird sky and temps in the low 70s, with a gentle breeze, I grunted my way up what Google Maps says is 5.8 miles of what is road/broken road/dirt from the trailhead in Pine Valley to the cut-in to Noble Canyon National Recreation Trail on the right, attaining some 1700 feet of elevation gain. I loved every second of the climb, the just-under-an hour long turning of pedals, with steep grades that raise the heartrate and labors the breathing, it provided a sense of calm and clarity.
Dropping in on Noble, my mindset was super positive. So much so, that I cleaned my way all the way to water crossing that I always dismount for, hike-a-bike (HAB) being what I do, as that super chunky quick up after the water is something I’ve never cleaned.
Oops, back up. I also HAB-ed the previous water crossing, it looking deeper than usual.
Now back at the 2nd water crossing, taking the HAB option, the cool thing was that I saw a California mountain king snake for the first time. I knew it wasn’t a coral snake, as there are none in CA. In the middle of the trail in that rocky ascent, not more than a foot long, it slithered its way across and into the rocks. I tried to snap a photo, but it was too late. Here’s a photo of what they look like, courtesy of Californiaherps.com:
Continuing on, it was a no dab ride all the way to the next water crossing, another one I always HAB, as it’s quite wide and soft in the middle. Also, spending time in the oak grove is a must.
After visiting with the Ents, I moved on down the trail, having one of my best Noble rides in a while. At this point, I had not seen another human, the flowing water and breezes through the trees-es being the only sounds, other than my bike rolling over dirt and rock.
There are something like 6 eco-zones along the trail, from pine forest up high to oaks to desert chaparral down low. The changes in viewscapes and smells in the air are always refreshing. On and on I pedaled, stopping to take a photo of the water running through the canyon further on down.
Then the no-dab day ended, which was expected. It did not put a damper on my day at all, though. Cleaning Noble top to bottom in one go is something I’ve never done and doubt I ever will. This time around, it was a spot that’s been the culprit before, a stretch I’ve cleaned only a handful of times.
After that, another HAB happened after I got bounced and then at the very end, after the slog up to do what some people call “the bonus,” I got bounced again and had to step my way through a jumble of rocks and boulders before cruising on down to the trailhead.
Two hours and 20 minutes of mountain biking bliss, is what it was. I did not see anyone the entire time. San Diego a mountain biking town, is not, is it?! Sure, it was a Wednesday. I am quite thankful. Who enjoys crowded trails?
Bike racked and ready to roll, I knew I was going to stop in Alpine for a beer. The family was there, 2 other customers, and a few people stopped by for beer to go. Quiet, relaxed, local vibes, and like always, no pretense hung in the air.
I filled 1.5 growlers to take home for the weekend, for sharing, for the heckuvit. At home, there was more food and hydration that wasn’t a beer before we headed out to Ocean Beach for the evening. Supporting youthful angst was the primary agenda, along with eating pizza at Pizza Port (her request), where I had another beer, she being able to drive.
3 bands. During the day, a used clothing-slash-music store. Youthful energy. Solid musicians. Twice, they ranted, sang and screamed songs about how much they hate their jobs. We’ve all sung that song, at some point in our lives.
Oh, and the last beer for the day/night, a collaboration IPA called Let’s Try It!, crafted by Kilowatt Brewing (San Diego, CA) and Nickel Brewing (Julian, CA).
Those oaks!!
I’m jealous😍