Quickest route to santiago peak

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by RydeMTB28, Oct 17, 2012.

  1. RydeMTB28

    RydeMTB28 Member

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    What is the quickest route to santiago peak. It looks like lower holy jims. I have never gone to the peak and would like to one of these days. How long does it normally take? strava routes?
     
    RydeMTB28, Oct 17, 2012
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  2. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej Well-Known Member

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    Maple Springs to the Peak is probably the easiest.......but it is still 12.5 miles one way.

    The climb up LHJ and up Main Divide is not really shorter, depending on where you park......plus the Main Divide from top of LHJ to the Peak is a tough climb.
     
    mtnbikej, Oct 17, 2012
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  3. eatsrice91

    eatsrice91 NoMoSoCal

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    I like maple springs to peak. Sux that its fire road but if I remember, it was just over 3hrs up and around 33min to the bottom! Holy Jim is I believe the shortest route to the top.
     
    eatsrice91, Oct 17, 2012
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  4. granny ring

    granny ring Not Really Here

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    granny ring, Oct 17, 2012
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  5. tracysurf

    tracysurf New Member

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    I've done the peak many times and Holy Jim is brutal and not fun to the peak. The main divide part of the climb sucks. Loose, rocky and steep. There are primarily 3 main main ways in the OC; HolyJim, Maple Spring and Harding Truck Trail. Maple Springs is the easiest (IMO), but I personally prefer Harding Truck Trail. It's a bit longer, but a better ride with a decent grade, all double track and closed to cars/motocycles. Both HTT and MS take you to four corners, then you ride to Modjeska Peak before you swing around to Santiago Peak. Main divide from four corners to Madjeska peak sucks too. A lot of loose rocks and will take a lot of energy. If you're tired and pushed by the time you reach four corners, it's going to be a long day :)

    Depending on your ability and physical condition can take 3-5hours.

    Maple Springs - http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=476
    Harding Truck Trail - http://www.geoladders.com/show_route.php?route=1177

    Visible from everywhere in the OC, the peak was calling my name. Reaching it was very special to me and a major milestone. Now I look at the peak with a unique perspective, having met that challenge and knowing that I can get there under my own power. Good luck!
     
    tracysurf, Oct 17, 2012
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  6. 4xdave

    4xdave #228

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    I had been up 5 of the SA trails but not to the peak. I did HJ-Santiago Peak and man let me tell you it was tuff. The weather was perfect so i said to myself how much further could it be? (once atop of HJ). Its so much further than i thought. I made it basically crawling on my hands and knees the last 1/4 mile. I couldn't even enjoy it when i got to the top, I was to scared about making it down i had to turn back after 30 seconds of being up there.

    Major accomplishment, I would love to do again.
     
    4xdave, Oct 17, 2012
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  7. MnMDan

    MnMDan Member

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    See Strava, explore segments, and filter to show only HC category climbs...

    http://app.strava.com/segments/772847
    http://app.strava.com/segments/1009844
    http://app.strava.com/segments/816487

    Interestingly, nobody has posted a time going up to the peak using the Holy Jim Route...

    then when you're done climbing all those routes, take this one on...

    http://app.strava.com/segments/787569

    Yeah, its long and on road (some of the road needs a mtb), but its the biggest uninterrupted climb you can make on a Mountain Bike that I can find, and the last 8 miles are 8% on gravel above 9k feet....
     
    MnMDan, Oct 18, 2012
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  8. bikerider

    bikerider New Member

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    Quickest is definitely Maple Springs. But with all the cars (it's deer hunting season) I prefer Harding. Holy Jim to the peak is the shortest distance being about 8.1 miles from the trailhead. Depending on your ability it can be fun and challenging. Climbing the singletrack is not that bad at all, but yes the final ride up the Main divide is tough.
     
    bikerider, Oct 18, 2012
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  9. 4xdave

    4xdave #228

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    I just created the segment. I got a little lost on the way up.

    http://app.strava.com/segments/2596517





     
    4xdave, Oct 18, 2012
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  10. exrcyst

    exrcyst Member

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    I think it takes about the same time going to Santiago Peak from HJ and HTT, about 3-4 hours, but I always seem to lose gps and fail to record going up HJ. Anyway, here's a segment for going from Cooks Corner to Santiago Peak. I think going down UHJ/LHJ is way more fun than climbing it.

    http://app.strava.com/segments/2596997
     
    exrcyst, Oct 18, 2012
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  11. tracysurf

    tracysurf New Member

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    ha :lol:
     
    tracysurf, Oct 18, 2012
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  12. RydeMTB28

    RydeMTB28 Member

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    sounds like harding tt is the way to go. is holy jims pretty hard to climb?
     
    RydeMTB28, Oct 18, 2012
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  13. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    You'll get honest answers, but I don't think you'll come away with a clear answer. I'd say no it's not cause I climbed tougher trails than HJ, but there will be some on here that will say yes, it's pretty tough. It depends on your level of fitness and skill. There are 17 or so switchbacks, some rocky sections, a couple steep ups. but the overall grade is not bad. Really the only way for you to find out is to get out there, climb it and make your own assessment.
     
    genusmtbkr5, Oct 18, 2012
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  14. tracysurf

    tracysurf New Member

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    Totally agree. If you're set on doing Holy Jim, worse thing that can happen is you have to turn around and downhill it back. When i first started, took me three tries to make the peak.
     
    tracysurf, Oct 18, 2012
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  15. RydeMTB28

    RydeMTB28 Member

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    cant be much harder than big bend in laguna?
     
    RydeMTB28, Oct 19, 2012
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  16. genusmtbkr5

    genusmtbkr5 STR Moderator

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    Much tougher than Big Bend. Big Bend is steep, but is not a technical 2 way single track trail and not 5 miles long either. Really apples to oranges. Like tracysurf posted, go up and if you don't have it that day, turn around and head back down.

    Big Bend:     http://app.strava.com/segments/650615

    Holy Jim:     http://app.strava.com/segments/635588
     
    genusmtbkr5, Oct 19, 2012
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