Lafayette Ridge
Sometimes, once in awhile, less it more.
We had already done much of this ride, hoping to find a way into the heart of Briones,
without all the driving along Happy Valley Road.
The Lafayette Ridge staging area just off 24 seemed like the perfect entry point. On the map it didn't look so bad,
in terms of climbing, but then again who could tell with all those contour lines scrunched
so tightly together. Well I definately remember all the climbing that we faced, but also the beautiful views atop
Lafayette Ridge. As seasonal timing and bad luck would have it, the sun was smack in the middle
of all the good shots I wanted to take that first time.
So I returned this late fall at the beginning of the rainy season, earlier
in the day when hopefully the lighting would be better.
I planned to follow Lafayette Ridge into the heart of Briones, then from the top of Briones Crest
work out a little loop by taking the Sunrise Trail down to the Buckeye Ranch Valley, and then Springhill Trail
back up to Lafayette Ridge, for a fast roller coaster descent to the start.
Photos
Click to expand
Here is the Lafayette Ridge, right off 24.
It is much more convenient than either the Bear Creek or Alhambra staging areas,
but soon enough, you'll be paying in sweat and pain for any gas you save.
You better enjoy this initial bit of climbing, on the east side of the ridge over little farm house
dwellings, because this is the only warmup you're gonna get.
This signpost marks the end of the gradually climbing service road, and the beginning of panoramic views
atop Lafayette Ridge.
A quick shot of grazing cattle before the next steep spurt.
And one last little grunt to the crest of the ridge.
But once you get to the top of the first hill, then you have a nice panorama to the east.
Mount Diablo on the left, and the northern portions of Pleasanton Ridge on the right.
Ah, bliss. After passing a cattle gate, and a small stretch of rare multi-use singletrack,
you come upon an odd three way fork, with one turn to the left, and two to the right. You'll want the
middle one to the right, in order to stay on Lafayette Ridge Road.
This is at the beginning-- the one uncharacteristic flat part along all of Lafayette Ridge.
But is does offer some relaxing views to the west.
Gateway to adventure. At the end of the quarter-mile flat part, this is where the fun begins!
Lafayette Ridge becomes and endless series of gutbusting climbs.
The only way I could manage was to stop for a spell atop the bigger climbs and snap a couple of shots.
Heading upwards along the roller coaster ridgeline. After a pretty steep climb already to get to the crest,
it starts to wear thin on the legs.
Hope things ease up around the bend.
No such luck. At the end of the hill is the junction of Lafayette Ridge and the Springhill Trail.
Oh, man, Lafayette Ridge just keeps on going, on what has to be one of the most ribbony stretches of fireroad around.
Each climb is murder on the quadriceps. Although the end is in sight-- Briones crest ahead. As I recall from
the first time we went, grade atop Briones crest are comparatively manageable.
Nope... uh uh... not gonna do it. This is the final section of Lafayette Ridge.
The stretch between the Buckeye Trail and Briones crest is a straight up hike-a-bike climb
in my book.
Views to the west atop Briones Crest, looking back at Lafayette Ridge. Doesn't look so bad from this angle.
Heading down the extremely steep Sunrise Trail. At least now the road is headed downward, but
doesn't inspire me with a lot of optimism for the climb back up Springhill to Lafayette Ridge road.
The second shot shows the sun setting behind Lafayette Ridge.
Here was a Blair Witch moment, a peculiar spread of trees in a meadow at the base of the canyon. Barely
could a trail be seen, and nowhere were there any signs.
Okay, here's were the ride quit being fun. With twilight coming quickly in the valley, and not a soul to be
seen, the remaining ride proceeded on a chaotic network of leafy singletrack and muddy fire road, where I think the
route to Springhill had been washed out, which left me climbing up Buckeye, which is about the steepest fireroad
I've ever climbed which comes to mind-- including that last section at the end of Lafayette Ridge.
Even pushing up it necessitated frequent rest brakes, and it kept on going up and up.
It was slow, painful going.
Lafayette Ridge again.
At long last I found my way out of Buckeye Valley, and the ride from the peak is very fun downhill roller coasters
all the way back to the car.
Personally, I'd skip the Sunrise loop if I were to go back, because climbing out of that Buckeye Ranch Valley
turned out to be a painful ordeal. Going down the Sunrise trail is nothing special in terms of scenery--
unless it is sunrise, then I'm sure it would be nice-- and the trail
was so steep that by the time I was at the bottom my Hayes Hydraulics were making a totally new, unique sound;
a humming and rythmic cry something like the mother ship coming home.
I might instead next time continue forth on Briones Crest,
and just make it an out-n-back ride, or maybe work out a more manageable loop deeper in the park.
Yeah, hehe, right, we're talking Briones here. As beautiful as it is, bring your skinny little titanium
hardtail with two-inch front suspension and bar ends, if you have one. Then you'll have a fighting chance.
The yellow golden of summer grasses had faded to the dull brown of the late fall,
and the white balance seemed slightly off from the strong color saturation algorhyms of the new camera,
and other than touches of green to highlight the trail edge, it just seemed black and white better fit the occasion.
The alternative, color version, is pretty much dull brown with pale blue skies, if you want to know what you are missing.
Not that black and white exhibits will ever become the norm, but just this once I needed to get in touch with my inner
Ansel Adams. (b. October 30, 2004, Halloween weekend)
Back to East Bay.
Back home.
You better enjoy this initial bit of climbing, on the east side of the ridge over little farm house
dwellings, because this is the only warmup you're gonna get.
This signpost marks the end of the gradually climbing service road, and the beginning of panoramic views
atop Lafayette Ridge.
A quick shot of grazing cattle before the next steep spurt.
And one last little grunt to the crest of the ridge.
But once you get to the top of the first hill, then you have a nice panorama to the east.
Mount Diablo on the left, and the northern portions of Pleasanton Ridge on the right.
Ah, bliss. After passing a cattle gate, and a small stretch of rare multi-use singletrack,
you come upon an odd three way fork, with one turn to the left, and two to the right. You'll want the
middle one to the right, in order to stay on Lafayette Ridge Road.
This is at the beginning-- the one uncharacteristic flat part along all of Lafayette Ridge.
But is does offer some relaxing views to the west.
Gateway to adventure. At the end of the quarter-mile flat part, this is where the fun begins!
Lafayette Ridge becomes and endless series of gutbusting climbs.
The only way I could manage was to stop for a spell atop the bigger climbs and snap a couple of shots.
Heading upwards along the roller coaster ridgeline. After a pretty steep climb already to get to the crest,
it starts to wear thin on the legs.
Hope things ease up around the bend.
No such luck. At the end of the hill is the junction of Lafayette Ridge and the Springhill Trail.
Oh, man, Lafayette Ridge just keeps on going, on what has to be one of the most ribbony stretches of fireroad around.
Each climb is murder on the quadriceps. Although the end is in sight-- Briones crest ahead. As I recall from
the first time we went, grade atop Briones crest are comparatively manageable.
Nope... uh uh... not gonna do it. This is the final section of Lafayette Ridge.
The stretch between the Buckeye Trail and Briones crest is a straight up hike-a-bike climb
in my book.
Views to the west atop Briones Crest, looking back at Lafayette Ridge. Doesn't look so bad from this angle.
Heading down the extremely steep Sunrise Trail. At least now the road is headed downward, but
doesn't inspire me with a lot of optimism for the climb back up Springhill to Lafayette Ridge road.
The second shot shows the sun setting behind Lafayette Ridge.
Here was a Blair Witch moment, a peculiar spread of trees in a meadow at the base of the canyon. Barely
could a trail be seen, and nowhere were there any signs.
Lafayette Ridge again.
At long last I found my way out of Buckeye Valley, and the ride from the peak is very fun downhill roller coasters
all the way back to the car.