laguna Canyon MTB. Riding two of the lesser traveled trails and one classic.

This was an epic acoustic MTB day. 17 miles, 2650 elevation gain, one incredibly brutal climb, and 4 total trails. Old Emerald should be a classic, but most people ride down BVD on the other side and walk up Old Emerald on their way to TNA. I highly recommend it for a high speed chunk run. Rattlesnake is another story. The rock garden is a blast, but its a brutal climb out, and the downhill is minimal. Still, I recommend doing it at least once.
Timecodes
0:00 - intro
1:23 - Old Emerald
5:44 - Missing Link
7:00 - Rattlesnake
8:00 - Crash
9:03 - The Big rock garden
11:31 - TNA

[@MikeBeeman]

looks like a challenging rock garden. glad you are ok

[@MTBr-of-SoCal]

Ya, Rattlesnake is indeed one of the lesser known trails for riders. Although, I think it's pretty well known for hikers. Dunno how many times I've done this trail and there were always a handful of folks climbing it. Great stuff! And that spot you crash is about the same freakin' spot I crashed on the first time I did this trail. Glad you walked ok from it.

[@outdoorsandiego]

It's an easy spot mess up. I honestly can't tell what I hit, but I think I caught a blind rock behind behind the mound to the right.

[@turntabillist]

Your video here accurately depicts the reality of the climbs vs. downhills in the Aliso/Laguna area. If I go too long without climbing Mathis, Cholla, Willow, etc. I feel like I get weak and thus lose some of my sharpness for the downhills. I do my best not to despise the climbs (lol) and every time I ride here I expect to climb Mathis or Cholla or Willow more than once. If riding the gnar on the Aliso side, then hike-a-biking up StairSteps is usually a necessary evil as well.

[@outdoorsandiego]

Yeah, but I think the clomb out of Rattlesnake is especially brutal for the downhill. Mathis is long and steep, and cholla is punchy, but this loop probably represents the worst climbs in Laguna and aliso, compared to the downhills.

[@outdoorsandiego]

As a training loop, though, this one is amazing.

[@turntabillist]

@@outdoorsandiego Right. Which is probably why many people forgo riding Rattlesnake. It takes ages to climb outta there. A shame because the Rattlesnake rock garden is an excellent segment to hone skills on in preparation for the longer, more serious gnar trails out there.

[@jeremyvia7696]

You mentioned shoulder protection after your crash on rattlesnake.. What are you wearin these days?

[@outdoorsandiego]

Leatt shoulder pad under shirt.. Fox also makes a good shoulder and chest pad undershirt.