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The terrain and scenery change beyond Red Box. The 12 miles between Red Box and Newcomb Ranch lie roughly between the well-known front range of the San Gabriels and the lofty, less-explored back range. The road through this intermountain section goes up, then down, then up, then down, and then up. After Newcomb Ranch, the climbing immediately gets serious. |
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About eight miles past Red Box is Charlton Flats, where the chaparral gives way to pine trees. There is a picnic ground here, but no water fountain--at least not any more. Not to worry, though. Red Box almost always has water (although sometimes it is shut off) and there is water at Newcomb Ranch and nearby Chilao. |
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Because of all the uphill-downhill stuff you can get tired without gaining a lot of elevation. However, I am able to reach the 5000' level. |
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CalTrans has a maintenance facility near Chilao, just before my next water stop. Apparently some workers live here. What a cool place for company housing! |
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Newcomb Ranch is a big hangout for the motorcyclists who ride the Crest.
On weekends there can be a huge number of motorcycles parked here. Today,
a Friday, there are a relative few.
You can get food and drink at the restaurant here, or you can fill water bottles at the drinking fountain. A note of caution: the water I got from the drinking fountain here tasted rusty. |
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Newcomb Ranch, like the Angeles National Forest, is open every day. |
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At this point, I'm a little more than halfway to Wrightwood,
but the toughest climbing is about to come.
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The first six miles out of Newcomb Ranch is climbing--no flat spots, no downhills. I reach the 6000' level about three miles into the climb. I'm glad I stopped, rested, and had something to eat and drink before starting this segment of the ride. |