Thanks for the kind words Jacob. And especially thank you for helping with this trail and with leading your own trail work efforts on Joplin (and smash in the past). I agree, it would be great to promote the trail work you are doing. Even just a couple words, photos and some stats (hours, days out) would suffice to show others that work is getting done out there. I think the more we share what we're doing, the more normalized trail work is and more inviting it is for others to join us. Glad we've linked up for this trail and look forward to more rides with you and restoring some other amazing trails (Full Crosses, BnG soon)!

Thank you! Buckthorn is easy to find: it is on Modjeska Peak. It descends from Modjeska Peak's shoulder down to Four Corners. Upper Joplin (which I've also called East Buckthorn and on strava Modjeska Peak Singletrack) is directly across from Buckthorn, descending the shoulder towards the saddle between Modjeska and Santiago. Appreciate your offer to help with maintenance on these trails. Please follow me on Strava, Facebook and join the Warriors Society mailing list (www.warriorssociety.org/warriors_list.php) as I communicate trail work events on those channels!

I should also mention: consider joining the Orange County Mountain Biking group if you're on that platform and not already in the group...

Yeah, an e-bike or moto would be a way to get up to four corners quickly. My PR from the bottom of Maple is an hour. For trailwork up on the peaks, I've been parking at the end of the paved portion of maple. Then it takes about an hour to get to the peaks at a quick but manageable pace. We could use you with your e-bike to help with carrying tools up there!!

Thank you! I will definitely take you up on the offer to help shuttle tools or do trail work. I've been posting invites to trail work days on my Strava and Facebook. Please add me (search my name). Also you can sign up to the Warriors Society mailing list (www.warriorssociety.org/warriors_list.php) and join the Orange County Mountain Biking group, as I often create events there too.

Let’s do it before you go back home !

Yeah man!! Good times! Those two trails were so much fun!

Come out and enjoy them again !!

Yes

Indeed it was! Let’s do another ride before you bounce

Thank you!

Yes it’s a cool trail at the top of the range! You can do it with the maple motorway loop or when you do HTT Joplin loop.

Awesome dude! It’s a good one!

Yes he did!

Blackstar has some great trails! Bottle buckets for carrying water as I don’t like anything on my back.

It’s hard in winter and impossible in summer :-) I haven’t sent it in either season

Thank you! Luge is very well maintained!

Come back to these Santa Ana’s and let’s go ride these amazing mountain trails!

Thanks!

You are welcome!

@@darshahlu We did an overnight bikepacking trip to modjeska peak and were pretty disheartened to see it so trashed so extra big thanks for picking up the trash we didnt have room for.

@@ChrisKilzer of course. We gotta keep our mountains pristine

Come join in on the fun in these Santa Ana’s! I’m on a 2019 giant trance advanced pro 29 0. Short travel full suspension trail bike

@@darshahlu setting a goal now to be able to ride at 50% what you are capable . I goes to either whiting or luge/harding trailer pretty much 1-2 time per week now. Living close by foothill ranch , these trail is very accessible to me. Hoping I can develop some fitness level soon. Do you do MTB exclusively for fitness?

@@mingguo3381 great to hear. No, in addition to mountain biking, I rock climb and take my wife’s Pilates class

Trail forks, mtb project, strava, a Gaia GPS

It’s so freaking dry and hard at the moment as you could see! With your skill and the right bike/tires maybe it’s possible to clean the bottom crux section now. Certainly over my head! But I did pretty good on the rest with just a couple slippy-doos.

First half is okay but the bushiness on the second half especially the new “third monkey” last segment is a bit much… I think it’s quite a bit longer than buckthorn but the trimming looks lighter (just grass and soft plants)

You’re welcome 😇

Yay! 😁

Thank you 🙌

Indeed it does! If you’re looking to get one I recommend it. 40v HP (brushless) one that supports attachments for the win!

Thank you 🙏🏽

Yeah, its a tough section!

Thanks, no I did not get any poison oak. When riding these backcountry trails where conditions can be bushy, I always wear pants. My arms are semi covered with the elbow pads; the upper bicep is exposed, so I sometimes get some PO there. I now keep Dawn dish soap in the car so as soon as I get down, I wash my arms and face.

Yeah too bad :-(

Yes

Welcome!🙏🏽

Yes its one of the best ways up to Modjeska or Santiago Peaks (Saddleback mountain, colloquially). Park on the dirt road of Trabuco Canyon and head up a fire road aka Cadillac to gain Santiago Truck Trail, then descend a bit to "Old Camp", cross Santiago Creek and head straight up Joplin. Look at a map, of course, and it will make sense.

Glad to see you're wearing long sleeves to protect you from the brush and sun!

Thank you! Now I just need to do it quickly 🙃

Takes one to know one ! Thanks for the inspiration to keep on sketchballin’

Wednesday or Thursday last week

Thank you! First time actually clearing those hard parts and I’ve ridden the trail more times than I remember

Come join us!! You would love it

Hi thank you for letting me know. I didn’t know. I’m completely in shock with this news. I am sorry. I wish I had spent more time with him. I met him a couple years ago on the summit of Santiago peak. We ended up riding together on another occasion and had made plans to get together soon. I barely knew him but he was an inspiration to me and I was looking forward to riding with him more. I had heard about the accident but didn’t know who it was. The following weekend I nearly had a head on, a video I posted on my channel, to raise awareness that we all need to slow down. I had noticed Brandon wasn’t riding and was going to reach out to see how he was doing. I had no idea he was involved in the accident. This is a horrible tragedy. I can’t believe we’ve lost Brandon. I am sorry for your loss. I am sorry for his family. Deepest condolences. Thank you for reaching out. My number is 949 302 0166. Please stay in touch

This is so sad. I was also almost hit on Main Divide from 4 Corners to Motorway. They do not lookout for MTbers. 😟

It was a little bumpy !

“Telescoping rake for the win”

The post fire in Gorman

Yeah I almost turned around before I made it to 4 corners. I still cut my ride short but at least I got the summits in… air quality was great at lower elevation, once I got down to STT