2022: Santa Ana Mountain Biking Obsession
Channel: Darshan Ahluwalia
Date: 2022-12-31

2022 was a year I became obsessed with mountain biking the Santa Anas. I completed some long rides like Santiago Peak from San Juan (43mi, 9.5k), Blackstar (54mi, 10.5k) and Coal Canyon (63mi, 13k). I also traversed the range starting at Coal Canyon and ending at San Juan trail, while summitting all the peaks on my way and descending Motorway, Upper Holy Jim and Los Pinos Ridge (54 mi, 12.5k). The long self-supported rides were awesome fitness challenges but even more memorable to me were the rides combining fitness and adventure. Like exploring Los Pinos in a storm and bushwhacking down overgrown Bell Ridge after first summitting Modjeska and Santiago peaks. And descending the intimidating Smashface and forgotten trails Biscuits and Gravy and Lone Oak. All new terrain, all alone, committed and far from the car. I am also proud I pushed myself on technically challenging trails like East Horse Thief and the stout and steep East Side trails: Wardlow, Tin Mine, Diablo, Main Street. Its never easy the first time, but would you believe I have some of the fastest strava times on some of these trails now? Looking back on 2022 its amazing to see how much experience I gained in mountain biking and how much I improved. I hope for next year, I continue to seek adventure and challenge as much as I did this year. My goals include helping revive some forgotten trails, actually riding with some people every once and a while and maybe trying to ride somewhere else other than just the Santa Anas. But I'm not entirely committed to that last goal, because: I Am Obsessed with the Santa Anas. Here's to 2022: Year of Santa Ana Obsession.