tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post265072549669225236..comments2023-12-06T08:09:06.667-08:00Comments on Smorgcycle: Forbidden San Miguel Mountain (and less than forbidden Mt Helix) by road bikeSmorghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-23099042612318469682022-08-08T12:13:09.240-07:002022-08-08T12:13:09.240-07:00You could also do reps on Dictionary Hill to wreck...You could also do reps on Dictionary Hill to wreck your quads as well. I'm in Otay Ranch and have done Mt. San Miguel a couple times... but I ride out along Proctor Valley (on the mtb trail that runs parallel to the road), then return via Jamacha to Sweetwater Rd to La Media. Makes for a day. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-79277821829167660032022-08-08T08:47:03.532-07:002022-08-08T08:47:03.532-07:00Hi MG: Miller Ranch Rd to the antennae sure is a g...Hi MG: Miller Ranch Rd to the antennae sure is a great work out (with usually no car or anything else to encounter, to boot)! You must be in really good shape already. :) <br /><br />I've heard the same stories of enforcement getting really kicked up because some idiots went and stole stuff from the antennae complex indeed, tho hadn't heard of human smuggling/border patrol one. I'm surprised it was a ranger that did the patrolling! <br /><br />Anyhow, I'm afraid there isn't anything similar to that climb that is also paved... in the area. The closest thing is Honey Springs Rd from Campo Rd to Barber Mtn road (or turning right up Deerhorn Valley Rd to the end of the pavement for steeper last mile and a bit). It isn't a closed road, however, so there are cars (tho traffic is very light). <br /><br />At any rate, you shouldn't have any trouble parking at the bridge indeed. :) Good luck taming the steep hills!Smorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-87723447271294153692022-08-06T02:19:50.136-07:002022-08-06T02:19:50.136-07:00Hi Smorg thanks for your response!! Much appreciat...Hi Smorg thanks for your response!! Much appreciated. :) I was parking right at the tube gate on Millar Ranch Rd right where it says no trespassing government property etc as you start the climb.(By the 4th photo top to bottom in your blog post where you titled it "The gate completely blocks the road.") There's some space on the side of the paved road at the gate on both sides where it's just dirt and I would park there in case someone was needing to drive in or out in order to not block the road at the gate. I honestly didn't really think anyone would care that I was riding up there because I had seen people hiking up the paved road before so I figured ok this is ok I mean all I am doing is exercising on my bike and taking in the views. When I rode down to the gate and the wildlife officer noticed me as I got closer he was kind of startled and I could see him writing a ticket to leave on the dash I suppose. I don't think he was going to go open the gate and not sure if he can or has access because his suv was parked facing away from the gate so I think he was already getting ready to leave pretty soon until I got there. He was pretty pissed at me at first and he was giving me a lecture and asking me if I could read the sign. I was very calm and professional and apologized he said he could give me a misdemeanor or something like that and then he said he was only going to give me a ticket for a fine that was like $175 and then he was about to start writing down my info for the ticket and was asking my name and age etc and I think because I was very cooperative he said you know what just leave and do not come back. He said something about people stripping copper up at the top by the antenna's and about how border patrol work up there or something like that and smugglers picking people up where my car was parked. He also was telling me about people leaving stolen cars out there. Basically he told me not to come back. However, I really enjoyed this climb. I want to keep doing it as you can probably tell. I figured I could get some better answers here after doing some research on google haha and is how I found your blog post. I never had any issues before. I googled the steel canyon bridge you mentioned and see its close to Millar Ranch and I think that would be perfect. I agree its a bit more climbing but that's my goal. I like that this climb is steep and long or longer than anything else I could find. I did Mt Soledad a few times yesterday because I was worried about going back but I think if I park somewhere else and ride up there instead I should be ok. There's too many cars on Mt. Soledad and the roads need quite a bit of work and the climb is not very long.<br /><br /> If you think I should try anything else I would greatly appreciate any feedback. Thanks again for your response really appreciate you putting this info out there. I am wanting to lose some weight and this climb has been helping me a lot! I liked that no cars were there and it was peaceful and challenging and a great view at the top! So that is the main reason why I want to keep doing it. I feel like I shouldn’t let some thing like this keep me from doing it but at the same time I don’t want to get in big trouble but I feel like I should be fine as long as I ride up there and don’t park by the gate. I was getting in good shape I could feel the climb getting easier every time I went and want to do repeats now hahah. If anyone is down to do this climb with me let me know! Thank you.<br />-MGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-45780660552280422082022-08-05T10:21:48.649-07:002022-08-05T10:21:48.649-07:00I'm jealous. Echo Valley Rd/trail is just too ...I'm jealous. Echo Valley Rd/trail is just too rough for my road bike (and so as Proctor Valley dirt, much of the time). :) Smorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-10850917619082571782022-08-05T10:19:56.422-07:002022-08-05T10:19:56.422-07:00Hi Anon. Were you parking half way up the hill on ...Hi Anon. Were you parking half way up the hill on Miller Anita? I'd say you'd be fine parking down by the old Steele Canyon Bridge off from Campo Rd. That's the trailhead for the Sweetwater River Trail system, so there shouldn't be any problem there (extra climbing for you, tho, but then you get extra downhill on the way down, too). :) Smorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-80618329206523114202022-08-03T21:45:33.407-07:002022-08-03T21:45:33.407-07:00Hi Smorg. I started doing this ride for the past w...Hi Smorg. I started doing this ride for the past week or so every day around sunset and had no issues at all. Today I went a little bit earlier and I usually always park my car on the side of the road by the tube gate on the dirt and I would just start riding there by the gate all the way up today however when I got down I could see someone as I was still further up not yet at the gate a white SUV it was a wildlife officer and he was writing some sort of a ticket to leave on my car I don’t think he knew I was up there and not sure if he has access to open the gate to go up but I seemed to have startled him when I rode down to the tube gate and he was going to cite me but he said just to leave and not come back . However I really enjoyed this ride and I would like to continue doing it I’m thinking maybe if I park by Campo Road and Miller Ranch Road or maybe by the town center I can ride there because they won’t see a car parked at the tube gate and then I can ride all the way up and might not have any issues? What do you think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-34475934842739568832022-08-03T21:39:36.810-07:002022-08-03T21:39:36.810-07:00Hi guys I started going up this everyday for the p...Hi guys I started going up this everyday for the past week or so. I would park my car at the gate on the side of the road on the dirt. On my way down I could see that there was a white SUV next to my car and I could see that he was writing a ticket he didn’t see me until I got all the way to the gate and I don’t think he has access past the gate it was a wildlife type officer and he was going to give me a ticket but he let me go. I really want to do this every day I had been coming right before sunset and had no issues today I came earlier and I guess he saw my car there otherwise I don’t think he would’ve known I was up there . Do you think I can do the ride from the main road and park by campo rd instead and then that way no one will know I’m there? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-32174951866647171942018-09-09T09:43:15.414-07:002018-09-09T09:43:15.414-07:00Just returned from MSM via Eastlake to Oray Lakes ...Just returned from MSM via Eastlake to Oray Lakes Rd to Echo Lane on a mountain bike. A ride above the fog, very pitchy as Smorg said, esp. around the last steep curve to the top (with the 3 arrow signs)... I actually shifted up 2 cogs from the granny as spinning became untenable and did some Armstrong style standing on the pedals (albeit a slow motion version of that master of the dance) Snapped a few photos and whizzed back down the roller coaster with overheating hydraulic brakes whining all the way! A very scenic route out from Otay Lakes, still undeveloped and an escape from cars, people and square shapes. Willardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17275691560275959651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-27014524784815762922017-06-29T14:31:14.830-07:002017-06-29T14:31:14.830-07:00I lived across the valley from MSM (Hartzell Ranch...I lived across the valley from MSM (Hartzell Ranch) for decades. I've always wanted to go up there to check out the view but have also been deterred by the "No Trespassing" signs. For a long time, despite its being the most recognizable landmark for leagues, the peak has been absent from any local maps. Thank you for your article. Now that I know that some other brave souls have risked arrest to satisfy their curiosity, I feel as though I may one day satisfy mine as well. Peace out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04865115903140758938noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-33566895899072059682016-11-27T10:10:03.202-08:002016-11-27T10:10:03.202-08:00I have ridden this hill at least 150x since 2010 b...I have ridden this hill at least 150x since 2010 but was kicked off by a federal officer earlier this year for good.... I will miss it as nothing close compares!<br /><br />SteveAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17088347805781760779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-80544154075709976802016-05-23T21:46:17.992-07:002016-05-23T21:46:17.992-07:00Hi. Yup, it is closed to the public, tho people st...Hi. Yup, it is closed to the public, tho people still hike up it all the time - usually from the Proctor Valley Rd side. They didn't enforce the no trespassing much until some idiots went and stole stuff from the radio tower complex last year, I think. Now I hear people are getting ticketed more often... Tho the locals still do sneak up there. :o) Smorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-52017895162811897752016-05-23T21:44:11.436-07:002016-05-23T21:44:11.436-07:00Thanks, Jeanine! :) Mt Helix & Grossmont were ...Thanks, Jeanine! :) Mt Helix & Grossmont were my favorite cycling ground. I wish Fuerte Dr between Avocado and Bancroft is more bike-friendly (there's just no room for expansion, I'm afraid), but during the day traffic is light enough to do short sections of it while connecting to the many cool shaded lanes there. :o) Smorghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01604438508775705758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-37435090460319676152016-05-23T16:35:00.506-07:002016-05-23T16:35:00.506-07:00I really want to go to the peak of San Miguel Moun...I really want to go to the peak of San Miguel Mountain, but since it is closed to the public, I'm scared to get in trouble for trespassing. Do a lot of people still go up there?Hiker Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13915142211509503082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-4000734445434418742016-04-24T20:27:23.003-07:002016-04-24T20:27:23.003-07:00I would ride my bike from Casa de Oro Elementry in...I would ride my bike from Casa de Oro Elementry in Spring Valley to my home on Mt. Helix at Crestview Hts. We would zig zag back and forth up the hill. As the kids would pull into their homes, I would keep riding. Finally riding alone, to my stop. I enjoyed reading the story of your ride. I miss the hills, living in a very flat Dallas. Thank you. Jeanine. Gastonghoulishgoodieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07089211668623502842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5233448095611235541.post-32674978705260462852014-02-26T14:30:19.513-08:002014-02-26T14:30:19.513-08:00I ride up MSM regularly, probably more than anybod...I ride up MSM regularly, probably more than anybody else. I usually also make a trip up Mt Helix on the way out. I have had times in the past where I do 3-4 repeats on MSM. I do not go back down to 94 only down to the tube gate and back upAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com