I've been hearing that there's a new tunnel underway beneath Lucas Valley Road being built by Lucasfilm to connect Loma Alta and Big Rock Ridge, so I set out to investigate as my Sunday two-wheeled adventure.
The $900,000 project is mostly being paid for by George Lucas, as some kind of penance for coming up with that Jar Jar Binks character. It's been under debate since at least 2002, but has hit a number of roadblocks (so to speak) because the tunnel would impact the Marin Western Flax and the Mt. Tam Jewelflower. Apparently, they've been able to stormtroop their way through the issue, as the tunnel's nearing completion. It's a cool structure - I'm not sure of any other tunnel in Marin built solely to allow for uninterrupted trail access along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, so that's got to be something of a first.
Anyway, onto the ride.
I started out as dawn broke over Fairfax, slowly making my way up Repack to enjoy some early morning light over the valleys. Didn't quite make the vista at that perfect moment when the light's "just so," but got some great color off the trail.
It was pretty quiet up on the ridge, and made some good time down White Hill FR and Porcupine/White's Hill trails.
After cranking my way up Gunsight, the top of Loma Alta became a perfect spot to chill, shed a few layers and ate a bit o'grub. The old moon looking down on me from above.
From up there, I got a good vantage of my next target, Big Rock Ridge.
Here's the tunnel: hard to believe they're doing all this work for maybe 10 trail users/day. But so long as one of them's me, it's cool :thumbsup:
Where's the Rancor?
This is the roadway the tunnel will bypass. It's a little bit sketchy up at the crest, as eastbound traffic can really sneak up on you if you're not paying attention. Hardly what I'd call a dangerous intersection... but will the tunnel make things safer? Absolutely!
Trail riding continued on singletrack (albeit a wide one) along the Big Rock Ridge Trail, sometimes called "Lutallica" since it straddles the Lucas property and the Hetfield Ranch (that's thrashman James Hetfield, btw).
Here's an aside: I always make it a point to pick up trash on the trail. Lo! There's a balloon on the trail. Should I pop it and throw it in the bag? No, I think I'll tie it to my bag and bring it home for my daughter, letting it bounce merrily behind a la "The Red Balloon" for the rest of the ride.
Then the damn thing catches on a cattle gate and escapes. Little balloon, you're free now! Free to suffocate some small animal to death! To Live is to Die, Nothing Else Matters, Kill 'em All BABY!
Hark! Skywalker Ranch approaches. Check out that artificial pond they've got! Can you see the Ewoks?
Further on, a sign warns that trespassers will be power-chorded to oblivion.
Up at the tower, I swear I started getting a headache about 100 yards from the dishes. Am I imagining this? I've gotten the exact same feeling the last time I was up there, and also once next to the towers on top of Mt. Barnabe. I decided to take my lunch a ways from the waves.
I retread my route back home - Big Rock trail is so nice, especially on the downhill. There are always some hikers or horses out, especially on the weekends, but never so much that it causes a problem. It can be quite fast on the descent. Also, the trail is open enough that you can open things up a bit and still be conscientious of other users. Like the little old couple I snuck up on who were grabbing a$$ on their hike - totally embarrassed, but totally cute, too.
Just read this post backwards to see what the return trip was like.
Happy trails!
The $900,000 project is mostly being paid for by George Lucas, as some kind of penance for coming up with that Jar Jar Binks character. It's been under debate since at least 2002, but has hit a number of roadblocks (so to speak) because the tunnel would impact the Marin Western Flax and the Mt. Tam Jewelflower. Apparently, they've been able to stormtroop their way through the issue, as the tunnel's nearing completion. It's a cool structure - I'm not sure of any other tunnel in Marin built solely to allow for uninterrupted trail access along the Bay Area Ridge Trail, so that's got to be something of a first.
Anyway, onto the ride.
I started out as dawn broke over Fairfax, slowly making my way up Repack to enjoy some early morning light over the valleys. Didn't quite make the vista at that perfect moment when the light's "just so," but got some great color off the trail.
It was pretty quiet up on the ridge, and made some good time down White Hill FR and Porcupine/White's Hill trails.
After cranking my way up Gunsight, the top of Loma Alta became a perfect spot to chill, shed a few layers and ate a bit o'grub. The old moon looking down on me from above.
From up there, I got a good vantage of my next target, Big Rock Ridge.
Here's the tunnel: hard to believe they're doing all this work for maybe 10 trail users/day. But so long as one of them's me, it's cool :thumbsup:
Where's the Rancor?
This is the roadway the tunnel will bypass. It's a little bit sketchy up at the crest, as eastbound traffic can really sneak up on you if you're not paying attention. Hardly what I'd call a dangerous intersection... but will the tunnel make things safer? Absolutely!
Trail riding continued on singletrack (albeit a wide one) along the Big Rock Ridge Trail, sometimes called "Lutallica" since it straddles the Lucas property and the Hetfield Ranch (that's thrashman James Hetfield, btw).
Here's an aside: I always make it a point to pick up trash on the trail. Lo! There's a balloon on the trail. Should I pop it and throw it in the bag? No, I think I'll tie it to my bag and bring it home for my daughter, letting it bounce merrily behind a la "The Red Balloon" for the rest of the ride.
Then the damn thing catches on a cattle gate and escapes. Little balloon, you're free now! Free to suffocate some small animal to death! To Live is to Die, Nothing Else Matters, Kill 'em All BABY!
Hark! Skywalker Ranch approaches. Check out that artificial pond they've got! Can you see the Ewoks?
Further on, a sign warns that trespassers will be power-chorded to oblivion.
Up at the tower, I swear I started getting a headache about 100 yards from the dishes. Am I imagining this? I've gotten the exact same feeling the last time I was up there, and also once next to the towers on top of Mt. Barnabe. I decided to take my lunch a ways from the waves.
I retread my route back home - Big Rock trail is so nice, especially on the downhill. There are always some hikers or horses out, especially on the weekends, but never so much that it causes a problem. It can be quite fast on the descent. Also, the trail is open enough that you can open things up a bit and still be conscientious of other users. Like the little old couple I snuck up on who were grabbing a$$ on their hike - totally embarrassed, but totally cute, too.
Just read this post backwards to see what the return trip was like.
Happy trails!