Kettle Question

[theStimmer]

I have the day off tomorrow and I was thinking of heading up to the Kettle area.  Since I have never been there before I was wondering if someone could compare the John Muir section and the Emma Carlin sections with Palos for me.

I typically do 20 miles or so when I ride at Palos.  From the trail descriptions it sounds like the Emma section might be a lot harder than anything at Palos but I do enjoy challenging hills.

Thanks in advance !

[Seanbikes]

I love Palos but I'd ride Kettle more if it was as close.  

Palos does have the potential to rival Kettle though.  

[ridingillini]

theStimmer,

You'll have a lot of fun at Kettle and I agree that the described ride ("Full Monty") is the way to go.  It is about 27 or so miles, however, if you include Emma Carlin.  It takes longer to ride 27 miles at Kettle than 27 miles at Palos because Kettle is almost entirely singletrack.  You should pace yourself and bring plent of food and water.  Emma does have some long and steep climbs but they are wide with crushed limestone.  The worst case is that you walk up them, which is probably a good idea if you're getting tired anyway.  I think that there are parts of the connector and Emma Carlin which are more technical than Palos.  I don't think that John Muir is necessarily more technical than Palos.  I think that the climb up 3 Ravines the hard way (clockwise) is tougher than any climb at John Muir but not as tough as the limestone climbs of Emma Carlin.  It's hard for me to justify the drive up to Kettle, though, if I don't ride there for at least 35 miles.  YMMV.

[Yeti Clyde]

I love Palos but I'd ride Kettle more if it as close.  

I'm 50 miles to either Kettle, Rock Cut or Palos,  

nevermind.....

that's a lie. Kettle and Palos are equal in my book.

To be totally honest I haven't rode Palos once this year, have ridden Kettle numerous times....

These are your home trails so I understand the defensiveness.....

But in actuality, the two systems are apples and oranges....

As Sean said Palos has potential...

To quote the CAMBR North dictator about Kettle,  "they want you to ride your bike there"..... 

The land manager wants the system to evolve...

Maybe Palos will evolve, 

I have done both workdays with CAMBR North and at Kettle, more at Kettle......

CCFPD is there to undermine you......

So they're really not on even playing fields.....

[adhd-tv]

theStimmer,

You'll have a lot of fun at Kettle and I agree that the described ride ("Full Monty") is the way to go.  It is about 27 or so miles, however, if you include Emma Carlin.  It takes longer to ride 27 miles at Kettle than 27 miles at Palos because Kettle is almost entirely singletrack.  You should pace yourself and bring plent of food and water.  Emma does have some long and steep climbs but they are wide with crushed limestone.  The worst case is that you walk up them, which is probably a good idea if you're getting tired anyway.  I think that there are parts of the connector and Emma Carlin which are more technical than Palos.  I don't think that John Muir is necessarily more technical than Palos.  I think that the climb up 3 Ravines the hard way (clockwise) is tougher than any climb at John Muir but not as tough as the limestone climbs of Emma Carlin.  It's hard for me to justify the drive up to Kettle, though, if I don't ride there for at least 35 miles.  YMMV.

 
Wish I could join you, Kettle NEVER has let me down... let me suggest a route for a first timer:

John Muir - do the red loop to make sure your bike and gear are in order... then do the white loop to get your legs warmed up... then rock out a full blue loop... that's roughly 15 miles right there... then you can do the full green loop and repeat the white or blue again.

I would save the full monty when you can get a crew together as it seems to be more fun that way but even if you went with the full monty the first time out you will love it... take a full blue loop> then the connector> then do the red loop at Emma and come back via the connector and complete the blue loop back to the lot... damn I really wish I could go... maybe i am not feeling so hot and will need to stay home tomorrow as I don't want to get anyone else in the office sick... ok, time to start concocting the plan...

 

[adhd-tv]

Another option that I like at Muir is  Blue to White to Rainy Dew to Orange

+1 that is also a very enjoyable route 

[theStimmer]

Thanks to all who provided the great input.  I decided to save the Carlin area for my next trip and ended up doing all the loops at Muir.  That place is really cool 

I wish someone would have advised me to not save the orange trail for last ... that long rock climb at the end was a killer on tired legs.

Worst part of the trip was all the construction on Route 12 through Fox Lake.

Can't wait to go back.

[ridingillini]

Regarding construction on Route 12 yesterday, I winded up eventually taking a GPS guided detour through Johnstown.  I had already lost 15 minutes on Route 12 before I started the detour.  I think that the detour was worth it and that I should have taken it immediately.  I can't say for sure.  I forgot about that climb on Orange.  That climb is the only climb at John Muir which is tougher than 3 Ravines backwards.

[c2000]

I did John Muir connector and the Emma.
John is long but nice (I did crashed on the sand), the connector is kind of challenging. Emma is short but fun.
Did all in 3hr.7min. but when I got to the car I was ready to puke & my legs where like a jello.
I planing to go there again before winter. I love one way trails, no worries of hitting anybody head on.

[Nickk]

question about Kettle these days:
I used to ride it a bunch B in the D, like in the early 90s, the connector is 2-way right?  or did they cut new trails for that?  I'm dying to get up there since I did my first offroad ride in about 9 years last Sunday.

One thing I never liked at the Emma Carlin trails was the mats, I know it's all for errosion control but on the other stuff you really had to pick your climb lines or you'd spin out and end up hoofin' it.

[ridingillini]

The connector trails are one way.  One connector trail goes to Emma Carlin and the other connector trail goes to John Muir.  You should definitely go back sometime this year yet.