Fittingly, the top is 100% gravel, and has a rather underwhelming view considering a pure summit finish. With the flat fixed, we continued to the top. And to make it even better, the temps had risen into the high 90s by then, and there is NO SHADE along the entire climb, unless you want to crawl into a shrub (I did while I waited, since my sunscreen was gone long before). To make it better, I’d forgotten my CO2 inflator and had to wait for my friends to catch up. With less than a mile remaining, I got a flat (no surprise considering the surface and my worn-in 28mm tires). The average grade is deceiving for this ride, skewed by two short descents of -5% - however, the climb gradient is above 8%, with brief sections getting well above 10%, and combined with the slippery gravel surface, well, not fun. For better or worse, with refilled water bottles we decided to push on. We decided to do Camp 9 first, and good thing we did - we ran out of water just before reaching the water fountains at the fire station on the summit.Īfter descending back to Bear Divide, we debated whether or not to keep going and document one more climb in the rising heat- it was already 10am with temperatures already approaching 90. We started off the day parking at Hansen Dam Park, a great place to start a ride through Tujunga Canyon, Camp 9, or Magic Mountain. Plus, when we did it in June 2021 it was 98 degrees when we reached the summit 🔥🥵🔥 You could describe Magic Mountain as the evil twin to the Camp 9 climb: a bit longer, a much steeper climb gradient, and a horrendous surface. Camp 9 includes water fountains, shady trees, and friendly firefighters, whereas Magic Mountain… does not. Camp 9 is an extremely popular climb outside of Santa Clarita/San Fernando, with nearly 20k strava attempts. This climb starts just to the north of Bear Divide right across the street from where the road to Camp 9 starts. Climb summary by PJAMM Cycling’s Sam LyonsĪerial view of the climb with the summit in the distance (towers)
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