Angeles Crest Highway and Highway 39

[450knotOffice]

On my departures from LAX to points East, we do what is called the "Loop" departure whereby we fly Westbound and then loop around back over the top of LAX and then proceed Northeastbound right over the top of the San Gabriel mountains. I'm usually climbing through about 16,000 feet or so and have a GREAT view of the awesome mountain roads up there. One road has always caught my eye because it looks like the absolute perfect mountain road for our Porsches and enjoys an absolutely spectacular view. Sadly, however, I've never seen any cars on it - at all! What a waste, as far as I'm concerned.

I did about an hour of research today and found out that the section I'm looking at is Highway 39, which sadly has been closed up there since 1978 and which may never be reopened. It ends near the summit of the Angeles Crest Highway, highway 2, which is also closed up there. Man, that just sucks for those of us constantly on the prowl for good roads to drive.

Have any of you older guys around here ever driven on these roads back in the 70's and before then? I'd be really curious to hear of your experiences on this (these) roads.

[tabs]

I used to go up 39 from Azusa all the time, up to the East Fork Bridge...going about 5 miles down the East Fork road U come to Glendora Mountain Road which will outlet in Glendora. Bin up and down those roads since the 50s

Your not going to get much speed up on GMR simply because its ALL switch backs, one right after the other for 20 miles. Nice drive though.

On 39 I once saw a guy roll a Renault. I will never forget the look on his face. It was a look of this couldn't a happened. Anyway on route 39 there are a coupla decreasing radius curves that I was always carefull of. Otherwise 39 is a good run, that is if you can get around the Hispanic driver doing 30 MPH.

[slodave]

Dude! Keep your eyes in the sky!

[tabs]

Back in the early 70s an Airforce Fighter and Commercial Airliner collided over the San Gaberial Mountains (Duarte). It was just a big KABAM and that was it.

[daepp]

Scott - take Glendora Mountain Ridge Road from Glendora to Mt. Baldy. Then down Baldy Road to I-10. It's a great run.

[450knotOffice]

So I decided to go up there and check it out. Nice road. I got about 1/2 way up the road before it was gated off (about 3.5 miles past the East Fork bridge, still on hwy 39), so I parked, ducked under the gate and walked about 3/4 mile up the road. Amazing to walk on an empty road like that. Kind of surreal. I wish they'd repair the upper part of that road one of these days so we can drive that road someday (In June of last year it was announced that a study was going to be conducted to decide whether to repair the 6 mile section up top damaged in 1978). Take a look at the road on Google maps (the satellite/map view). Get down to a closeup view and look at how great that road would be to drive someday. I just typed in the city of Azusa and then dragged the map up into the mountains (you gotta love Google maps).

Who cares about speed? It's all about the turns!!

As for Angeles Crest Highway, does anyone have any idea as to when they'll open that road all the way through again? It was closed up near the top a couple of years ago due to Winter weather damage.





Remnents of a burned out house in the canyon. There were a couple like this.


The obligatory 911 shot:

[tabs]

I grew up in Glendora...and climbed all over them thar hills on the East Fork in the search of Gold.

[t6dpilot]

Scott, that is the great benefit that us pilots have. We can scope out stuff from a whole different perspective. Now that looks like an awesome driving road! Too bad it's closed.

Nice 911 BTW.

[Drew001]

Originally posted by 450knotOffice
As for Angeles Crest Highway, does anyone have any idea as to when they'll open that road all the way through again? It was closed up near the top a couple of years ago due to Winter weather damage.

Wiki has some good info on Highway 39:

Report to assess status, opening of Highway 39
On July 10, 2006, the Pasadena Star-News reported that the state provided funding for an Environmental impact report (EIR) in June 2006 to assess the feasibility of reopening Highway 39 in the Angeles National Forest.
A 6.1-mile stretch of the road, from Snow Springs north of Azusa to Highway 2, has been closed to the public since 1978 due to a massive rock and mudslide caused by heavy rains and floods. The EIR will take three years to complete, according to California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) officials.
The highway was opened to emergency crews in February 2003 after a Caltrans study showed reopening it would not harm wetlands, air and water quality, natural vegetation or threatened plants and animals. The proposed State Route 39 Roadway Rehabilitation Project would begin five miles north of Crystal Lake Recreation Area Campground. In 2003, Caltrans officials estimated the project would cost $26.5 million.
People heading to Mount Waterman must now travel west to Pasadena and join Angeles Crest Highway (2) in La Canada Flintridge - a nearly two-hour trip. Reopening Highway 39 would cut the drive-time to the Waterman ski area in half and shorten the trip east to Wrightwood.