We are planning our first CUTRR – Clean Up The Ridge Route – event to be held on May 20, 2023. The road has suffered through a lot this winter and it needs your help! Our work will concentrate on clearing drains of debris on the northern end between the Tumble Inn and Reservoir Summit. Due to conditions, we won’t be able to go over the entire roadway afterward as we have done in the past. Additionally, lower clearance vehicles are not recommended on the Ridge Route at this time.
Please RSVP so we can get a rough headcount before the event. We look forward to seeing you all out there! Please use the form below to send your e-mail for RSVP.
Please be in sturdy shoes, pants, and shirt. Hats and protective glasses are recommended depending on what work you’ll be performing.
Tools Needed:
Bring whatever tools you have to cut branches and clear debris. Supplies such as picks, shovels, rakes, pruning saws, pole pruners, mattocks, clippers, wheelbarrows, brooms, and other items may also be needed.
Meeting Location:
We will be meeting at the Gorman Carl’s Jr, 49669 Gorman Post Rd, Gorman, CA 93243, at 0800 hrs on May 20, 2023 and will be leaving by 0830 hrs.
The Old Ridge Route has suffered a landslide just north of the gate in Castaic. At 0.82 miles north of the gate, about a 25ft length of the roadbed has been compromised. This is on the west side of the road and about 5-6ft deep into the road surface.
The 2018 pavement still remains intact, though there is no foundation under it. It is not advised to drive the road, even if a gate is found open. It can be potentially dangerous as these landslides aren’t always obvious from the road surface. The weight of a car could cause collapse of the road surface, especially when the hillsides are saturated.
If you are traveling on foot or by bike, please be aware of the road under you. If an area looks to be sinking, avoid it. Keep clear of cliffs and steep edges.
If you are interested in road repair and clean up efforts, please subscribe to our mailing list. We will be sending out volunteer opportunities as the area dries up.
Near Ridge Road Garage. Courtesy – Sydney Croasmun
From one of our members – Sydney Croasmun:
There was a real problem with roadways washing out leading up to the construction of the 1915 Old Ridge Route. That ended up being the deciding factor for the placement of the road. When surveying locally, there were pre existing options that could have been used in place of the section we now know as the Ridge Route.
So why would they choose to essentially start from scratch instead of using a well known road as one of the first California highways?
One by one, the pre existing options were disqualified by Division VII Highway Engineer, W. Lewis Clark. San Francisquito Canyon was deemed “a steep, narrow, dangerous way that crosses a creek too often”. Soledad Canyon had a history of constant washouts. Bouquet Canyon, known at the time as “Deadman’s Canyon Road”, was disqualified on account of “sharp turns, steep pitches and threatening drainage problems; no way of joy”. Finally Mint Canyon was deemed excessive in length among other problems.
The Ridge Route was part of the Inland Route – one of two “Trunk Roads” running north and south through California. A sister road to Highway 1. It was of great importance that this road stay open and functional – rain or shine. With the existing roads disqualified, W. Lewis Clark set out with a few pack mules to find a new, suitable route.
The Ridge Route was a type of road new to America. Inspired by European engineers, they set out to build this new route on the tops of the mountains – when it was common practice to build in canyons. This avoided river and creek crossings and eliminated the need for bridges. Preventing many of the nasty washouts that happened regularly on canyon roads.
That’s why the Ridge Route was built along the ridges!
Road Conditions Update
The storms of December 2022 and January 2023 have hit the roadway hard. Damage is fairly widespread with mudslides and rockslides being the order of the day. Reports given to us by members and the public have shown sections to be impassible by a standard automobile in many locations. From the Tumble Inn to Sandberg, there are numerous areas with flooding, mud, and rockslides. A few larger slides have been noted near Swede’s Cut and Serpentine Drive as well. At this time, it is not known if further damage has occurred between the Tumble Inn site and Swede’s Cut. It does not appear that the roadway has suffered similar damage to that of 2005, which saw the loss of three major sections of roadway. Weather permitting, we will be conducting a survey of the roadway over the weekend of February 4. As this winter is not yet over, further damage may still occur, likely in the form of landslides. We are hoping none are catastrophic, but years of minimal maintenance are taking their toll. CUTRR events will be scheduled later this year after this winter and spring calm down. Right now, we have a few targets for work regarding clearing drainages to prevent or mitigate flooding and sedimentation on the roadway. Stay tuned to our CUTRR pages for updates on those events.
It is also imperative that no travel other than emergency or essential work be taken over the Ridge Route during this period. Permanent damage to the roadway can be done if care is not taken. Do not travel beyond the gates if they are open. Those gates are locked by default and you can get stuck!
Ridge Route Mapping Update
Our mapping project is in its final phase! The base map and basic features are nearly done. Photos and additional information are being added at this time. Once it is available, we will make an announcement on the site where it can be viewed.
RRPO YouTube Channel
Did you know we have a YouTube channel with videos on the history of the Ridge Route and various aspects of the current status of the roadway? We’ve posted a few videos recently showcasing some of the unique history of the roadway. Check it out and subscribe!
Would you like to write an article for our newsletter? We are looking for stories about the road, experiences you’ve had, or information about the history. Perhaps something about the things you can see alongside the roadway, such as the plants and geology. Let us know! We’d love to hear about it!
The Route Fire burned a section of the Ridge Route (hence the name) from Callahan’s to just south of Templin Highway. Thankfully, the fire didn’t destroy the last remaining Ridge Route structure, Martin’s Garage. It did expose quite a few sections of the roadway that were bypassed and buried long ago. This section, just above Martin’s, is nearly completely buried by debris. Only patches of paving and a lone c-monument remain visible today. Scenes like this could be commonplace should a fire strike the rest of the roadway, something we very much want to avoid.
The Ridge Route Preservation Organization has accomplished quite a bit so far. We can’t do it without your support. We have a lot more to do!
Here is a short list of some of those.
Created the 501(c)3 Non-Profit Public Benefit Ridge Route Preservation Organization in January 2001.
Placed the Historic Ridge Route onto the National Register with the help of Angeles National Forest Archaeologist Michael J. McIntyre September 25, 1997
Established a Memorandum of Understanding (Now a Volunteer Service Agreement) with the Angeles National Forest which allowed our organization to clear minor landslides and fill potholes.
Reservoir Summit was the mutual agreed location where we deposited dirt cleared from the road that it created a small mountain known as “Scotty’s Mountain”.
Identified all drains on the road and marked and numbered each one with a state approved marker.
Stepped in to complete posting Picture Placards on concrete monuments provided by a non-profit organization that went out of business. Photo posted at each historic site from the Harrison I. Scott archives.
Contacted the Federal Highway Administration in Colorado (the nearest office) and offered to fly them out at our expense to examine the major landslides on the Ridge Route from the January 2005 “one -hundred – year rainstorm”. The Federal Highway Administration repaired the road working with Angeles National Forest.
Replaced the steps at the Tumble Inn historic site that were being damaged by off road motorcyclists in cooperation with late Ranger Bob Blount.
Former President, Harrison I. Scott brought further attention to the historic Ridge Route by doing two over the road television programs. First, a one – hour program going over the road with Huell Howser in a 1915 Model T. A one – half hour program going over the road in Jay Leno’s 1915 Franklin.
There is a lot more we need to do. We are still working, albeit slowly, on getting the roadway reopened. We need your help with our Ridge Route Management Plan, which we will submit to the Angeles National Forest as a part of the opening plan. We will be holding Zoom meetings again soon regarding this plan and more. Make sure to subscribe to our website to learn more.
RRPO Board Update – Treasurer Needed
Our current Treasurer, Richard Valot, will be resigning by the end of the 2022. We wish to thank him for his many years of service and wish him well! We are looking for a new person to fill the position and help us move forward. If you are interested in learning more about the position or are interested in applying, please contact us!
Ridge Route Mapping Update
Our mapping project is nearly complete! Our base map is done and now we are working on adding other features. Once it is available, we will make an announcement on the site where it can be viewed.
RRPO YouTube Channel
Did you know we have a YouTube channel with videos on the history of the Ridge Route and various aspects of the current status of the roadway? We’ve posted a few videos recently showcasing some of the unique history of the roadway. Check it out and subscribe!
Would you like to write an article for our newsletter? We are looking for stories about the road, experiences you’ve had, or information about the history. Perhaps something about the things you can see alongside the roadway, such as the plants and geology. Let us know! We’d love to hear about it!
Featured Photo
From our archives – a 1921 Automobile Club of Southern California strip map showing the Ridge Route from Los Angeles to State 138. Some things to note are modern Quail Lake being named Crane Lake, Castaic being shown further south (train station was located at current Castaic Junction), the Newhall Tunnel still in place, and the option of going via Cahuenga Pass instead of along current San Fernando Road.
On September 13, 2022, I will be giving a Zoom presentation for the Historic Highway 99 Association of California on the Ridge Route Alternate between Castaic and Tejon Pass. Come join the Association for the presentation! See the link below for details and to learn how to sign up.
