First Ascents: Roscoe Regar to Mount Wilson

Sooner or later the San Gabriel Mountains temp any cyclist serious about challenging themselves, testing their ability, seeking adventure. Today when riders turn their wheels into the San Gabriel Mountians, among the first of the obvious goal available to them is Mt. Wilson, high above Pasadena. But what about one-hundred ten years ago? Probably no different, but infinitely more difficult.

As reported on 13 August with the headline, Pasadena Boy Ascends Mt. Wilson on Bicycle, Roscoe Regar "made a new record trip up the new government trail to Wilson's Peak yesterday. He pedaled up on a bicycle of 32-gear, and back-pedaled down without a brake." Essentially what that means is he rode a fixed-gear bike; he didn't actually back pedal to brake, but he did apply backward pressure to slow down, just like todays riders of fixed-gear bikes.

"A number of record runs have been made to the peak on motor cycles and a few with automobiles. But this was the first ascent to be made on an ordinary bicycle. While there was no attempt at fast speed, the trip was made in remarkably good time"

I am curious as to what constituted the "government trail." Since construction of the Angeles Crest Highway did not begin until 1929, it seems likely that the road being referred to is the Mt. Wilson Toll Road which had opened as a public roadway in 1891, with a toll rate fixed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

a portion of the Toll Road in 2015