Places to wheel in No.Cal
Date: Thu, 30 Jan 1997 16:39:43 -0800
From: rmurray@gvn.net (Rick Murray)
Subject: Places to wheel in No.Cal.
To: TOY4X4@TLCA.ORG
For a stock vehicle, there are a few trails that i know of that are
challenging, and fun, but not impossible.
Near the Rubicon, there is a trail called the Bassi Falls trail
(above Union Valley Reservoir). Very popular in the summer,
impassible during winter.
Another spot is in the Gold Lakes area near Graeagle. Many trails
suitable for stock rigs, great views. Avoid the Snake Lake trail,
which is comparable in difficulty to the Rubicon in a few spots.
In the Blue Lakes area, off Hwy 88, there are a few easy trails.
I haven't been on the trail that leads to hwy 4, but I've heard differing
opinions on its difficulty, from easy to challenging.
The Strawberry trail, from Hwy 50 to Hwy 88 is long and fairly easy with 3
spots that are challenging.
hth
################################################################## Rick Murray 84 Toyota 4Runner SR5
( rmurray@gvn.net ) stock 22R motor ; 3" ProComp Lift
Rancho Cordova, Ca. 8" steel rims; 33" BFG M/Ts
www.gvn.net/~rmurray/ 4.88 gears; Marlin TCase #67 ; TRD LSD
##################################################################
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Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 20:46:30 -0700
From: "Sandy and Terry"
Subject: Re: Sierra Nevada Rock trails
>We have a group that was planning on running the Rubicon on the 11th to
>14th of June. It looks like Mr. Nino and the snow has over ruled our
>plans. Anybody have any suggestions for moderate to difficult (rock
>preferred) trails, not snow covered, in a 5 hour radius of San Francisco.
>Also any thoughts on the trails in Stanislaus National Forest near Sonora?
>
>Thanks
>Todd
Just ran the Ramsey trail off of Hwy 4 on Sunday. It is east of Camp
Connell and is near the Cottage Springs ski area. It is moderate and quite
rocky at the bottom. It is about 4 miles down to the Stanislaus River. It
dead ends at the river. The trailhead is not marked so you have to know
where to turn off. The trail starts just above 5000'. There was only a few
patches of snow at the top.
I've heard the Niagara Rim trail is supposed to be good off of Hwy 108. I'm
planning on running this trail in Sep. But I don't know the elevation of
the trail.
Hope this helps,
Terry Johnson
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Date: Fri, 29 May 1998 20:54:06 -0700
From: "Sandy and Terry"
Subject: Re: Sierra Nevada Rock trails
I forgot to mention a Yeep broke a rear axle on the Ramsey trail on Sat. He
has a locker in the rear and was open in the front. He was trying to crawl
over a ledge over a tree root. It was only a 4 cyl Wr@angl#r. Must have
gotten a lot of wheel spin.
Terry Johnson
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Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 13:20:25 -7 GMT
From: "Leo G. Divinagracia III"
Subject: Re: Sierra Nevada Rock trails
just made a trip this weekend to the deer creek/ mi-wuk district ohv area off
h-108 near twain harte. big area but the trails we were on was not that
tough but we stop when the branches got too close.
highest place we got to was around 4500 feet (but can't trust the altitude of
the garmin gps too well...). no snow. great 2 day trip. not too great as a
day trip.
perfect for a group trail maintenance trip (hint, hint...).
- -----------------------
Leo G. Divinagracia III
ldivinag@csuhayward.edu
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From: LannyX@aol.com
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 02:34:03 EDT
To: barney@flowpoint.com
Subject: Re: Toyota upgrades
Thanks for the info Barney. I'll start scouring the boneyards 'round here.
Here's a few more trail tips (since you sound familiar with the areas up
this way, but it'll help if you get a Forest Service map of the El Dorado
Natl. Forest):
FORESTDALE DIVIDE:
From Hwy. 88 heading east from its juncture with the Mormon Emigrant Road,
drive past Silver and Caples lakes. A bit past the Carson Pass, the road
dives past Red Lake on your right. Towering Red Lake and Stevens peaks
are on your left. Be looking for a small sign on your right, next to Red
Lake. Take this one. There are a few forks in the road, but stick with
the main route and you will eventually come to some steep, rutted,
switchbacks. This trail is not particularly tough, as four-wheel drive
trails go, but it does take you to some high scenic places where the air
smells better.
It eventually lets out at Upper and Lower Blue lakes (usually crowded in
the summer). You can loop north out of these lakes and take the
gravel-paved road out through Hope Valley, one of the most prettiest spots
in the Carson area, back to Hwy. 88.
SQUAW RIDGE:
Once again heading east on Hwy. 88, go to Silver Lake and gas up. Now loop
back on 88 going west. Drive past the turnoff to Plasse and look for an
unmarked road on your left, near a green-roofed (I think) wood cabin. Take
this road, lock in your hubs because this is a long, rocky trail (takes about
an hour to cover 7 miles, if you're loafing). The trail soon forks; one fork
goes to Mud Lake (crowded during deer season), the other is a short cut
hooking back up with the trail past Mud Lake. If you take this short cut,
when you get to a T-intersection, turn east (left). You will eventually
drive past some steel-roofed ranching cabins. Further on, you will come
to another T-intersection, where some park their rigs and hike trailheads
into the Mokelumne Wilderness (permit needed for overnight camping). This
is Squaw Ridge.
If you go left, you will head back towards a crest that hides Kirkwood Ski
Area. The trail ends there, but there are places to camp off the trail and
look north to Silver Lake or south to the conifer-shrouded peaks of the
Mokelumne.
Since you like through-trails, turn right at the T-intersection, heading in a
southwesternly direction. You willl by-and-by come to a tight U-turn in the
trail near the path to Pardoe Lake, where having a narrow, short wheelbase
truck helps (I saw some guys in a full-size stepside Dodge hang up here one
deer season; they used a high lift jack and shoved the truck off the jack to
get the room to clear the trees).
The trail is long and has some scenic spots. Because of the rocks, going is
slow. It eventually loops back to Lower Bear River Reservoir on Hwy. 88 and
you can go east (right) to the Mormon Emigrant Road or west (left) back
towards Jackson.
(This is a fairly long route, so gassing up at Silver Lake helps if you don't
carry your own spare gas with you. Isn't it weird how all the swing-out gas
can and spare tire carriers are made only for SUVs and Jeeps?)
Well, that's it for now. Keep on truckin'.
Lanny
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Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 06:42:51 -0700
From: "Sandy and Terry"
Subject: Re: Wheeling places near Lake Alpine
The Slick Rock trail head is at Lake Alpine. Take the west entrance and
follow the road. Soon the paved road will become dirt. Then you will pass
through a gate. Here you should lock your hubs. The trail is only 3 miles
but is fun and has a couple of challenging spots. One in particular is the
hill at the end before the bridge. The trail also has some great places to
camp along a stream. The trail comes out at Utica Resevoir.
Farther up Hwy 4 is the Deer Valley trail. The trail head is at the Hermit
Valley camp ground. Look for the J**P sign toward the rear of the camp
ground. This trail goes all the way out to Hwy 88. There is one challenging
pile of rocks at the very beginning of the trail. After you cross Deer
Creek at the top there are some nice places to camp in a pretty meadow.
Below Lake Alpine, there is a series of loops called Mattley Loop. Also,
Corral Hollow OHV trail is in this area. Look for a sign for forest service
road 7N09. The road will take you into the OHV area.
There is a easy trail that goes to the top of Mt. Reba. Take the turn off
to the Bear Valley Ski Resort. The trail head is about 100 yds on the
right.
The Sour Grass trail is a few miles off Hwy 4. In the town of Dorrington
take the Boards Crossing Road turn off. Follow the main road through a
residential section and then down the mountain to the Stanislaus River.
There is a bridge crossing the river. On the other side of the bridge on
the left is a washed out camp ground. At the camp ground is the trail head
for Sour Grass. This trail is only 2 miles in and does not go through.
The Ramsey trail head is east of Dorrington but you have to know where to
turn off.
In summary there a lot of fun trails in the area. Have a great time.
Terry Johnson
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