Events/Trails Baileys Cabin/Alder Canyon 3-15-19
- Thread starter Phulcrum
- Start date
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Who all is actually making this trip?
Prob about the same for me!
You guys have fun! Wish i could make this one.
If I can squeeze away, I might make it out for the day to do a little wheeling! I'll hit you up on HAM if I can make it.
Everyone bring a bundle or two of firewood please!! Does anyone have a washer drum?
Bummer I am to busy with sports this weekend. Have fun.
I got so close, almost hoofed it the last 5 miles but it was late by the time I got to the end of middle willows. Noted, middle willows still doesn't connect to Bailey's Cabin. I could hear you guys on HAM, but you clearly couldn't here me (not that I was transmitting). 
That said the desert is absurd right now. With flowers. With people. Took a nice long loop today, friggin sweet.
That said the desert is absurd right now. With flowers. With people. Took a nice long loop today, friggin sweet.
So the adventure began Thursday night. I don't have a lot of pictures. It was just me, Claire, and the boys lost in the valley and I had to focus on driving.
We left too late of course Thursday afternoon, around 3:30PM I believe. By that time traffic was building on I15 north so we took the back roads. We had to make the usual stops for things we forgot like wood, steaks, top off the trailer's water tank... but we go to dirt around 5:30PM.
The first section had been recently scraped but still was quite rough from the rains softening the ground. Then we got to the more unscathed sections and whoa, to my surprise, the road was rougher than I had ever seen years prior. This of course slowed our progress as the sun gently set behind the mountains. It had to be around 6:30-7PM, dark, when we hit one of those "which way to we go" spots. The recent rains really changed the topology (more fun for 4X4's) and with nightfall upon us it became difficult to keep the trail in sight. We chose the left route because it look smoother and tracks went that way. Below is an example of what we were trying to follow... before it was totally dark.
So that was, as it turns out, not the way per se. We meandered through a wash crossing dried creek beds, and often having to carefully thread our way through the terrain trying to get not just the truck but also the trailer through. As time wore on nerves were starting to run tight, the kids imaginations were getting the better of them and Claire was not thrilled about being lost. One saving grace is that my phone had downloaded a fair bit of the terrain on the way up here. It did not accurately find Alder Canyon, but I had terrain, a pin for Bailey's and its best guess at Alder.
We were able to see that we were to the east and passing Bailey's but the plateau onto which we needed to go was 5' or so above the wash and the only out was very steep. We tried to go farther south and find a smoother up-ramp but failed. After a while we returned to the steep incline. I had recalled from a 2013 trip that this is a wash where the kids had played and that Baileys should be just on that plateau. I had to remove the bikes to keep them from colliding with the trailer when the truck climbed and Claire had to spot me but we eventually got the rig up onto the plateau after nicely grading that up-ramp with the trailer.
We drove not 100' when I spotted Bailey's on my left. Ok, at least now we knew were we actually were and where the turn off to Alder should be. We decided that we would give it say 10 minutes to find the road to Alder Canyon and if not we would camp at Bailey's for the night. Did I mention that all this time we are seriously wheeling, and towing, not just driving and searching. Even being on the right road we dropped into a wash and ran into a don't go farther sign, we had to back up the trailer and fortunately picked the trail back up fairly quickly climbing back out of the wash.
Memory said to hug the left (west) side washes as you leave Bailey's to find Alder and sure enough within 10 minutes we had found Alder and turned left up the canyon. The road deteriorated in many sections. Some had us leaning over quite steeply, others had rock formations in the midst of hard up hill turns, others posed ruts, but we soldiered on. The cruiser seems to just lumber up pretty much anything I throw at it so that was a comfort. After another, I don't know, 20-30 minutes? We came to a fork. I heard water and frogs to the right so I went right.
I drove to the end of that vein and stopped at the end. That was where we were to set up camp. It was 830, the kids were beyond starving/tired/hangry, it was time to feed and sleep. We fed them, made ourselves steaks, and then headed to sleep.
It turned out, I got really lucky to find an awesome camping spot! It was complete with a creek, beach, waterfalls, frogs, the boys were in heaven.
...
We left too late of course Thursday afternoon, around 3:30PM I believe. By that time traffic was building on I15 north so we took the back roads. We had to make the usual stops for things we forgot like wood, steaks, top off the trailer's water tank... but we go to dirt around 5:30PM.
The first section had been recently scraped but still was quite rough from the rains softening the ground. Then we got to the more unscathed sections and whoa, to my surprise, the road was rougher than I had ever seen years prior. This of course slowed our progress as the sun gently set behind the mountains. It had to be around 6:30-7PM, dark, when we hit one of those "which way to we go" spots. The recent rains really changed the topology (more fun for 4X4's) and with nightfall upon us it became difficult to keep the trail in sight. We chose the left route because it look smoother and tracks went that way. Below is an example of what we were trying to follow... before it was totally dark.
So that was, as it turns out, not the way per se. We meandered through a wash crossing dried creek beds, and often having to carefully thread our way through the terrain trying to get not just the truck but also the trailer through. As time wore on nerves were starting to run tight, the kids imaginations were getting the better of them and Claire was not thrilled about being lost. One saving grace is that my phone had downloaded a fair bit of the terrain on the way up here. It did not accurately find Alder Canyon, but I had terrain, a pin for Bailey's and its best guess at Alder.
We were able to see that we were to the east and passing Bailey's but the plateau onto which we needed to go was 5' or so above the wash and the only out was very steep. We tried to go farther south and find a smoother up-ramp but failed. After a while we returned to the steep incline. I had recalled from a 2013 trip that this is a wash where the kids had played and that Baileys should be just on that plateau. I had to remove the bikes to keep them from colliding with the trailer when the truck climbed and Claire had to spot me but we eventually got the rig up onto the plateau after nicely grading that up-ramp with the trailer.
We drove not 100' when I spotted Bailey's on my left. Ok, at least now we knew were we actually were and where the turn off to Alder should be. We decided that we would give it say 10 minutes to find the road to Alder Canyon and if not we would camp at Bailey's for the night. Did I mention that all this time we are seriously wheeling, and towing, not just driving and searching. Even being on the right road we dropped into a wash and ran into a don't go farther sign, we had to back up the trailer and fortunately picked the trail back up fairly quickly climbing back out of the wash.
Memory said to hug the left (west) side washes as you leave Bailey's to find Alder and sure enough within 10 minutes we had found Alder and turned left up the canyon. The road deteriorated in many sections. Some had us leaning over quite steeply, others had rock formations in the midst of hard up hill turns, others posed ruts, but we soldiered on. The cruiser seems to just lumber up pretty much anything I throw at it so that was a comfort. After another, I don't know, 20-30 minutes? We came to a fork. I heard water and frogs to the right so I went right.
I drove to the end of that vein and stopped at the end. That was where we were to set up camp. It was 830, the kids were beyond starving/tired/hangry, it was time to feed and sleep. We fed them, made ourselves steaks, and then headed to sleep.
It turned out, I got really lucky to find an awesome camping spot! It was complete with a creek, beach, waterfalls, frogs, the boys were in heaven.
...
... Thursday night was cold and none of us slept that well due to not bundling up quite enough but Friday was a relaxing day. I took the boys for a short mountain bike ride but they preferred the water and making jumps at camp for their bikes. Thus, I took Brennen for a ride up the left option to the end of the road. I had recalled there were other camp spots and wanted to check them out. It wasn't a long ride but add Brennan and a little elevation and I was working to get up the road.
In the morning...
Best way to get Brennan to nap is to take him on a bike ride, top or end of the Alder Canyon trail...
My steed, Bicigrasso...
The loop at the top the just turns you around. There are no flat spots and the ground is rough so this would not be an ideal place to camp especially if tent camping.
This is the road I just biked up and took pictures of alternative campsites on the way down...
...
In the morning...
Best way to get Brennan to nap is to take him on a bike ride, top or end of the Alder Canyon trail...
My steed, Bicigrasso...
The loop at the top the just turns you around. There are no flat spots and the ground is rough so this would not be an ideal place to camp especially if tent camping.
This is the road I just biked up and took pictures of alternative campsites on the way down...
...
...
This is the first camp spot on the way down. It has two nice nooks for tents/trailers, some parking, you could probably fit 3 rigs + gear here. It is well protected and close to the stream but here the stream is at the bottom of a steep embankment making a V at the bottom so not much room to hang out. Also, if you have a larger group you will have to split up to accommodate.
Nook to the right...
Nook to the left...
A little bit farther down the path there is this more open side at the end of that short 2 track. I would say this has the potential to be a group site. One could circle the wagons and fit 2 trailers + 2-3 tents scattering rigs from where I am at the main path up to the small plateau ahead. This sit is not protected from sun or wind and also far from the creek.
Brennan enjoyed the nap/ride.
...
This is the first camp spot on the way down. It has two nice nooks for tents/trailers, some parking, you could probably fit 3 rigs + gear here. It is well protected and close to the stream but here the stream is at the bottom of a steep embankment making a V at the bottom so not much room to hang out. Also, if you have a larger group you will have to split up to accommodate.
Nook to the right...
Nook to the left...
A little bit farther down the path there is this more open side at the end of that short 2 track. I would say this has the potential to be a group site. One could circle the wagons and fit 2 trailers + 2-3 tents scattering rigs from where I am at the main path up to the small plateau ahead. This sit is not protected from sun or wind and also far from the creek.
Brennan enjoyed the nap/ride.
...
...
The older two entertained themselves for hours in the water...
They made frequent treks down to the fork to see if anyone else was coming yet...
We were all tired Friday night and turned in early. Brennan pinned me down to my chair for another "nap" that lasted all night so I figured I catch one myself...
We finished the night off with food and smores.
The older two entertained themselves for hours in the water...
They made frequent treks down to the fork to see if anyone else was coming yet...
We were all tired Friday night and turned in early. Brennan pinned me down to my chair for another "nap" that lasted all night so I figured I catch one myself...
We finished the night off with food and smores.
...
Saturday morning, Daniel picks up an FRS and hails "Beach and Toys" and low and behold, Tim responded. Excitement exploded at Camp Falcone. It turns out Tim's crew and Adam had the same problem we did coming in at night and failing to stay to the left of the valley and thus did not run into the sign. He can tell their story but suffice to say I was a least able to talk him through that tricky wash and make the right at the fork. Saturday was epic.... private beach, cool water, kids entertained catching frogs and building dams, epic food... just plain awesome.
Daniel's "Frog Face"
More dam building... they made a nice little pool...
Creek view to the north...
The dudes abiding.
More dudes abiding on Conversation Street...
...
Saturday morning, Daniel picks up an FRS and hails "Beach and Toys" and low and behold, Tim responded. Excitement exploded at Camp Falcone. It turns out Tim's crew and Adam had the same problem we did coming in at night and failing to stay to the left of the valley and thus did not run into the sign. He can tell their story but suffice to say I was a least able to talk him through that tricky wash and make the right at the fork. Saturday was epic.... private beach, cool water, kids entertained catching frogs and building dams, epic food... just plain awesome.
Daniel's "Frog Face"
More dam building... they made a nice little pool...
Creek view to the north...
The dudes abiding.
More dudes abiding on Conversation Street...
...