Events/Trails Bay Area - Roll Call and Planning Thread

[1world1love]

I also really want to do a Mendocino NF trip this summer. I am thinking about a big loop up I-5 and across from Williams or Willow and across to Clear lake or potter valley and then back home via 101.

Another route I’ve been thinking about is making a loop around Snow Mountain. I think it’s some combination of M1 and M3.

MNF is a much closer drive in general, so it could also be a long weekend.

 

[1world1love]

One thing is certain, because of pent up energy and lack of international options, it’ll take a little extra work and creativity to get away from the crowds. It’ll be interesting, to be sure.

 

[indycole]

Yeah, I was referring to Wheeler Ridge... I’d actually prefer more moderate stuff but am flexible.

 

[1world1love]

Ok, well, I heard back on Faucherie and it is fully booked for the entire season. He said it always fills up on Jan 1 when they start taking reservations, but I find that odd since I've been up a couple of times and have never seen anybody camping there. Oh well.

There is a campground about a mile down the trail called Canyon Creek, which is very nice and is "first come first serve", and while it is on Canyon Creek I'd prefer to camp where we can keep kayaks in the water next to us. Sawmill Lake is also on the same trail closer to Jackson Creek and there are a couple of dispersed spots there but there is not a ton of room.

So maybe Meadow Lake where there is a ton of dispersed camping. Of course there probably will be a ton of people too

Or Fordyce Lake I think also has a few decent sites.

White Rock Lake is another option.

 

[TLC2013]

Ok, well, I heard back on Faucherie and it is fully booked for the entire season. He said it always fills up on Jan 1 when they start taking reservations, but I find that odd since I've been up a couple of times and have never seen anybody camping there. Oh well.

There is a campground about a mile down the trail called Canyon Creek, which is very nice and is "first come first serve", and while it is on Canyon Creek I'd prefer to camp where we can keep kayaks in the water next to us. Sawmill Lake is also on the same trail closer to Jackson Creek and there are a couple of dispersed spots there but there is not a ton of room.

So maybe Meadow Lake where there is a ton of dispersed camping. Of course there probably will be a ton of people too

Or Fordyce Lake I think also has a few decent sites.

White Rock Lake is another option.

Wow hard to believe things are already filled up. I have seen the same thing, always seems empty when I am up there.
Meadow lake is a cool spot, the drive there from Bowman lake is a fun one too, the stream that runs through there has some great looking camping spots on the water. Lots of off shoots and nice washed out roads when I was there last year.

I haven’t checked out the Fordyce lake area. It’s right in the area of a trail head that leads to signal peak and pierce creek loop which are great trails. I think Fordyce lake trail is the beginning part of the Fordyce trail that is a rock crawlers dream. Getting to the lake I don’t think is very technical.

 

[TLC2013]

Checking out the Fordyce lake on Gaia and it Looks like there are a few different ways to get there. Seems like it’s a pretty straight forward path from meadow lake. A more challenging option would be to first head up to signal peak and then Follow the trail to the left Which will get you to Fordyce lake. This would be a killer adventure with some fantastic wheeling and is where I blew my CV, it’s a great trail and not too technical. I would expect this journey to take a few hours at least as the wheeling is slow up to signal peak. There is also an easy fire trail that leads to the peak and then to Fordyce lake. This would shave off some time but is a rather tame ride up to the signal peak.

 

[1world1love]

Wow hard to believe things are already filled up. I have seen the same thing, always seems empty when I am up there.
Meadow lake is a cool spot, the drive there from Bowman lake is a fun one too, the stream that runs through there has some great looking camping spots on the water. Lots of off shoots and nice washed out roads when I was there last year.

I haven’t checked out the Fordyce lake area. It’s right in the area of a trail head that leads to signal peak and pierce creek loop which are great trails. I think Fordyce lake trail is the beginning part of the Fordyce trail that is a rock crawlers dream. Getting to the lake I don’t think is very technical.
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Yeah, man. Seeing your pics makes me itching to get up there. The thing I love about that area is that there are endless areas to explore. You can always find a spot away from other people. Just hang a left here or a right there and you are bound to find a great spot.

Fordyce Lake is pretty cool. I don't remember what the camping situation is. I know there are a couple of spots with fire rings. Only the last mile or so in does it get rough, and I don't think it is as bad as the trail up to Faucherie. Doing Signal Peak as a day run from there would be easy. I don't think I have enough protection to hit the creek or committee trails. There are a crazy number of options around there though.

The Meadow Lake area has a ton of space around the lake itself but like you said, there are plenty of side roads all over there. There are a few short but technical trail around there as well.

 

[psnyman]

Checking out the Fordyce lake on Gaia and it Looks like there are a few different ways to get there. Seems like it’s a pretty straight forward path from meadow lake. A more challenging option would be to first head up to signal peak and then Follow the trail to the left Which will get you to Fordyce lake. This would be a killer adventure with some fantastic wheeling and is where I blew my CV, it’s a great trail and not too technical. I would expect this journey to take a few hours at least as the wheeling is slow up to signal peak. There is also an easy fire trail that leads to the peak and then to Fordyce lake. This would shave off some time but is a rather tame ride up to the signal peak.

Nick, are you saying we need to bring a spare CV when wheeling with you

All these options sound great and I’d love to join you with the family, I just have some summer vacation planning WIP and seeing what I can pull off.

 

[1world1love]

Checking out the Fordyce lake on Gaia and it Looks like there are a few different ways to get there. Seems like it’s a pretty straight forward path from meadow lake. A more challenging option would be to first head up to signal peak and then Follow the trail to the left Which will get you to Fordyce lake. This would be a killer adventure with some fantastic wheeling and is where I blew my CV, it’s a great trail and not too technical. I would expect this journey to take a few hours at least as the wheeling is slow up to signal peak. There is also an easy fire trail that leads to the peak and then to Fordyce lake. This would shave off some time but is a rather tame ride up to the signal peak.

Yeah, the trail from Meadow Lake is ok at first but then links up with the creek trail and is as bad the whole way. I also think that it doesn't connect with the main road at the lake so you have to go bak up or take the Fordyce Creek trail out. I'm confident, but maybe not that confident

The way I went in to Fordyce was not by Signal Peak, but around it, although Signal Peak would be more fun. The way around is just regular FS road until near the lake where it gets rougher.

I would fine with either though.

 

[1world1love]

Nick, are you saying we need to bring a spare CV when wheeling with you

All these options sound great and I’d love to join you with the family, I just have some summer vacation planning WIP and seeing what I can pull off.

Yeah, I am dubious when Nick says - that place is great it where "insert minor catastrophe here" happened.

It would be a pretty cool trip.I have done a weekend trip by leaving very early on Saturday, getting to camp late in the afternoon, wheeling for a couple of hours on Sunday, and getting home late Sunday night.

Obviously that isn't ideal, but adding a Friday or Monday makes it a pretty easy trip. I have vacation days to burn and am happy to go up a day early and secure a good campsite if it makes it easier.

 

[TLC2013]

Yeah, I am dubious when Nick says - that place is great it where "insert minor catastrophe here" happened.

It would be a pretty cool trip.I have done a weekend trip by leaving very early on Saturday, getting to camp late in the afternoon, wheeling for a couple of hours on Sunday, and getting home late Sunday night.

Obviously that isn't ideal, but adding a Friday or Monday makes it a pretty easy trip. I have vacation days to burn and am happy to go up a day early and secure a good campsite if it makes it easier.

Haha yeah after that catastrophe I replaced both CVs and have a spare for when SHTF, crossing my fingers i learned my lesson and it will remain in the box. In all honesty 33”s and stock armor will suffice for Signal peak. Having a spotter and not rushing which I was guilty of both ultimately led to my demise.

I am up for that, now I am hankering to do signal peak and then head to Fordyce lake. Not sure how the snow pack is currently at the peak and there may be some impassable snow drifts. June/July would be great to head up. Let’s start planning for that.

Wheel spin is not your friend, tires were also a casualty along with the CV.

 

[1world1love]

Haha yeah after that catastrophe I replaced both CVs and have a spare for when SHTF, crossing my fingers i learned my lesson and it will remain in the box. In all honesty 33”s and stock armor will suffice for Signal peak. Having a spotter and not rushing which I was guilty of both ultimately led to my demise.

I am up for that, now I am hankering to do signal peak and then head to Fordyce lake. Not sure how the snow pack is currently at the peak and there may be some impassable snow drifts. June/July would be great to head up. Let’s start planning for that.

Wheel spin is not your friend, tires were also a casualty along with the CV.

Wow. No doubt, that Sierra granite is not kind on the tires.

I'm with you on Signal Peak and Fordyce Lake, and we could probably do a couple of other trails, but am not going to lie. I would love to throw the kayaks in Fordyce and cast a line or two. They regularly stock with browns and rainbows and I hear that it is pretty good this time of year.

Also, I think that it is generally easier/faster than to Bowman and Meadow Lakes since it is not that far off the highway.

I could do the weekends of May 15, or the following weekend. The weekend after is Memorial Day I think, which I can probably do as well, but it may be busy. Again, I am not afraid to squat on a good site for a day or two. After that, my next available is late June after the Eastern Sierra trip.

 

[TLC2013]

Wow. No doubt, that Sierra granite is not kind on the tires.

I'm with you on Signal Peak and Fordyce Lake, and we could probably do a couple of other trails, but am not going to lie. I would love to throw the kayaks in Fordyce and cast a line or two. They regularly stock with browns and rainbows and I hear that it is pretty good this time of year.

Also, I think that it is generally easier/faster than to Bowman and Meadow Lakes since it is not that far off the highway.

I could do the weekends of May 15, or the following weekend. The weekend after is Memorial Day I think, which I can probably do as well, but it may be busy. Again, I am not afraid to squat on a good site for a day or two. After that, my next available is late June after the Eastern Sierra trip.

Not sure if in Mid May there will be enough snow melt to take the difficult/4x4 trail to the peak , I am almost certain the fire road trail would be good to go and it can then take us to Fordyce Lake. Kayaking and fishing at the lake sound great. We just had our second child, only a month old so that’s something I have to keep in mind when planning these Trips. Day trips are always a go and one nighters should be ok as well.

 

[1world1love]

Not sure if in Mid May there will be enough snow melt to take the difficult/4x4 trail to the peak , I am almost certain the fire road trail would be good to go and it can then take us to Fordyce Lake. Kayaking and fishing at the lake sound great. We just had our second child, only a month old so that’s something I have to keep in mind when planning these Trips. Day trips are always a go and one nighters should be ok as well.

Awesome. Congrats man.

When I talked to the guy about Faucherie, he said that there was much less snow than usual this time of year in that area, but Signal Peak will probably have some snow until June but It's a matter of how much.

I am flexible. Most of my July is free until LCDC so we could hold off till then. The fishing may not be as good in July but for sure the wheeling will be better as more trails will be passable.

I would be up for both - an early chill trip to dust off the camping gear and scare away fish and a July or August trip for more exploring.

 

[1world1love]

Also, I looked up the Signal Peak trail on Alltrails to see if anybody had been up there recently and on of the comments was:

Good and slick. Broke a CV Axel.

So we all might want to carry a spare as apparently its an epidemic up there

 

[TLC2013]

Also, I looked up the Signal Peak trail on Alltrails to see if anybody had been up there recently and on of the comments was:



So we all might want to carry a spare as apparently its an epidemic up there

Lol I saw that too. I still think these breaks on this trail are user induced, as was mine. There’s nothing eye poppingly hard like on Fordyce trail / Rubicon. I like that app, use it along with Gaia to scout out areas.
Gaia has a New snow layer Feature that is updated every few days, shows pretty good amount of snow in this area, especially the higher elevations. The bottom left area in the picture is of the Pierce Creek loop OHV trail. It’s a blast with Beautiful water crossings. It looks clear of snow. Makes for a great day trip and there are a few campsites in the area.

 

[TLC2013]

Awesome. Congrats man.

When I talked to the guy about Faucherie, he said that there was much less snow than usual this time of year in that area, but Signal Peak will probably have some snow until June but It's a matter of how much.

I am flexible. Most of my July is free until LCDC so we could hold off till then. The fishing may not be as good in July but for sure the wheeling will be better as more trails will be passable.

I would be up for both - an early chill trip to dust off the camping gear and scare away fish and a July or August trip for more exploring.

Thanks! Back to square one again with the changings and feedings Lol. The 200’s tail gate does makes for an excellent changing station.
Sounds great!

 

[1world1love]

Pierce Creek would be a great day or overnight trip or everybody could have the option of going or staying.

I was also looking at the FS Snow Depth Maps and it looks about like the Sats you posted above. Pretty low res, but looks like Bowman is clear, not even in the blue and the road into Fordyce Lake also looks mostly clear. There is a PG&E Snow Monitor station right beside Fordyce Lake that I think contributes to these snow depth overlays. Based on these overlays and the current forecast, I'm betting the bulk of the exposed snow will be pretty well melted in a couple of weeks.

 

[TLC2013]

Pierce Creek would be a great day or overnight trip or everybody could have the option of going or staying.

I was also looking at the FS Snow Depth Maps and it looks about like the Sats you posted above. Pretty low res, but looks like Bowman is clear, not even in the blue and the road into Fordyce Lake also looks mostly clear. There is a PG&E Snow Monitor station right beside Fordyce Lake that I think contributes to these snow depth overlays. Based on these overlays and the current forecast, I'm betting the bulk of the exposed snow will be pretty well melted in a couple of weeks.

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That sounds great, Ill start looking at dates for mid May. Would like to head up on a Friday Morning and possibly stay one night. The Pierce Creek Trail is a perfect staging area at the Indian Springs Camp ground. Lots of 4x4 trails In the Vicinity and even with the snow levels possibly being an issue I think we could still find some good trails and areas to explore. Eagle Lakes looks fun, haven’t been there yet.

 

[1world1love]

Sounds awesome. A day run of Pierce Creek sounds great. I know not everybody would want to stay over night and some people may not be able to go on a Friday. If you go up on a Friday I will plan on doing the same and then staying through Sunday.

I also have not been up to Eagle Lakes, but I know that the trail is supposed to be pretty cool, mostly easy, but with a couple of interesting sections near the top.

Also good fishing and camping up there.