Meadow Lake?

[DirtyHarry]

Our plan was to camp at Meadow Lake, and by 6 PM we were at Winch Hill 4 and thinking we could still get in some fishing and perhaps catch our dinner. Soon we caught up to a Jeep right as it rolled, and assisted with recovery. Then, at Winch Hill 5 I broke a rear ring and pinion. I was not overly concerned since it was only dirt roads after this point… or so I thought! There had been zero snow on the trail up until this point (although a generous amount of water), but after Winch Hill 5 the trail was an entirely different animal, with 10 foot drifts as Jack described. After much winching and tugging my front wheel drive truck, we arrived at Meadow Lake after dark and set up camp, exhausted from a long day.

Sunday morning brought more of the same, with serious snow wheeling for most of the way from Meadow Lake back to pavement. Fortunately I had left my tow rig and trailer in Truckee and a call to my friend Dave had him waiting for us at the pavement. I had not been on Fordyce in a couple of years, but I wish that I could go back again next weekend. It is definitely one of my favorite trails for the scenery and challenge it presents. If you have not been before I highly recommend signing up for Cal4Wheel’s Sierra Trek next month. I have been to 4WD events all over the country and this is definitely one of my favorites. The first time I went to Sierra Trek I was only a year old!

 

[rusty_tlc]

Thanks for the write up / pictures Harry. I can't wait to do Fordyce again, it's even fun if you just ride along with someone.

 

[locrwln1]

Great write up and pics. The last time I ran with Eric, he was still sporting the red 4runner and we ran Outer Limits in Johnson Valley. His son was much smaller/younger then. Was the David, David of "Oops" fame? If so, tell the both of them, I said hi the next time you talk to them.

Sorry to hear about the carnage, but that trail has broken plenty of rigs (I think I have seen more breakage on Fordyce vs. Rubicon).

Your comment about reaching the top of Winch Hill 5 and thinking you had it made, made me laugh. A buddy and I were the first to make it to Meadow Lake one June. We, like you, ran pretty much snow free on the trail (there was some, but not bad). We got to the top of Winch Hill 5 at 5pm. I asked my buddy if he was going to call his wife and let her know we would be home that night. He wisely said he would wait until we got further along. By 8:30pm, we had barely made it to the other side of Meadow Lake and we buried his Jeep to the frame. We camped on a dry spot in the road and called it a night. The next morning, with the snow crusted over, we got out no problem. So yeah, been there.

Be safe on the travels. We will have to figure out a night we can get together for dinner or something.

Jack

 

[24HOURSOFNEVADA]

Love that trail. Jack guided me through it my first time ever.

Harry that pic of your truck on One would make a killer cover shot for the Sierra Trek coverage. You should pull the image.

 

[DirtyHarry]

Great write up and pics. The last time I ran with Eric, he was still sporting the red 4runner and we ran Outer Limits in Johnson Valley. His son was much smaller/younger then. Was the David, David of "Oops" fame? If so, tell the both of them, I said hi the next time you talk to them.

Yep, those are the guys. Erik retired the red 4Runner a couple of years ago and swapped the axles and transfer cases into this 4Runner.

Be safe on the travels. We will have to figure out a night we can get together for dinner or something.

I would like that! I am going to drag my truck out to Wyoming with me and go visit friends in South Dakota and Colorado after the project is done, but I will be back in Reno by the end of August.

Harry that pic of your truck on One would make a killer cover shot for the Sierra Trek coverage. You should pull the image.

Unfortunately I will not be at Trek to cover the event. I'd be happy to give images to Cal4Wheel or Chris Collard though if they need them. What did you have in mind Jereme?