11:18 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline
I would like to do a run on Thursday, December 1st. My daughter Harli will be here from Virginia and wants to go on a run and hopefully enjoy some snow (if there is any). I'm looking to see who might be interested, and get some suggestions where to go. I'd like to run a trail that will be a moderate challenge for my truck but not difficult. Something with good views would be a plus. If there is snow, the trail would not need to be as challenging. Any input? Who wants to join me?
11:35 pm
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline Signal Peak?
11:54 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline I've never done Signal Peak. How do you think my truck will handle it?
7:17 am
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline richfroh said
I've never done Signal Peak. How do you think my truck will handle it?
If you go the easy way from Cisco Grove you should have no problems. The back side isn't that difficult but there might be some tight spots. Not sure what the snow conditions are right now.
12:25 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline Is Signal Peak open? How do I find out which trails have seasonal closures?
7:46 pm
Club Member
September 3, 2008
Offline I would recommend possibly exploring Mormon Emigrant. Wish I could go, but I have to work.
Um...what?
5:51 pm
Club Member
July 14, 2016
Offline Rich, here are a few options:
1. Lowell Hill Rd. from Dutch Flat to Hwy 20. Some nice views, not a bad dirt road but you will definitely have snow most of the way but probably not too deep. If it gets bad, just turn back.
2. Hwy 20 to Bowman Lake Rd to Bowman Lake. If conditions allow, go to Sawmill Lake and then continue on to Faucherie Lake. I have seen 2wd vehicles at Faucherie in the summer. http://jessgibbsphotography.co.....e-lake-ca/
3. I-80 to Yuba Gap. Take Crystal Lake Rd. to Lake Valley Rd. to Forrest Service Rd. 19. Forest Rd. 19 has great views of the American River Canyon and looks out towards the mountains on west side of Tahoe and the desolation wilderness. You can loop out at Emigrant Gap, or run it from Emigrant Gap to Yuba Gap.
I would recommend a partner and be sure you have a navigation system to find your way back just in case. I can't guarantee that all of these roads are open but Bowman Lake Rd. is well traveled so it might be the safest bet and would be a nice trip, especially if you go alone. If there is a chance of snow, use caution or consider not going on any of these routes.
10:43 am
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline richfroh said
I would like to do a run on Thursday, December 1st. My daughter Harli will be here from Virginia and wants to go on a run and hopefully enjoy some snow (if there is any). I'm looking to see who might be interested, and get some suggestions where to go. I'd like to run a trail that will be a moderate challenge for my truck but not difficult. Something with good views would be a plus. If there is snow, the trail would not need to be as challenging. Any input? Who wants to join me?
Seasonal closures for El Dorado National Forest and Tahoe National Forest dont go into effect until Jan 1. Tahoe Basin Management Unit (around lake tahoe) closed in mid November. Stansilaus National Forest closes December 15 but they have a number of additional closures due to the fires.
Your truck is outfitted well enough for most of the remaining legally open trails. If you are going alone I would stick to mormon immagrant or some other well used trail incase you need recovery. If someone will go with you grab a map and explore.
Links to specific closure info sources are included below.
El Doroado: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/.....ev7_019037
Tahoe: http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/.....rdb5299395
Tahoe Basin: http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/por.....-%2520Home
Stanislaus: http://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain.....recreation
6:20 am
April 9, 2015
Offline Last call! I know most of you will be working tomorrow, but for those that are not, who is willing to put up with my daughter and I for a day of wheeling? My plan (since we may be alone) is to meet at Subway at the Sky Park exit at 9:30, leave at 10:00 and see how much snow is on Mormon Emigrant Trail. If no snow, we might explore some side trails. Who is in?!?
4:02 pm
Club Member
April 10, 2015
Offline I would love to join, but can't. Take some pics and let us know how it goes!
4:18 pm
Club Trailmaster
March 13, 2015
Offline Bad news, the forest service is closing all dirt roads tonight at midnight due to the amount of rainfall. You are stuck to paved roads. North South, Packsaddle Pass, etc. are still open for snow wheeling.
The closure notice can be found here:
8:02 pm
April 9, 2015
Offline We had a great run today! Our group was a party of one vehicle with Harli (my daughter) and myself. We went up Mormon Emigrant Trail. There was plenty of snow. We stopped not far from the closed gate for lunch. There was three feet of snow there. Much of the snow up top was fresh powder which made it a challenge at times. On the way back down Harli drove for a while. We then went to Prarie City. It was very wet making traction a challenge. As we were thinking of leaving, I decided to try the large rock field. We made it all the way through and as the front tires dropped off the last rocks, the rear diff and transfer case skid plate got caught between two rocks preventing forward or rearward movement. I jacked up the left front and stacked rocks under the tire. When I tried to jack up the right front, the OEM jack cranking handle snapped at the hook making the jack pretty much useless. I called Jeff Bakken who came to the rescue. A quick tug of the strap and we were free. Thanks Jeff!!! Thanks to Lynda too for offering to come out. I had fun and Harli had a blast!
8:07 pm
Club Member
July 14, 2016
Offline Rich, sorry I couldn't join you. I have been too busy at work, otherwise I would have gone. Glad you had a good time with your daughter.
7:54 am
Club Member
August 17, 2014
Offline I am so glad you guys had fun. Yes, sorry we could come play with you! This whole "job" thing really gets in the way. (JOB stands for "just over broke" right?) Anyway, it sounded fun and I'm glad Harli had a taste of what off roading is all about. And no sweat on the rescue call. Goodness, I can't imagine being stuck somewhere and not having any type of back up plan. You know you are going to catch crap for doing the "alone" thing, but we also understand the severe call of "out there".
9:23 am
April 9, 2015
Offline Guy and Lynda said
Goodness, I can't imagine being stuck somewhere and not having any type of back up plan. You know you are going to catch crap for doing the "alone" thing, but we also understand the severe call of "out there".
I did have a back up plan of sorts. I made sure I had my OEM jack. It broke. Bad plan. Next time I will bring my 12 ton bottle jack. That would have made it easy. A High Lift jack is on my want list. I also brought a come-along. Might have worked IF there was something in front of me to hook it to. A winch would not have helped either without a suitable anchor point.
I know I will catch crap for being out there alone. My intention was to go with a group but, being on a weekday, nobody was available to go. Harli is only here for a short time and she really wanted to go wheeling and see some snow. I tried to prepare and choose where we went with minimal risk in mind. In Prarie City I only went on obstacles I had completed successfully before and chose to avoid some of those due to conditions. I evaluated the conditions and risks and made the decision to go out alone. Facing the same situation again, I would still go, I would just try to be better prepared.
After Jeff pulled me free, he said I will be on the podcast for that. I'm glad I could provide some good content for the show. I usually prefer it when others are the source of the content, but I earned it this time.
1:13 pm
Club Member
January 20, 2009
Offline If you're going to go single vehicle and get stuck, then I would say Prairie City is your best option. 
Better than going out to the middle of nowhere in one vehicle and getting stuck.
Someone at my work mentioned he saw on the news that there was a couple in a Jeep lost/stuck in the snow somewhere recently.
11:31 pm
December 13, 2015
Offline k-jeep said
If you're going to go single vehicle and get stuck, then I would say Prairie City is your best option.Better than going out to the middle of nowhere in one vehicle and getting stuck.
Someone at my work mentioned he saw on the news that there was a couple in a Jeep lost/stuck in the snow somewhere recently.
c'mon Kevin...jeeps don't get stuck
. they were in a dodge car i believe off of wentworth springs rd
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