Red Lake/Coyote Lake trail Aug 12-14

[Goatman]

Since Swamp Lake trail won't be open until the 19th because of the deep snow, we going to run the Red/Coyote Lake trail on the 12-14. While Swamp is a loop trail, Red/Coyote is an in and out, passing Red Lake and ending at Coyote Lake, which is a great camp spot. I really wanted to run Coyote Lake this year anyway, so this is all fine. We'll start the trail Fri morning, camp Fri and Sat night at Coyote Lake, then leave Sun morning and run to Mirror Lake and have lunch, then head out and back home.

I know Chris is going to drive in on Sat. Who wants to go, and will you go Fri or Sat, so we can figure out where to meet up. The best spot to meet up is at the Tamarack ski park, which is a big paved parking lot at the very top of the ridge after leaving Shaver Lake on the way to Huntington Lake or Sierra Summit. I haven't decided yet if I'll drive up Thurs night and camp at the ski park, or drive up early Fri morning, it depends on who's going and what we want to do.

At least one locker is required, and 33" tires preferred, though this trail isn't as long and not quite as hard as Swamp Lake.

So, who wants to go?

[jcook]

Richard i should be good to go here, not sure if I'll come up Friday or Saturday morning, depends on whats going on at work. How long of a drive is it, just curious.
James

[Goatman]

It's about 3 hours from Bakersfield to Shaver Lake, depending on if you're towing or not. You'll drive through the town of Shaver Lake staying on hwy 168 for about another 15 minutes. As you leave the lake the road climbs a long grade, and right at the top of the grade is a large paved parking lot on the right side, which is a good place to meet up. From there you continue on 168, down the hill, for a mile or two to the first road that goes off to the right. Turn right on this road and follow the signs to Red Lake trail. It's roughly an hour drive from the turn off to the Sand Flats trailhead. At the trailhead, trails go off to both the right and the left. To the right goes to Red lake and then Coyote lake, to the left goes to Strawberry lake, Mirror lake and West lake. From the trailhead to Coyote Lake is 3-4 hours depending on the size of the group. We can easily leave Bakersfield in the morning and get to Coyote Lake by mid-afternoon.

[REDxj5150]

I would like to leave Friday morning as opposed to Thursday evening, and you say these trails are a little easier than swamp lake?

[Goatman]

There's mostly one hard spot on Coyote, and one long uphill hard spot on Mirror, but overall not as hard as Swamp. Going to Red Lake isn't difficult, from there to Coyote Lake has some rockcrawling.

[Desert Dog]

Not hard....like freeway ridge not hard?

Or, not hard.....like Scrambler Canyon not hard?

[JeremyRowell]

[quote="desert dog"]Not hard....like freeway ridge not hard?

Or, not hard.....like Scrambler Canyon not hard? [/quote]
^^^^^ HAHAHA ^^^^^^

[Goatman]

[quote="desert dog"]Not hard....like freeway ridge not hard?

Or, not hard.....like Scrambler Canyon not hard? [/quote]


Yes.

[casaintsfan]

[quote="Goatman"][quote="desert dog"]Not hard....like freeway ridge not hard?

Or, not hard.....like Scrambler Canyon not hard? [/quote]


Yes.


[/quote]

A good way to tell is if Richard is taking the blue Cherokee or the buggy

Lol

[abendx]

[quote="Goatman"]Yes.[/quote]


[img]http://forums.ratedesi.com/images/smilies/stupidsmiley.gif[/img]

[Goatman]

[quote="casaintsfan"]

A good way to tell is if Richard is taking the blue Cherokee or the buggy

Lol[/quote]



Yep. I'm taking the Cherokee, on 33's.

[REDxj5150]

Sorry guys. I can't go. Something has happened in the family and it's best that I stay home and keep my mom's hopes up.

[Desert Dog]

Im in for sure Richard. Bigfoot and myself are leaving early Sat morning. Can you give some specific information so I can find the group campsite?

[Goatman]

Chris, and anyone else who might decide to come up on Sat, here are some directions. Stay on hwy 168 and go through Shaver heading towards Huntington Lake, after cresting the long grade coming out of Shaver go another 1/2 mile to a mile and turn right on what should be the first road you come to, just before the Tamerack Lodge, which is 8S10. Follow the signs to Red Lake, there should be a left turn onto road 8S42. The road will come to a trailhead sign in a sandy flat area, with two trails, one leading left and one leading right. The one to the right is the Red Lake/Coyote Lake trail. The trail passes Red Lake and dead ends at the camping spot at Coyote Lake, so when you get there just look around for us.

If you're going to be towing, you can leave the tow rigs at the parking lot at the top of the long grade, or drive a few miles in on the dirt road and park in a wide spot. Don't go too far as the road narrows after a while with no suitable wide places to park.

[smack2020]

I am finally able commit to going. I plan on leaving baks around 2pm on Friday. I am hoping to camp at the start of the trail and wait for desert dog to arrive saturday morning and hit the trail with him.

Can I camp somewhere near the beginning of the trail?

How does that sound desert dog?

[Desert Dog]

[quote="smack2020"]I am finally able commit to going. I plan on leaving baks around 2pm on Friday. I am hoping to camp at the start of the trail and wait for desert dog to arrive saturday morning and hit the trail with him.

Can I camp somewhere near the beginning of the trail?

How does that sound desert dog?[/quote]

Sounds good to me Scott. We will be up past shaver lake at about 8:30 am