Looking For Snow Runs!!!

[Phimosis]

I'm looking to go snow wheeling this coming weekend, and any weekends there's deep snow! Anyone have any ideas? Know of any trails that are loaded with fresh snow? Anyone want to go with me? I'm flexible. I can do anywhere from Yosemite to Big Bear or even up to Mammoth Lakes.

If you have any ideas, hit me up.

-Larry

[Loki XJ]

Next weekend is my weekend imma try and swap out my Dana 35 for a locked Dana 44... Maybe another weekend thou!

[Phimosis]

[quote="Mikeys_cougar"]Next weekend is my weekend imma try and swap out my Dana 35 for a locked Dana 44... Maybe another weekend thou![/quote]


You're unlocked front and rear right now, no? So, yes, get that locker up and going! As a rubicon driver I can tell you from experience with push button lockers that I've tried it extensively with unlocked, locked rear alone and locked front and rear. Unlocked in snow is ok, but with locked rear it's like "wow, this is so much better!" Then, locked front and rear is like, "holy crap, is there anything that can stop me?"

[Mickey]

Where's the snow???

[76foxx]

[color=#0000FF]I found some[/color]
[img]http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/416974_378757402150150_100000476810491_1469777_41567225_n.jpg?dl=1[/img]

[color=#0000FF]And a rock to drive up too[/color]

[img]http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/427040_378758438816713_100000476810491_1469778_346981496_n.jpg?dl=1[/img]

[Beck*A*Poo]

we want the whole ground full of snow

[Loki XJ]

[quote="Beck*A*Poo"]we want the whole ground full of snow[/quote]


I'm pretty sure after the past few days there is going to be plenty of snow up near alta Sierra

[Phimosis]

[quote="Mikeys_cougar"][quote="Beck*A*Poo"]we want the whole ground full of snow[/quote]


I'm pretty sure after the past few days there is going to be plenty of snow up near alta Sierra [/quote]


I was up there a couple of weeks ago and the gate was locked somewhere before Shirley Meadows, around 6,000 feet of elevation. I had to backtrack to 5,200 feet, going down towards Freeway Ridge. Then the highest trails I could find went up to 5,900 feet. It was snowing, but slushy and trails with ruts were more like going mudding than snow wheeling. The summit at Alta Sierra is around 7,000 and a lot of the trails are 6,700+ feet. When I was there in early January, the gates were still open and the trails were all completely covered in snow.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icv0YHR8xTY][/youtube]

[Phimosis]

Woohoo! Mammoth has got 12" of new snow in the last 24 hours. There are quite a few offroad trails listed on trails.com around Mammoth, but quite a few of them sound like they are closed in the winter. Anyone know if there are trails between Bishop and Bodie that stay open all winter?

If not, I may just hit the trails north of Johnsondale or see if I can sneak up the 190 (continental divide highway). They put a "closed" sign in the middle of the 190 and then you see all the tracks where everyone has went around the sign. In February last year the 190 had more than 36" of snow and was impassible for me.

If anyone is up for a snow run this weekend, hit me up!

-Larry

[Desert Dog]

There is some north of the Bodie turn-off, in Bridgeport. But really, the Eastern Sierras suck for wheeling until you get to the Tahoe area.
Many high elevation roads in the Bridgeport area didn't have gates years ago when I was doing some consulting work on a few mines in the area.

The trails in the mammoth area get gated off in the winter. I tried last year. The road to Devil's Postpile used to be a great snow run in the winter, but they gate it now and only let the snow mobiles in. There may be some open roads in the white mountains on the other side of the 395, but I have not been over there in the winter.

Locally, Piute Mountain is the best "legal" snow run in the county. A few hours away, the Bald Mt trail near shaver lake should be a blast right now; that trail gets heavy snow.

[Phimosis]

[quote="desert dog"]There is some north of the Bodie turn-off, in Bridgeport. But really, the Eastern Sierras suck for wheeling until you get to the Tahoe area.
Many high elevation roads in the Bridgeport area didn't have gates years ago when I was doing some consulting work on a few mines in the area.

The trails in the mammoth area get gated off in the winter. I tried last year. The road to Devil's Postpile used to be a great snow run in the winter, but they gate it now and only let the snow mobiles in. There may be some open roads in the white mountains on the other side of the 395, but I have not been over there in the winter.

Locally, Piute Mountain is the best "legal" snow run in the county. A few hours away, the Bald Mt trail near shaver lake should be a blast right now; that trail gets heavy snow.[/quote]

Goatman had mentioned Piute in a different thread and that definitely has my interest up! I did Bald Mountain about a month ago and the snow was limited then. I'd prefer to see new scenery and Bald Mountain took about 3 hours to get to. There was also an area where the trail was washed out and would be quite difficult for lwb vehicles to get across.

On the topic of Mammoth, I saw that devils post pile was gated last year. Trails.com also lists; Convict Lake overlook trail, Wheeler Ridge road, Sand Canyon, Laurel Canyon, Laurel Lakes, San Joaquin Ridge, Dead Man Canyon and back way into Inyo Craters. Are these gated, too? If those are open, it would give a much more extensive trail network to work with and I know they just got a lot of snow. Plus, it is much higher elevation so the snow is less likely to melt and is less likely to have a muddy base. I tried doing the main trail to Bodie in April and couldn't get through it because I was running Good Year Silent Armor all terrains. As soon as I cut through the snow, I would get into mud and my tires would load up with mud. Then I had no traction and would come to a stop on any hills.

Also in a different thread, Goatman mentioned trailhead to Jerky Meadow. I couldnt find exactly what that trail is. Is it Forest Route 22S82? I'm interested in this area because there are so many other trails around Johnsondale. The question is, are they open? The trails listed include; Sherman Pass 4x4 trail, Cherry Hill rd, Packsaddle Meadow trail, Old Hot Springs Rd, Windy Gap trail and Solo Peak rd.

The last area I'm interested in is the Kings Canyon National Park. I'm assuming they keep it plowed like Yosemite. Seeing Generals Highway in snow would be beautiful. There's also a few side trails; Buck Rock Fire Trail, Whitaker Research Rorest Trail, Cherry Flat Trail and some unnamed forest roads like 14S02 and 14S11. Anyone know if these are gated? I know Yosemite's trails are gated, but it's highly traveled. Last winter, in Bryce Canyon and along the south rim of Grand Canyon, I was able to find quite a few numbered forest routes That were ungated and had deep, virgin snow. Because Sequoia National Park is not as busy as Yosemite, I'm wondering if it has uncontrolled areas as well.

Thanks again for all the info. You guys have been an invaluable resource.

And lastly, I don't have a trail buddy for my proposed adventures. If someone wants to go, Im happy to do anything, even if its something local like Piute. If I don't have anyone to go with, I go big, go far and expose myself to much more risk.

-Larry

[Desert Dog]

[quote="Phimosis"]I'm interested in this area because there are so many other trails around Johnsondale. The question is, are they open? The trails listed include; Sherman Pass 4x4 trail, Cherry Hill rd, Packsaddle Meadow trail, Old Hot Springs Rd, Windy Gap trail and Solo Peak rd[/quote]

Regardless of gate or not, all of these trails fall under the Nat Forrest travel plan and are closed to vehicle access Jan-April. Like stated before, the only legal local snow runs are Piute and half of Rancheria, with Piute always having a better snow pack. Piute may end up getting closed for the winter in the future because the gov is working on a travel management plan for that area too. Stewards of the Sequoias is working hard to keep that trail open for us.

In reviewing the TMP map, it looks like Sawmill Rd is open year-round from the Lake Isabella side. That might be something to try, even though the eastern slope doesn't get that much snow (rain shadow).

[Phimosis]

Ok. I want to see some snow! Not many people are following this thread. I messaged James (76foxx). Becka, I know you and Matt are working on your rigs. Is it even feasible for you to do a run like Piute? And Chis, didn't you just move up to 40" tires? You'd be perfect for leading this run. Let's do this! There's fun and new chelleges to be had! Why sit in Bakersfield all weekend when there's fresh snow on the ground?!?

[munepit]

I'm talking my wife and 1 1/2 yr old daughter up to the snow on Sat. To Alta Sierra. I could go again in the Burb on Sunday or Monday.

[igofshn]

Bald Mt. above shaver has snow. Open year round for wheeling. They just got over 12" of new snow.