Can it be done on 38's with kids inside before Sierra Trek? Want to go on the 28th , but need to make other plans if the water is a hazard.

Im just going out on a limb here but...... it prob just depends on the flow rate. Its up to PG&E mostly for what the flow is (since it appears most snow is melted) but I think its all guesswork as to what they will allow at any given time

"There's something very important I forgot to tell you."
"What?"
http://weeklydrop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/dont-cross-the-streams-t-shirt.gif
"Why?"
"It would be bad."
"Dr. Peter Venkman: I'm a little fuzzy on the whole 'good/bad' thing, here. What do you mean, 'bad?'"
"Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light."
"[low whistle] Total protonic reversal!"
"That's bad. OK, all right, important safety tip. Thanks, Egon."

Seriously, I eyeballed Fordyce Lake and the crossings from a distance, and the lake is full, with the crossings cooking... there's a lot of water up there, and word is more maintenance needs done to the dam, so there will be likely be aggressive releases in the near future.

There's no way to say for sure -- if you want to play it safe 9with kids, it may make sense!), stage out of Meadow Lake and play down to the river and back.

Randii

Radii - Flows are at 300 per Dreamflows right now, do you think they are way higher than that in reality or...?

Radii - Flows are at 300 per Dreamflows right now, do you think they are way higher than that in reality or...?
I still think they are bit higher than that in reality NOW, but i think they will ramp up before the end of the month.

Randii

Interesting, thanks for the input. I will just keep my eye on Dreamflows and possibly have to divert somewhere else. The Con is closed down for the Jeep Jamboree next weekend, so who knows...

Hell Hole? Strawberry? Deer Valley? All good choices.

I crossed last sat afternoon with flows in the 350ish range. If you know the correct line at commity your good. I'm only on a low yota with 36's and water was barely coming over my lap:eek:. Oh btw I was tethered to another rig on the other side. Just be smart and safe!

I crossed last sat afternoon with flows in the 350ish range. If you know the correct line at commity your good. I'm only on a low yota with 36's and water was barely coming over my lap:eek:. Oh btw I was tethered to another rig on the other side. Just be smart and safe!

Yeah, if I was alone it would be no big deal , but this is a family trip and it is not worth the chance.
I like Barrett. have not done Hell Hole, Strawberry or Deer Valley. I have five days maybe I can do a couple others.

I've crossed several times during the summer and never had a problem. I run 38.5" tires and have never worried about it, but then I didn't have the valuable cargo that you have. At the least, it is a great trip in and if you don't feel comfortable turn around and enjoy. I think the Rubicon crossings are a little more tricky. You will be fine.

I've crossed several times during the summer and never had a problem. I run 38.5" tires and have never worried about it, but then I didn't have the valuable cargo that you have. At the least, it is a great trip in and if you don't feel comfortable turn around and enjoy. I think the Rubicon crossings are a little more tricky. You will be fine.

Are you talking this year?

This is bad a advice.

Flows are much greater this year than in previous.

The only sure way to know is to pay attention to the cfs conditions (via dreamflows or other).

PG&E adjusts the flow daily... In previous years I've crossed one day at -200cfs & found it at 300cfs the next.

Not to mention the time of day. On hot days, the water can vary from morning to afternoon do to snow melt/runoff.

As of now, the flows are at about 310, but if Randii is right and it shoots up significantly before the end of the month, it could be a large mistake.

Bebe - We are thinking about possibly running Hell Hole, never been there before. Sounds like it is a pretty short trail in comparison but could be a good time. Never heard of strawberry or deer valley, maybe do some research on those as well.

I haven't done Strawberry, but I have run Deer Valley several times.

It's rather mild in comparison, but the scenery is 5x more beautiful than Fordyce. (I'm not saying Fordyce isn't incredible, I'm just saying that Deer Valley has beautiful grassy meadows & isn't quite so rugged in the camping areas.)

Friends were up at Strawberry 3 1/2 weeks ago & there was still lots of snow/they couldn't get all the way through...

ttp://www.ihonlynorth.com/forums/bay-area-binder-society/3579-barret-lake-year-12.html

Is there a thread for Deer Valley? Might be interesting to check that out but I don't know ANYTHING about Deer Valley at all.

Thanks.

To give you an idea this is at about 275. On 44" tires
YouTube - white rhino snorkelin across fordyce at committee (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvfre850FLU&feature=player_embedded)

Is there a thread for Deer Valley? Might be interesting to check that out but I don't know ANYTHING about Deer Valley at all.

Thanks.

Deer valley is a much better for a family run, plenty of tough stuff with out making the kids cry. It runs from hwy 88 over to hwy 4. It's very high, like 8,000 so fuel injection is a big plus. Strawberry is easier, but a very nice family run too from hwy 50 to 88. Our plan was to run Strawberry, then Deer valley and then Slick rock, but with all the snow this year we did not make it. I'm sure it's all gone now as I only saw a small patch of snow this past weekend under some trees on the Rubicon. Just enough to refill the ice chest:D

Just goolge deer valley trail

Anyone going in from the Cisco Grove side this weekend? If so I'm lookin for a group to tag along with.

Any "Safe spots to park the Tow Rigs for the day on the road into Meadow Lake? Just do not want to drive all the way into Meadow if we don't have too. We would like to run the trail, but we have a camping spot at Cisco Grove.

Thanks

Any "Safe spots to park the Tow Rigs for the day on the road into Meadow Lake? Just do not want to drive all the way into Meadow if we don't have too. We would like to run the trail, but we have a camping spot at Cisco Grove.

Thanks

You can drive the road from Cisco Grove around the back of the lake where the damn is. There is also camping areas up there. I heading out of Napa Sat. morning and doing the committe water crossing and winch hill 3,4,5.

Isn't committee about the deepest crossing? Take some photos, I would love to see how the flows are. Really hoping I get up there next weekend...

From Dreamflows:

PG&E reports as follows: "The draft on Lake Fordyce will remain around 313 cfs through August 9 at which time the flow will be reduced to 25 cfs for Sierra Trek Jeep Jamboree. On August 17, we will resume the draft of 300 cfs through September 13 at which time the flow will again be reduced to minimum level in order to achieve our target end of year storage level."

You can drive the road from Cisco Grove around the back of the lake where the damn is. There is also camping areas up there. I heading out of Napa Sat. morning and doing the committe water crossing and winch hill 3,4,5.

I'll assume you've done it before so you know what to expect. I wouldn't cross it at 300+ but then I'm only jeep on 37's

same.... on 42's

I have a few pictures of people crossing last weekend. I will have to up load the pics.

I crossed the river wile flowing at 470 cfs on a toyota pickup with 36" swampers. NOT a good idea. We made it to the 2nd crossing and it was INSANE!!!!! HEre is teh story. http://www.pirate4x4.com/trailreports/fordyce_0899/index.php At 350 it is very passable as long as you know the proper lines to take.

DIma

I crossed the river wile flowing at 470 cfs on a toyota pickup with 36" swampers. NOT a good idea. We made it to the 2nd crossing and it was INSANE!!!!! HEre is teh story. http://www.pirate4x4.com/trailreports/fordyce_0899/index.php At 350 it is very passable as long as you know the proper lines to take.

DIma

Wow. Scary looking trip! After looking at this I am more determined to just go in and out through Meadow Lake without issue.

A good trip would be slick rock, then deer valley, and then strawberry. We did this on 4th of july this year. We ran slick rock end to being to make it quicker to get deer valley trail head. Slick rock and deer valley are very close together and makes it nice if you trailer your rig. As for the snow on strawberry not sure what people are talking about, it only had a couple of patches that we drove right over with no problems. All are good family runs but easy compared to fordyce.

I came in from the Meadow lake side and attempted the comitte crossing and the water was over my 39's @ 300 + cfm

Has anyone gone from Eagle lakes to Meadow this year with flows at 300cfs?

Has anyone gone from Eagle lakes to Meadow this year with flows at 300cfs?
Some friends and I went the whole trail and out commity 2 weeks ago with flows in the 300's and are planning on goin this coming weekend. None of us are on anything bigger than 39's. I'm the lowest and had water come across my lap and wc1 and commity. However the people I wheel with are very familier with all the crossings, I wouldn't have done it without there help.

Please keep in mind that 300 is a huge number and used to be too much for most people. With the continued high release and stories of crossing it seems that some may be loosing sight of that in there desire to use the trail. In the past people wouldn't attempt to cross at numbers over 250. I was at the trail and didn't dross at 320 even though my rig is more than capable of handling that because I didn't want to take the chance of being on the wrong side of the river in the event PG&E bumped up to flows to 500 again.

I'm not trying to tell people whtat to do. Just use your head and think of the possibilities before making plans. PG&E has only rough plans and can change them at any time. That's one of the reasons it's tough to get concrete schedules or flow rates from them.

Be safe.

Just got done talking to PG&E.

As I mentioned they have planned repairs to the dam again this year and also some re-licensing efforts to do. Because of this the release will remain as it is now until August 9 at which time it will be lowered to 25 cfs for Trek. It will stay that way until August 17th. Then it'll be back up to 300 until mid September. That's as far as they would go but I assume in mid September it will start to drop.

I tried the comitte crossing @ 300 cfm. I'm only pushing 3000 LB on 39's and the water started pushing me down streem and it was pretty deep in the center. I pulled out to keep from damaging my rig. I watched a set of 49's go under at the 1st water crossing.

YouTube - MVI 0152 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2fiHM5xBgA)

I ran the trail from Eagle to Meadow lake today and out Truckee. I ran with my doors on and never got a drop of water in my rig. My buddy on 37s got some water on his floor boards on WC1 and water splashed in his lap on WC2. never once did the water move the Jeep. Trail is in great shape and the new bypass around the mud hole is pretty nice and very well traveled!!! Dream flows indicated water was at 307cfs today.

There is a group of us going in this weekend, we will be going in from meadow lake and back out the same way. Unless plans change, I don't see us attempting the water crossings.

There is a group of us going in this weekend, we will be going in from meadow lake and back out the same way. Unless plans change, I don't see us attempting the water crossings.

Well, my family and I are at the Cisco Grove camp ground. I guess we'll see how tomorrow goes.

Awesome, we will be in there somewhere tomorrow evening. Packing up and leaving tomorrow morning. See you there, be safe!

I crossed the river wile flowing at 470 cfs on a toyota pickup with 36" swampers. NOT a good idea. We made it to the 2nd crossing and it was INSANE!!!!! HEre is teh story. http://www.pirate4x4.com/trailreports/fordyce_0899/index.php At 350 it is very passable as long as you know the proper lines to take.

DIma

Dimitri!!!!! There was some great pics in your thread!!!!! That was some scarry shit seing the jeep completely under the water!!!! I will taKe my rigs anywere, but water scares the crap out of me!!!! We are Planning on going to Meadow Lake early Tuesday morning, droping down to the river, camping over night, and then coming out Wensday!!!! Did you see the pic of the jeep crossing comitte crossing, and the river swallowing them 39's last weekend??? No way Jose, my little 36's would be down stream somewere:(

......Did you see the pic of the jeep crossing comitte crossing, and the river swallowing them 39's last weekend??? No way Jose, my little 36's would be down stream somewere:(

You mean 49's. I bet the guy's steel nuts clank when he walks:laughing:

Well I had an awesome weekend!

I didn't cross the water, but went from meadow lake in as fer as the creek and then did a night run from Cisco Grove down to the committee crossing.

This is my new favorite trail! Not a dull moment. Makes the Rubicon and the Dusy seem boring.

I would like to go again in Sept to run the whole trail:smokin:

We crossed 1st crossing at about noon, buggy with 39in krawlers, it did not even go over my hood.

:laughing:

Dimitri!!!!! There was some great pics in your thread!!!!! That was some scarry shit seing the jeep completely under the water!!!! I will taKe my rigs anywere, but water scares the crap out of me!!!! We are Planning on going to Meadow Lake early Tuesday morning, droping down to the river, camping over night, and then coming out Wensday!!!! Did you see the pic of the jeep crossing comitte crossing, and the river swallowing them 39's last weekend??? No way Jose, my little 36's would be down stream somewere:(

It was a FUN trip, but VERY costly. Tore everything to pieces. I will be back there next year trying the crossings again on 40's. Gonna have to get a trip together for then.

Dima

http://http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail19.jpgWe dropppd in from Meadow Lake Tuesday & Wednesday, we crossed the river at commitee crossing on 37'S & 36'S, neither one of us took on water on the floor boards, I guess you just need to know the right line and not just go straight across, I will post pics later!!!!!:D

Also the new bye pass sucks you know what dropping down from Fordyce lake, I talked to a couple of my LEO friends from the Forestry Division about it, and they said nobody had any permision to block off the trail and make a new one thru the forest like they did, we will see how long that lasts!!!

Also the new bye pass sucks you know what dropping down from Fordyce lake, I talked to a couple of my LEO friends from the Forestry Division about it, and they said nobody had any permision to block off the trail and make a new one thru the forest like they did, we will see how long that lasts!!!

:laughing:

We dropppd in from Meadow Lake Tuesday & Wednesday, we crossed the river at commitee crossing on 37'S & 36'S, neither one of us took on water on the floor boards, I guess you just need to know the right line and not just go straight across, I will post pics later!!!!!:D

Also the new bye pass sucks you know what dropping down from Fordyce lake, I talked to a couple of my LEO friends from the Forestry Division about it, and they said nobody had any permision to block off the trail and make a new one thru the forest like they did, we will see how long that lasts!!!

Yep they knew nothing about it. :beer:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showpost.php?p=8915853&postcount=11

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=905742

We dropppd in from Meadow Lake Tuesday & Wednesday, we crossed the river at commitee crossing on 37'S & 36'S, neither one of us took on water on the floor boards, I guess you just need to know the right line and not just go straight across, I will post pics later!!!!!:D

Also the new bye pass sucks you know what dropping down from Fordyce lake, I talked to a couple of my LEO friends from the Forestry Division about it, and they said nobody had any permision to block off the trail and make a new one thru the forest like they did, we will see how long that lasts!!!

The bypass was initiated and approved by the Tahoe National Forest and done under their direct supervision with interface between them and PG&E who owns that land.

Just got back last night. We crossed the first river crossing flooding my jeep up to the seats and killing a toyota computer. I was on 39's and the yota was on 37's. We troubleshot the toyota from 12:30pm to 6pm. The toyota died near the end of the crossing but we had him strapped to my jeep so at least he got across. We ended up hitting winch hill one at 8:45pm needles to say we hit the next two water crossings in the dark. The second water crossing was worse than the first and I ended up almost getting stuck on a large boulder right in the middle. The double bump after that was the most intimidating because from my vantage point I could only see the river then a small path thru the bushes and another river right on the other side. If you have never seen it the bushes are tall and growing up from the water. I would highly recommend not crossing at night:homer: The new bypass that was aforementioned was fun as hell and harder than most of the trail. The trail was way less stressful than the water crossings. We made it from winch hill one back up to meadow in 4 hours which brought us into camp at 12:30 am. Be safe out there!

The bypass was initiated and approved by the Tahoe National Forest and done under their direct supervision with interface between them and PG&E who owns that land.


I feel I should address this a little more in depth for anyone caught by surprise concerning this new trail. While the trail has been in existance for almost two years now it wasn't readily apparent if one was using original trail.

I will agree that the new trail is not as extraction friendly as the old one. In an effort to make it more so the FOF just removed a couple of rocks in the middle of the uphill portion to eliminate an "S" turn that would make it harder to negotiate the hill while towing. We took a little flack on this BB about that. If any other part of the trail needs modification we can address that. Give us your input.

The TNF came to us originally to cut a new trail because the old one was erroding badly. That together with the fact that the trail was a straight shot downhill was causing the potential for a bunch of sedimentation to run directly into the Fordyce Creek. Exactly the kind of thing that can be used against us in the name of water quality. The new trail runs mostly on rock and the areas that didn't have been hardened by the moving of a bunch of rock. We will continue to monitor those sections.

So the new trail might be a bit harder for towing a dead rig out but it is much more environmentally responsible and will help us to keep the trail open.

Also the new bye pass sucks

How so? Give us your input and maybe there is something we can do to improve it.

How so? Give us your input and maybe there is something we can do to improve it.

Loved it:smokin: The only part of the whole trail we had to pull cable to hold a line. The up hill climbs were great.

The bypass was initiated and approved by the Tahoe National Forest and done under their direct supervision with interface between them and PG&E who owns that land.

I guess this goes to show you what my LEO Forest Service friends don"t know!!! Is this what we call lack of communication on our great governments part????:laughing:


As far as extracting rigs out, you hit the nail on the head!!! yes it does make it allot more difficult and more intersting but if it keeps the trail open and the road from erroding that muchmore!!!! so be it ROCK ON!!!:D

I guess this goes to show you what my LEO Forest Service friends don"t know!!! Is this what we call lack of communication on our great governments part????:laughing:


As far as extracting rigs out, you hit the nail on the head!!! yes it does make it allot more difficult and more intersting but if it keeps the trail open and the road from erroding that muchmore!!!! so be it ROCK ON!!!:D


Leo's have no day to day contact with the regular FS folks.

They get their directives from upper management who may have a meeting once a month with the OHV coordinator or other field service personnel.

Rubicon used to have the same problem, but threads like this got them back on their toes.

:D

Here are the pics of the river at Committee crossing this weekend on 36's, and no water in the floor board!!!http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail19.jpghttp://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail20.jpghttp://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail21.jpghttp://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail22.jpghttp://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail23.jpghttp://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail24.jpg

Just for giggles, my wife going up squeeze rock on her quad!!!!http://i708.photobucket.com/albums/ww85/maddogs1965/8-3-10fordyceTrail26.jpg

Has anybody ever flopped their rig over in any of the water crossings? Seen a lot of close calls but never anyone all the way over. I sure hope not! Can't even imagine...

There are some pics floating around this board from when Keith Strong ended up upside down in the middle of the committee crossing..... Good reminder for all who think they are invincible :)