We're still planning on a run Memorial Day Run but considering the conditions we may not get far. We'll keep checking and I plan on taking a drive to the trail head next week to take a final look. In the meantime here is some info that came my way from the Webilt guys from last Tuesday:

"well i took a drive up to cisco yesterday , the gate is still closed at the campground side to fordyce lake , hell its still buried under snow !!! talked to the folks at the store , they told me that the gate is technically soposto be un locked on may 15th ,, but that is not likely to happed , as the gate is under 4 feet of snow , now there is tracks over the gate , but the folks at the campground say they are usually back in 45min. or so because there was a huge land slide/avalance about 3 miles up the road that is totalty blocking the road , dirt rocks and huge trees , but that there is going to be some wood cutting partys with a forest service wood cutting permit , I also stoped at the eagel lakes side ,, still tons of snow , the paved road is plowed , but no parking ...."

Does not look too promising but we'll see...

Sounds about right to me. I have been checking conditions here http://www.nohrsc.noaa.gov/interactive/html/map.html and they are a bit discouraging, but I'm holding my hopes high because I WANT TO WHEEL! thanks for the info and I'll see you all memorial weekend.

I WANT TO WHEEL!

Truth

3-Rigs headed up in the morning to poke around.We should be at staging around 10.ish.Pics and report to follow:D

Gee, maybe we should go up there and start looking for them!:homer:

No rescue necessary - didn't take the Hummer this time :p

We took the long way home:D

Cisco gate

staging area

Driveline and area around

Very cool. How far did you guys go up trail?

More!!!!

How far did you go in?

Did you go in Ratlesnake Rd. at all to see the washed out section?

I'm itchin to go now, that looks promising.:smokin:

More!!!!

How far did you go in?

Did you go in Ratlesnake Rd. at all to see the washed out section?

I'm itchin to go now, that looks promising.:smokin:

I think they only went to Driveline. I asked on our club board to find out.

Ratlesnake Rd is still closed. No way to see the washed out section but they said it was 3 miles in.

Bring a boat if you want to cross the river. We got more snow yesterday. :(

Very cool. How far did you guys go up trail?

We went as far as driveline.Two other rigs not with us went farther i have no idea what they found but saw them on the highway not long after.

Did you go in Ratlesnake Rd. at all to see the washed out section?

The gate is still closed and there ain't no way i'm walking that far:eek:


Ok
Quick trail report:
As you can imagine the trail is wet and there is still snow on the trail starting about mile 2 Deep,slushy and off camber.
We picked up very little trash "Thank You" and moved one tree off the trail.
There are more pics and info that will not be posted here:homer: They will be available at the June 4th meeting if you would like to see them.

If you go please Tread Lightly

Heading in sat around 10 going till can't go anymore camping and conning back out sunday

Hm, sounds like this could be a spot for Memorial day then for me.

Hm, sounds like this could be a spot for Memorial day then for me.

There goes the neighborhood :flipoff2:

Bebe and i will be there as long as it's not raining

Hm, sounds like this could be a spot for Memorial day then for me.

x2:smokin:

Didn't that are just get dumped with snow in the past couple days? I don't think it'll be cleared up by than.:( Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Some parts where it's granite were dry - a few days of warm weather and some rain, which is coming - will take care of any new snow.

Anyone going up on Memorial Day should consider it a snow run and plan accordingly.

There was a ton of snow left up there last Memorial and given the snowfall totals we have seen this year I would imagine there would be significantly more this yr although I have not been up there to see it myself.

Trail is typically fairly clear from Eagle Lakes to about the off camber, then fairly deep snow until the slabs heading to WC 1. Usually pretty clear there and then the snow gets REALLY deep on the other side of 1.


Driveline on Mem last yr

http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/Fordyce-Memorial-2010/IMG_2775.sized.jpg

Past WC 1

http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/Fordyce-Memorial-2010/IMG_2844.sized.jpg

I think the difference between this year and last year is last year we had servral warm breaks between the storms but the storms just kept coming late into the year. This year there wasnt alot of warm breaks between storms and there was a lot of snow acumalation. Now we are getting warmer weather and some late storms but not a lot of late snow.

I think this snow will last longer into the summer.

Agreed...forgot to add that it took a TON of shoveling to get past the off camber last yr.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=525897&stc=1&d=1275284354

So don't forget to bring your shovels!!:D

OR snow-blower :laughing:

Heading up tonight to explore and test the new rig.

Cool - let us know what it looks like up there!

found 12-15 rigs last night at midnight camping below driveline. Snow drifts pretty bad about 1 mile after driveline hill.

Snow drifts pretty bad about 1 mile after driveline hill.

No surprise about that.

found 12-15 rigs last night at midnight camping below driveline. Snow drifts pretty bad about 1 mile after driveline hill.

Thanks for taking the time to come back and give a report. Hopefully we'll see you on the trail soon.

Memorial will be fun even if we can only use just a few miles of trail. :smokin:

The weather doesn't look too bad! Looks like I will see you guys there:D

The weather doesn't look too bad! Looks like I will see you guys there:D

Sweet!

any reports as the week goes on will be very appreciated. We are planning three rigs to come in saturday 5/28/2011. So we can help dig for sure.
After the off camber and before winch1 Is there any deep snow to worry about?

After the off camber and before winch1 Is there any deep snow to worry about?

:laughing:

there were a few deep off camber drifts before you get to the slabs on Sunrise and after the first Water Crossing it was 6-8 feet deep last year

Like this all the way from WC1 to where we stopped at mile marker 6.5 or so

http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/Fordyce-Memorial-2010/IMG_2844.sized.jpg

any reports from this year, like maybe from the 12-15 rigs that were camped by driveline?:D

We'll be there rain, shine, snow or whatever. We're going in as far as we can and then some. Bring shovels. We're gonna dig if neccessary just like last year.

We'll be camping at Indian Springs Friday night and head in Saturday morning. Option to stay Sunday night as well as Saturday is open as long as we can actually get somewhere.

I hope all this rain stays rain up there it just might help out. I can't wait to get up there rain snow or hopefully shine!!!

I hope all this rain stays rain up there it just might help out. I can't wait to get up there rain snow or hopefully shine!!!

x2, we will be getting to the trail at about 10:00 sat morning, I'll be with my wife and son, and two other rigs, cant wait.:D

Hell yes the weather is getting better in OV , I don't think I got crap done at work to day or at all this week other than on my truck!!

I need to see some rocks.

Dumping on 80 right now :laughing:

check out the web cams

http://video.dot.ca.gov/

CHAINS ARE REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES WITH SNOW
TIRES ON ALL 4 WHEELS FROM 1 MI EAST OF BAXTER (PLACER CO) TO THE
DONNER LAKE INTERCHANGE

Whether forecast for Cisco and Soda Springs is rain and snow through Tuesday.. Typical memorial day weekend!!!!

Whether forecast for Cisco and Soda Springs is rain and snow through Tuesday.. Typical memorial day weekend!!!!

not quite what I wanted to hear or read, but the key word here is...GOING

I'm going regardless. Little rain and snow don't scare me:evil:

I'm going regardless. Little rain and snow don't scare me:evil:

You say that now that you have upgraded from the My Little Pony tent :laughing:

You just had to go there didn't you:shaking:


You say that now that you have upgraded from the My Little Pony tent :laughing:

You say that now that you have upgraded from the My Little Pony tent :laughing:

BAH!!! Hahahaha :laughing:

You say that now that you have upgraded from the My Little Pony tent :laughing:

Was it the Hello Kitty upgrade:flipoff2:

You say that now that you have upgraded from the My Little Pony tent :laughing:

Forget the tent. I want to know if he ungraded the rear driveline.:flipoff2:

I checked the DOT videos and it looks great I can not wait to get up there, I am sure there will be a lot of snow still but it sounds like there are a bunch of rigs going, So maybe it will not be that bad.

anyone know what meadow lake looks like?

last yr at this time there was about 9' of snow according to the sensors...so probably 20' right now. They will need a snow plow for Sierra Trek :laughing:

Just received a text saying that the $5 trail out of Cisco Grove is closed. So, with all this snow, is there any parking at the Eagle Lakes side and how safe are the unattended vehicles left there?

How many are still planing on going in??

there is parking at eagle lake but I wouldn't leave anything unattended there for more than a few minutes. There have been lots of problems there for years.

Sitting at the off camber. Dug though one before it and this one and then made it about 5.5 miles in. Trail is blocked by trees knocked down by an avalanche from the other side of the creek probably started about a half mile away. Must be 50 trees down. Absolutely awesome sight.

Still tons of snow. Way more than last year. Gonna be a while before the trail is clear.

any pictures?

When I get home but can't download from the phone.@

http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5291155.sized.jpg
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5291157.sized.jpg
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5291158.sized.jpg

First one is a shot of the path of the snow. Looks like it came off that bare spot on the side of the mountain.

Second one is some of the trees knocked down into the creek.

Third is the middle of the trail on the far side of the creek.

Another shot of the trail. The blocked part is about 50 yards long. Pictures don't really do it justice. Lots of small debris and a few large trees. It should clean up fast. Most of the bigger downed trees are on the opposite side of the creek from the trail.
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/IMG_20110529_152840.sized.jpg

That's the first off camber in front of my rig.
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/IMG_20110528_184628.sized.jpg
Did some digging.
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/IMG_20110529_175448.sized.jpg
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5291128.sized.jpg

We even had a dog helping.
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5281100.sized.jpg

awesome!

Dug this one deeper on the way out. The winches sure got a work out!
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5281112.sized.jpg
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/P5281115.sized.jpg

That is sweet good work

Just camped in the middle of the trail. Figured no one would be coming along.:D
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/IMG_20110528_184603.sized.jpg
Good thing we brought the big tarp.
http://fourdice4x4.com/photos/albums/album20/IMG_20110528_184610.sized.jpg

It was nice to meet you Bret! I'm glad we stayed at the staging area...no break in issues:D

Great weekend with great friends!

I wish I could have convinced somebody to go, looks like a good time, next time I'll just go anyway and bring a shovel and a few extra beers.

I saw the almost white out snow storm that was coming, that's why I never went :)

I saw the almost white out snow storm that was coming, that's why I never went :)

You missed out on all the winter, I mean spring fun. :D

The drifts past the avalanche spot were crazy. Huge drifts with tree wells at the bottom...:eek:

Where was the avalanche?

Where was the avalanche?

About a mile past the off-camber where the trail starts to run parallel to the creek.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=11494

had a great trip, nice actually meeting you guys. here's a link to all our trip pics on facebook. only a couple of the snow parts.
big orange dodge and green tacoma

oops forgot the link :shaking:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1658789763252.73606.1642382146

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=11494

It's obvious you love each other lots :laughing:

Will be our xmas card :flipoff2:

It does have that look. :idea:

Please ad me to your XMas/Memorial Day Card mailing list.

About a mile past the off-camber where the trail starts to run parallel to the creek.


So the avalanche was just past the first water crossing?

That is badass, I have never seen that kind of thing up there before.

No. Before you even get to the slabs to head down to the first crossing, the trail runs parallel to a small creek.

We should somehow try and blame this on the sierra club :flipoff2:


.
Isn't mother nature incredible~

over on the otherside of the hill the avalanche was huge that is covering rattlesnake road. its hard to even get a snowmobile over it right now due to the number of trees etc piled up there and the massive pile of snow its all mixed up in.

That signal peak was sure trying to hold onto some serious snow this winter

I'm going to try and get some info from our TNF guy to see what their plans are for clearing Rattlesnake.

Pictures from a friend

the slide came down from the top of signal peak, the rattlesnake road side slide wiped out the road and went up the other side of the canyon several hundred feet. the amount of speed and the depth of the snow is difficult to describe, the number of snapped off trees buried in what looks to be 60-80 ft deep worth of snow and hundreds of trees is phenomenal. Pictures do not do it justice it is 400-500+ yards across.""It appears that possibly 3 separate slides kicked loose off signal peak thIs winter, one came down near the "clifta" off camber area, another down into fordyce creek possibly near crossing 3 and the largest slide is the rattlesnake road.". There will be a lot of debris to clear before anyone gets back down that road"


http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/48868/2528191590060221230S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2528191590060221230xVIozN)

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/48731/2318566240060221230S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2318566240060221230KGYqeb)

http://inlinethumb57.webshots.com/47160/2560924120060221230S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2560924120060221230tMVqwN)

http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/46703/2354311990060221230S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2354311990060221230wsMVsf)

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/45575/2519656700060221230S425x425Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2519656700060221230ZGQYBA)

Wow!:eek:

That is crazy!:eek:

wow this is crazy

Wishing I was back on the trail...