The upper part of the trail has lots of running water, standing water and snow in spots on the road in to Meadow Lake from Winch Hill 5.

The FOF recommends staying off the upper part of the trail for a few weeks. If you must travel on that part of the trail please TREAD VERY LIGHTLY! There is already evidence of rutting going on which will have to be repaired.

The FOF recommends using the bottom part of the trail up to Committee for your trips.

Remember, 300+ release numbers are no joke. After seeing 2700 cfs it's easy to forget how high 300 is.

As far as the river goes water release will be at over 300 (currently 310) until Sierra Trek. It will most likely go up again afterwards since PG&E is still dealing with huge amounts of runoff going into the lake.

Water crossings: It was a concern whether the bottoms of the crossings would be affected by the massive amount of water coming down the river. Experienced users knew where the holes and deep spots were and knew to avoid them. The first three water crossings seems to have remained stable but the committee crossing appears to have developed a hole in the line straight across the river. Aside from being deeper it doesn' have a great affect when entering the trail but when leaving the rear of the rig is pushed into it causing the front to head upstream. If you continue on you'll strighten out but it's just something to be prepared for. The first picture below is at 250cfs heading in and the second one is at 310 on the way out. Both rigs sit on 42" tires.

Before anyone raises the question I want to apologize for using the trail and then recommending to stay off. I know this happens on the Rubicon too and the critisizm sometimes arises about the duality of that act.

Yes, we went up there to check out the trail and we found it to be too wet in spots for travel. That's why we recommend reduced travel. It's also one of the resons why the FOF cancelled our August 6th workday.

We hope you understand our reasoning.

Thanks.

Those are from yesterday? What is the weight if those rigs? I'm low on 42's and about 3700 lbs

Those are from yesterday? What is the weight if those rigs? I'm low on 42's and about 3700 lbs

From yesterday. (7-26-11) The first one is about 5500# and the second one is a little under 4k with trail gear.

General info: The normal good route across committee has a huge hole when you get closer to the FD Lake side. It's like a larger diameter version of the old hole. We knew it was there but we got pushed into it. :homer: When heading to FD Lake point WAY upstream and try and end up to the far left side of the exit.

Mine is the heavy rig and it's the first time I've ever been pushed around in the river at Fordyce regardless of flow.The crossing is no joke right now. If you choose to cross we recommend the suggested line and extreme caution!!

Thanks for posting the pictures and the water levels. I was supposedly planning to go the weekend before Sierra Trek. With those pictures of the water coming up that far and the rig on 42's, I believe my rig on 37's would be doomed.

How in the world does someone from southern california make the 12 hour trip up there and manage to go on that trail without having to go on the Sierra Trek cattle run? It's not like we can just pop up there.

:(

It's hit or miss on the river in the summer months. Usually (and I say that because this year was very unusual) you can get on the trail early in the spring as the snow melts but before there's too much run off and before they bump up the release in preparation for the melt. Then around late September PG&E has the lake where they want it and taper back the flow to a managable crossing level. That's the prime time to wheel Fordyce in my opinion. Maybe have a little rain to keep the dust down, temps are falling so a campfire is nice at night.

Keep an eye on Dreamflows and when the release numbers go down around late September they should stay there.

I crossed last weekend at 265 cfs and found a good line. If you are crossing towards the lake, go in the lower line head across the river towards the middle of the bushes between the lower and upper lines. When you are almost to the bushes turn up stream and head out the upper line. (stay out of the bushes!!!)

Water was just to the top of my 39.5's in the deepest part. I even forgot to turn off my electric fan and it never hit the water. I also hit a front diff rock in the middle and backed up a couple feet to go around it. Again this was at 265 cfs. The water is now over 300 cfs.

If you don’t know a good line watch other rigs cross first! If you find the "hole" it is deep!

Edit - **Drawing of committee crossing 2 post down**

I crossed last weekend at 265 cfs and found a good line. If you are crossing towards the lake, go in the lower line head across the river towards the middle of the bushes between the lower and upper lines. When you are almost to the bushes turn up stream and head out the upper line. (stay out of the bushes!!!)

Water was just to the top of my 39.5's in the deepest part. I even forgot to turn off my electric fan and it never hit the water. I also hit a front diff rock in the middle and backed up a couple feet to go around it. Again this was at 265 cfs. The water is now over 300 cfs.

If you don’t know a good line watch other rigs cross first! If you find the "hole" it is deep!

Jason

Do you have any pictures or a drawing? I ask because what you posted is kinda confusing and I would not want anyone to end up in the hole in front of the "other" exit on the FD Lake side. Right now, at 300, it looks to be at least 6' deep.


Looking down trail just before WC3.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=12305

Our little camp friend.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=12315

You asked for a drawing...My MS Paint skills! :flipoff2:

Does this help?
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Very nice. :smokin:

Please add a deep hole in front of the lower exit.

I crossed last weekend at 265 cfs and found a good line. If you are crossing towards the lake, go in the lower line head across the river towards the middle of the bushes between the lower and upper lines. When you are almost to the bushes turn up stream and head out the upper line. (stay out of the bushes!!!


I also took this same line Sunday,at 265 cfs.I am on 42's and sit 28" to my frame rail under the drivers door.I only got a little splash on the floor boards.If you are heading toward the lake side of the crossing,you want to head straight for the bushes that are to the right of the exit.You will be just above the rapids, where the creek drops a little to the next hole.Just about to the bushes,hang it hard driver.And drive up steam to the exit.Don't know if that helps,sounds pretty much like what Jason said:D


Good to meet,and wheel out with you Jason.I'm sure I'll see you out there another time.

Shoot! Nice drawing.It took me to long to type my last post.:flipoff2:

i think i could make it but its hard to tell not being there in person. im not sure what the cfs was the last time i did it. my trucks pushing 6K and i have 42s and judging by the pictures i think its possible. thanks for that diagram.

If you are heading toward the lake side of the crossing,you want to head straight for the bushes that are to the right of the exit.You will be just above the rapids, where the creek drops a little to the next hole.Just about to the bushes,hang it hard driver.And drive up steam to the exit.Don't know if that helps,sounds pretty much like what Jason said:D


you make it sound so easy but when you drive a school bus that "hang it hard driver" for me means backing up 5 times. that scares me :laughing:

you make it sound so easy but when you drive a school bus that "hang it hard driver" for me means backing up 5 times. that scares me :laughing:

True,very true..I've drowned my truck on this crossing,and it really sucks.This crossing always get's my blood pumping! That line is the way to go.:smokin:

Very nice. :smokin:

Please add a deep hole in front of the lower exit.

"Deep Hole" added. :D





Good to meet,and wheel out with you Jason.I'm sure I'll see you out there another time.

Good to meet you to. It was a great weekend!

I also hit a front diff rock in the middle and backed up a couple feet to go around it. Again this was at 265 cfs. The water is now over 300 cfs.

If you don’t know a good line watch other rigs cross first! If you find the "hole" it is deep!

Edit - **Drawing of committee crossing 2 post down**

I am not a huge fan of the line you are talking about when the flow is up.... have to stop and backup, yeesh. There are a number of rocks there that can diff you out and when the flow is up there is no way of knowing where they are

Jason



http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=12305

Our little camp friend.

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=677&pictureid=12315



Nice deer!

Wasnt I just telling that story of the deer in camp.

You asked for a drawing...My MS Paint skills! :flipoff2:

Does this help?
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That’s the line I've been taking since I started running the trail. I always assumed that’s what everyone did.

Keep an eye on Dreamflows and when the release numbers go down around late September they should stay there.

Will do in the future but we have planned to come up August 5th. I guess we'll just do as much of the trail as we can. Thanks to everyone so much for posting the trail information...keep it coming, it is very helpful for those not local to the area.

I was told by the ranger district for Meadow Lake that the road to Meadow Lake is not "open" and probably wouldn't be open until mid-to-late August. Looks like Sierra Trek may have to plow and we will have to stay in the lowlands to camp.

I was told by the ranger district for Meadow Lake that the road to Meadow Lake is not "open" and probably wouldn't be open until mid-to-late August.
The road is open to 4x4s and quads, and many people are using it and have been for several weeks.

Looks like Sierra Trek may have to plow and we will have to stay in the lowlands to camp.
We're ready to plow if we have to, but I do not expect to have to. One way or another, the road will be open to semi-trucks by next Thursday.

As for camping in the low-lands, Meadow Lake is green and beautiful, the only snow that's left is in the trees. Camping will be fine in almost all of the normal places that don't have heavy tree cover. The attached pictures are barely 24 hours old...
- main camp, looking northeast from the trees
- main camp, looking northwest from where the outhouses normally sit
- main camp, looking across the traditional vendor area
- looking south over the lake, just after leaving the trees and entering the meadow
- looking west toward main camp, just after leaving the trees and entering the meadow

Randii
Randy Burleson
2011 Trek Chair

While the meadow is in great shape, please honor FOF's assessment of the trail, and tread exceptionally lightly or stay off entirely the section between Committee Crossing and Meadow Lake for the next few weeks.

I'll post up road pics in the next day or so, the gravel road and dirt road between Jackson Meadow Road and Meadow Lake is mostly dry and in good shape, with a little rutting. What snow remains is RAPIDLY melting.

Randii

While the meadow is in great shape, please honor FOF's assessment of the trail, and tread exceptionally lightly or stay off entirely the section between Committee Crossing and Meadow Lake for the next few weeks.
Randii

Wow, thanks for the pics. The meadow is much better than I thought. It may be possible for me to get my truck/trailer out there after all.

Wow, thanks for the pics. The meadow is much better than I thought. It may be possible for me to get my truck/trailer out there after all.
If you're going in on August 5, it is a certainty, not a possibility. :p

Randii

While the meadow is in great shape, please honor FOF's assessment of the trail, and tread exceptionally lightly or stay off entirely the section between Committee Crossing and Meadow Lake for the next few weeks.

I'll post up road pics in the next day or so, the gravel road and dirt road between Jackson Meadow Road and Meadow Lake is mostly dry and in good shape, with a little rutting. What snow remains is RAPIDLY melting.

Randii

with all these posts about staying off the trail and treading very lightly where is a post about moving Sierra trec to another weekend due to trail conditions? Just saying

with all these posts about staying off the trail and treading very lightly where is a post about moving Sierra trec to another weekend due to trail conditions? Just saying
Fair enough question.... the recommendation was to stay off the trail for a couple of weeks, and our event is 15 days from the date of that recommendation.
The FOF recommends staying off the upper part of the trail for a few weeks. If you must travel on that part of the trail please TREAD VERY LIGHTLY! There is already evidence of rutting going on which will have to be repaired.

Cal4WD permits Sierra Trek years in advance with USFS, and the many moving parts, secondary permits, leases, rentals, and contracts make it VERY difficult to change dates at all, let alone with short notice. Sierra Trek volunteers will be working education and announcements in camp and at the drivers' meetings before each trail run to minimize impacts, and working with the Friends of Fordyce on trail projects to mitigate impacts. Cal4WD has a long history with Fordyce Trail, indeed, it was wrestled back from abandon and overgrowth by Cal4 volunteers preparing for the first Sierra Trek. With that long history, we well-understand how special this resource is to all OHV-ers, and the importance of treading lightly and pitching in with maintenance.

Come join us at Trek work weekend if you want to pitch in on the road into Meadow Lake, and if we have enough crew, we can go work the top end of the trail, as well. These will be small efforts, draining standing water or clearing existing drainages, but experience has shown that a weekend's worth of work up front can really help!

Randii
Randy Burleson
2011 Sierra Trek Chair

Fair enough. That is the one weekend where enough responsible people will be up there. Always a great event!

just got back from there this weekend. the crossing at committee is a piece of cake. follow the map that was drawn out on page 1. my 42 wasnt even swallowed and the guy in our group with 37s made it with no issue what so ever. the first crossing before WH1 id have to say, is the deepest. water went into my cab there.

Just saw on the Dreamflows Bulletin Board that the river is projected to flow at 300cfs until August 8 or 9 when they will lower it for Sierra Trek. Supposedly information from PG&E.