Committee trail access / crossing tips

[patfo]

Hey guys,

I've never used the committee trail or the crossing. With the flow expected to be around 80 for July I was thinking of heading in this way.

Can anyone provide any tips or instruction about going in this way? I know it's off the Cisco exit to the left and up the ridge. Looking at maps that part looks pretty basic. But what about turning off to head down to the creek? And then crossing the creek itself?

ps. I've done the trail numerous times crossing the other crossings at flow levels up to 280 cfs.

Thanks.

[CA_Snowtoy]

Just follow the signs to Fordyce Lake, then follow the road along the lake(the lake will be on your right), then take the next left(almost directly across from the last lake side camp sites). The road to Fordyce lake is 2wd, and the trail down to the crossing is 2wd/4wd. The trail splits just above the river, to the right is the easy way, straight is harder. Crossing the river isn't bad, basically take a straight shot across to the the trail on the other side. There is a good size hole to your left when crossing, but not likely very big w/only an 80cfm flow. The crossing (including the hole) usually isn't as deep as the first crossing is coming in from Eagle Lakes, sometimes you can just about walk across it without getting wet, at other times it can be deep and fast enough enough to float a rig, as was my first experience at crossing it back in '90.

[JDunn]

If you take the road just before the Cisco Grove camp ground on the left and follow it about 8 miles you will be at Fordyce lake. On the way in the is three y's in the road. The first two have signs that say Fordyce lake go left (at both). The last one is not marked and you need to go right if you go left you go up to signal peek. About 100 yards after the last one you hit the top of the hill and start dripping down to the lake. If you keep going up you went the wrong way.

After driving next to the lake for awhile you will see the trail on the left. It's just before the PG&E building. If you make it to the dam you went too far.

Follow the trail down to the river crossing. I was up last weekend and the water just hit my hubs.

Hope this makes sense.

[patfo]

Originally Posted by CA_Snowtoy

Just follow the signs to Fordyce Lake, then follow the road along the lake(the lake will be on your right), then take the next left(almost directly across from the last lake side camp sites). The road to Fordyce lake is 2wd, and the trail down to the crossing is 2wd/4wd. The trail splits just above the river, to the right is the easy way, straight is harder. Crossing the river isn't bad, basically take a straight shot across to the the trail on the other side. There is a good size hole to your left when crossing, but not likely very big w/only an 80cfm flow. The crossing (including the hole) usually isn't as deep as the first crossing is coming in from Eagle Lakes, sometimes you can just about walk across it without getting wet, at other times it can be deep and fast enough enough to float a rig, as was my first experience at crossing it back in '90.

Or even turn it over. Thanks for the info.

I'm fairly confident 80 cfs shouldn't be a problem but better safe than sorry.

fyi - flow is measured in cfs not cfm. 80 cfs = 4,800 cfm

[patfo]

Originally Posted by JDunn

If you take the road just before the Cisco Grove camp ground on the left and follow it about 8 miles you will be at Fordyce lake. On the way in the is three y's in the road. The first two have signs that say Fordyce lake go left (at both). The last one is not marked and you need to go right if you go left you go up to signal peek. About 100 yards after the last one you hit the top of the hill and start dripping down to the lake. If you keep going up you went the wrong way.

After driving next to the lake for awhile you will see the trail on the left. It's just before the PG&E building. If you make it to the dam you went too far.

Follow the trail down to the river crossing. I was up last weekend and the water just hit my hubs.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks JD. Makes perfect sense and matches up to what I can see on maps.

Any additional info on the crossing? Or with a Jeep on 37's is any flow below 100 not even going to be an issue?

Thnaks again

[RCKRATZ]

below 100 is no issue

[JDunn]

Originally Posted by patfo

Thanks JD. Makes perfect sense and matches up to what I can see on maps.

Any additional info on the crossing? Or with a Jeep on 37's is any flow below 100 not even going to be an issue?

Thnaks again

I wouldn't even think about it until it's 300+.

[Diablo169]

Just came through there on Sunday, Barely any flow at the crossing, didn't come close to budging my Jeep, it's maybe 30"s deep.

We ran it from Eagle Lakes to committee crossing and ended up back at our tow rigs at Cisco.

A badass trail, next trip we'll plan more time and run the whole trail.

[RCKRATZ]

Originally Posted by JDunn

I wouldn't even think about it until it's 300+.

With a small rig I would actually start to worry at about 200, but I guess it depends on the rig/driver/etc.

Videos of me crossing at 250 cfs last yr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQI34Zi8c7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoWFj...eature=related

[patfo]

Originally Posted by RCKRATZ

With a small rig I would actually start to worry at about 200, but I guess it depends on the rig/driver/etc.

Videos of me crossing at 250 cfs last yr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQI34Zi8c7A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoWFj...eature=related

Thanks Keith.

Don't know you personally but I know your reputation so your opinions count for a lot with me.

Thanks for the videos too as they show the line to take. But if the flow is below 100 then it probably won't matter much how we cross.

[RCKRATZ]

Originally Posted by patfo

Thanks for the videos too as they show the line to take. But if the flow is below 100 then it probably won't matter much how we cross.

Exactly