Water crossing tips

[alwaysfixin]

We are traveling 600 miles and plan to run the Fordyce trail on Monday and then Rubicon and Barrett later in the week. We have never ran Fordyce before. I have searched and found that you don't drive straight through on the water crossings.

It appears on the first crossing you should enter the water and then head downstream for about 20 feet then turn towards the shore and right before you get to the end you turn and exit on the trail. Correct??

What about the other crossings??

We will be driving jeeps on 35's.

[WHITE RHINO]

here is committee on sunday
YouTube - white rhino snorkelin across fordyce at committee
YouTube - Duble It takin a bath at committee crossing on fordyce

[RCKRATZ]

Originally Posted by alwaysfixin

It appears on the first crossing you should enter the water and then head downstream for about 20 feet then turn towards the shore and right before you get to the end you turn and exit on the trail. Correct??

That is correct. Just an fyi Jeep Jamboree is on the Con July 31 - Aug 2

[R290]

Good Vid's as you can see why you might want to think about pulling a belt on those mech. fans. Your correct on the first crossing, as it keeps you out of a hole. Just watch somebody else cross with same sized tires and you will see how deep it is
.

[Tinman]

Do you mean this coming Monday? If so please check the water release numbers. Because of pending work on Fordyce dam the water release is not constant or dependable. Very possible to pass one crossing and then get stuck when the release goes up. Post up when you're coming and I'll try to get you a projected water release figure.

[Tinman]

So those youtube vids are at somewhere around 230 cfs. You see how much it pushed the Jeep around.

By the way, I have an electric fan which I turn off when I cross. I'm on 42's and it still shoots water like that. The belts and pullys pick it up and fling it anyway. Fan can't get sucked in though.

[Tinman]

You're correct on #1. On #2 you really have no choice but to go straight across and it really rips. It's deepest right in the middle too. #3 isn't usually a problem. It's a two part crossing and isn't usually very fast or deep. Committee is the worst. If you drop straight down the hill heading at the opposite shore exit you'll dip the front and then just have to bomb across. If you start downstream you need to head upstream near the shore and cut right when you reach the point of the exit between the trees and then go straight across. If you start downstream and head right for the exit there is a huge hole in the middle of the river that'll swallow you.

Alwaysfixin, if you want Pm me and we'll exchange phone numbers. Since you've never been to Fordyce before I would really like to talk to you in person. We've had a rash of rigs drowning lately. One guy and his family even had to be airlifted off the top of his rig. Just last weekend a guy that has about 30 years experience on the trail hydrolocked his motor and killed it. Had to be towed out totally dead.

[alwaysfixin]

I appreciate all the responses. Bret, I will PM you. We don't have to do Fordyce on Monday. Maybe Wednesday, or maybe we can sign up for Sierra Trek if it is not full yet. This is our only trip this year. We don't want to have a Jeep down for the whole week after just one trail. It looks to me like 35's won't cut it at the level of water shown in the videos.

[WHITE RHINO]

the flow was definitely varying thursday through sunday. It was noticibly much higher heading back to camp at fordyce lake each night. I was getting pushed around quite a bit and my truck is heavy and on 44's. The other crossing after winch hill 1(heading towards committee) was also really deep.

If the flow was any higher id advise going in through the meadow side and playing around on those winch hills the head back out. My buddy in the white cj got pushed quite a bit when it was at the lowest point of our trip and didnt want to risk getting swamped going through on sunday when it was ripping. Although the Cj on 35's and a YJ on 36's made it though each time just a little butt pucker factor
committee


YJ on 36's -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2PDv62O0rQ

And a full video of everyone in my group but me
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NILrViMBmnM

the other crossing after wh1




more pics:http://section8krawlers.com/simplema...08.msg6480#new

[RCKRATZ]

Originally Posted by alwaysfixin

I appreciate all the responses. Bret, I will PM you. We don't have to do Fordyce on Monday. Maybe Wednesday, or maybe we can sign up for Sierra Trek if it is not full yet. This is our only trip this year. We don't want to have a Jeep down for the whole week after just one trail. It looks to me like 35's won't cut it at the level of water shown in the videos.

You can for sure sign up for Sierra Trek. Not sure when they will cut the flow down for the event, but it goes to a trickle. If you decide to go that route make sure you stop and say hey at Winch Hill 3 as we will be up there working as usual

[RCKRATZ]

Originally Posted by WHITE RHINO

the flow was definitely varying thursday through sunday. It was noticibly much higher heading back to camp at fordyce lake each night. I was getting pushed around quite a bit and my truck is heavy and on 44's. The other crossing after winch hill 1(heading towards committee) was also really deep.

If the flow was any higher id advise going in through the meadow side and playing around on those winch hills the head back out. My buddy in the white cj got pushed quite a bit when it was at the lowest point of our trip and didnt want to risk getting swamped going through on sunday when it was ripping. Although the Cj on 35's and a YJ on 36's made it though each time just a little butt pucker factor

Good job going through the big hole at committee

You going to come pick up the chain I borrowed some day or what?

[navy-jeepster]

Plenty of openings for Sierra Trek.

Talking to Bob Reed last weekend at the Central District meeting, the registration numbers are down this year for Sierra Trek.

Please come and support Cal4 and watch FOF get their presentation from BFG.

Todd

[Tinman]

Trek is definitely a good bet for a first timer on the trail. PG&E reduces the flow to a trickle, there's plenty of help on the trail and winch hills and the main camp goings on are always a good time. You can also meet all the playa's that support this great trail.

[Tinman]

Water flow will be reduced for Trek on August 4th. Schedule is "as soon as we can get someone up there that day."

Release will be substantially increased following Trek (400-500 CFS) so don't even think of going unless you're planning on staying one one side of the river. Release will be recalculated based on how much water remains so there is no set schedule.

Looks good for lower flows for our September 19th work day to start cutting the new trail.

[WHITE RHINO]

hahaha keith thats funny i totally forgot

[BlackWidowCJ]

Here is me a few years ago on 33's at he commitee crossing. The tub was filled with water. I also have an incab snorkle. As I said this is a few years ago before I knew what and cared about what I do now. Were a seatbelt and don't sit on the cooler.

[stoneyxj]

YouTube - kent crossing committee at fordyce

[R290]

You can always run a winch line arcoss first like these guys.

YouTube - Fordyce Creek Crossing

[uda]

might wanna check if Barrett is open......

[HEAVY METAL]

water crossings... i live in bc candada and we have a ton of rivers too cross while we are wheeling. the one method that works best for me is backwards. ever notice ona boat the bow is pushing water up .. same with a truck...if you back thru it.. it sjust pushes against ur box and ur motor in dry. i have entered a river and came out hundereds of feet down shore, but always with a dry motor with this method.

[YJ kyle]

Originally Posted by Tinman

Post up when you're coming and I'll try to get you a projected water release figure.

Do you know what the water levels will be for friday 7-31 to Sunday 8-2?

[Savage100]

Hey White Rhino, did you get any pics of my tan toyota with the sr5 decals on it? I was the one with Soft taco, the guy with the broken hub at the top of wh 1.

For the original poster, i made it through all the crossings with 35's last weekend when it was 230. Comittee was close though, almost hydrolocked. I came up from downstream and cut across like others have said. The other crossings were fine though.

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by YJ kyle

Do you know what the water levels will be for friday 7-31 to Sunday 8-2?

I haven't checked for the weekend but I think it's safe to assume the current water release will continue until they lower it for Trek on the 4th.

Right now it's between 220 and 230. Tuesday it goes down to something like 50 CFS

[Flash- '00 TJ]

Originally Posted by uda

might wanna check if Barrett is open......

It opened July 11. You can call (530) 647-5415 for more information.

[alwaysfixin]

Well everyone in my group backed out. I have been wanting to do this trail for three years. My wife and I decided to come any way. We won't be doing the other trails, but we will be doing Fordyce. We signed up for Sierra Trek. See you all there!