Organized Event: Sierra Trek 2010

[Russ Chung]

Sierra Trek is the granddaddy of the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs (CA4WDC) events. It has been held in the Tahoe National Forest near Truckee, CA since 1966. But in 2007, due to a record drought and wildfires, the Tahoe National Forest closed all 4x4 trails, forcing the cancellation of the event. In 2008 and 2009, the event was moved to Cisco Grove, just west of Donner Pass on Interstate 80. The Cisco Grove base camp was adequate but not as popular as the traditional base camp at Meadow Lake. In 2010, Sierra Trek returned to Meadow Lake.



The base camp included the registration and T-shirt booths, a vendor exhibit area, a dining area and showers. Like Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon Trail, the registration fee for Sierra Trek includes meals with the great trail runs; however, the Sierra Trek registration fee is much lower because the entire event is run by volunteers.

[Russ Chung]

Day 1 - The Fordyce Trail

The centerpiece of Sierra Trek is the “short wheelbase run”. This run traverses the Fordyce Trail, starting near Eagle Lakes and ending at Meadow Lake. It is a highly technical trail. CA4WDC requires locking differentials and 33-inch tires for the run; it also warns that body damage is possible. The Charles Wells Guide to Northern California Backroads and 4-Wheel Drive Trails ranks this trail as the most difficult trail appearing in the guide (the Rubicon Trail ranks second). The trail crosses Fordyce Creek three times. Often, the creek is impassable due to high water until late summer or fall, but a unique aspect of Sierra Trek is that PG&E restricts the flow of water in the creek during the event. Another unique aspect of Sierra Trek is that five difficult sections of the trail are designated as winch hills where spotters and winch equipped vehicles are stationed to assist as needed. 4WD clubs assume responsibility for a particular winch hill and they are usually stationed at the same hill year after year.

In addition to the short wheelbase run on the Fordyce Trail, Sierra Trek offers several intermediate and SUV runs on trails in the area. In 2005, my Jeep was completely stock, so my participation in my first Sierra Trek was limited to the intermediate and SUV runs to Barker Pass and the Bear Valley Loop. Having recently equipping my Jeep with lockers and 33-inch KM2 tires, I wanted to test my rig on the Fordyce Trail. I didn’t know anyone on the run, but it was nice to know that assistance would be readily available from the Trail Committee if needed.

The fastest route from the Meadow Lake base camp to the staging area near Eagle Lakes involves a 50-mile highway journey through Truckee. I signed up for the Thursday, August 12th run. Staging for the run was scheduled to start at 5:30 am, and the run departure for 6:30 am (sunrise was about 6:00 am). This necessitated a departure from Meadow Lake at 4:00 am. Many participants set up camp the night before near the staging area, but I didn’t want to carry my camping equipment with me on the trail, so I set up camp at Meadow Lake, set my alarm and went to sleep. Before my alarm went off, I was awakened to the sound of vehicles starting up and leaving for the staging area. I got up, got dressed and left camp shortly before 4:00 am. I stopped for gas in Truckee, and discovered to my dismay that the Starbucks in Truckee wasn’t open that early. I arrived at the staging area just after 5:30 am; there were about 25 vehicles ahead of me in line. Although the maximum of 50 vehicles had signed up for this run, only 38 showed up for the start.



The trail leader was Jim “Uncle Willie” Harris. He is one of the Sierra Trek old-timers and has been leading the short wheelbase run for over 15 years. At the drivers meeting, he said that he hoped to get everyone to Meadow Lake in plenty of time for dinner (6:00 pm). He said that the first part of the trail is relatively easy, and if you are having a lot of trouble on the first part of the trail, you should take the escape road at the third water crossing because it only gets worse after that.

The start of the trail is relatively easy:







It gets rockier as we approached the first water crossing. Trail Committee members were stationed just before each water crossing. Their job was to check each vehicle for leaks before it was allowed to cross the creek. In addition, oil-absorbing booms were stretched across the creek below each crossing:





Can you see the color bands on the rocks along Fordyce Creek that show how deep the water normally gets?



The weather was sunny and dry and the temperature was in the low 80s. Perfect weather for wheeling. These vehicles are on Winch Hill #2:



Shortly after this photo was taken, on the section of the trail known as Launna’s Hill, the yellow YJ ahead of me broke a u-joint on his rear driveshaft.



I had tools and a spare U-joint and I stopped to help. We were able to replace the broken U-joint, but the centering ball and yoke were damaged and we didn’t have spares, so the repair was only a temporary trail fix. By the time we got back on the trail, it was nearly dark, so I didn’t get any more pictures. We discussed and rejected the idea of returning to the escape trail. That would have necessitated a fifty-mile drive to return to Meadow Lake, versus about three more miles on the Fordyce Trail. We remained in touch with the Trail Committee; they were behind us escorting another disabled vehicle up the trail and the crews were waiting for us at each winch hill. We arrived at Meadow Lake base camp at about 10:00 pm; they held dinner for us.

[Russ Chung]

Day 2 – Relaxing at Meadow Lake

I had planned to run the top end of the Fordyce Trail again on Friday. The run stages at Cisco Grove, takes the escape trail toward Fordyce Lake, crosses Fordyce Creek and then joins the Fordyce Trail up Winch Hills 3, 4 and 5 to Meadow Lake. However, the run stages at 5:00 am, which would necessitate another early morning departure from Meadow Lake. After spending eighteen hours on the trail on Thursday, I decided to sleep in instead. Rick Holstein, who owned the disabled YJ, invited me to join him and his family at the lake; he had brought a canoe and two kayaks to Sierra Trek.





While at the lake, Rick introduced me to John Peragallo. John is from Riverside and drives a TJ Rubicon. We agreed to meet in the morning to do the River Run together.

[Russ Chung]

Day 3 – The River Run

Saturday's River Run started at Meadow Lake headed down the Fordyce Trail to the creek crossing, then back up to Meadow Lake. I ran the upper part of the trail in the dark on Thursday evening, so this gve me my first chance to see Winch Hills 3, 4 and 5 in the daylight.

Going down Winch Hill #5:



The turn around point at Fordyce Creek:



Winch Hill #3:



We arrived back at Meadow Lake in mid-afternoon. I had time for a swim before dinner and the raffle. On Sunday morning after breakfast, I broke camp, packed the Jeep and headed for home. During Sierra Trek, I had run the entire Fordyce Trail once, and the upper portion of the trail two more times. We had to stack rocks to get over a few obstacles, I was hooked up on Winch Hill #1 to get over a ledge and I was strapped once when I got stuck between Winch Hill #4 and #5. Overall I was very pleased with the way my Jeep performed on the Fordyce Trail and I’m looking forward to next year’s event.

[Mike]

Nice pics Russ. I am hoping to get to Fordyce after the water level drops in the later part of Sept or Oct.

Are there any decent camping spots between the Committee Crossing and Meadow Lake or is it all uphill?

[platnumb4x]

What a great trail report, thanks for all the pictures and the detailed report. Its amazing that event is hosted only by volunteers. Im gonna look them up sounds like a great group of people.

[platnumb4x]

Silly me I guess I skipped the part where you said it was hosted by CA4WDC. I have heard of them and they appear to be a great group.

[Russ Chung]

Nice pics Russ. I am hoping to get to Fordyce after the water level drops in the later part of Sept or Oct.

Are there any decent camping spots between the Committee Crossing and Meadow Lake or is it all uphill?

Mike,

According the Pirate4x4, PG&E will reduce the amount of water released into the creek around September 13: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showp...3&postcount=10

A different post in the same thread on Pirate4x4 says that a flow of 270-280cfs at the committee crossing was up to the bottom of my headlights. (45 inches)" http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showp...18&postcount=3 When I crossed at that point during Sierra Trek, the water only reached my rock sliders (about 24 inches).

I've attached a chart of the PG&E water releases before, during and after Sierra Trek.

There are no camping facilities along the trail, but the clubs that operate the winch hills set up camp adjacent to their hill. There is an established campground at Meadow Lake. It has vault toilets, tables and fire rings. It is operated by PG&E and there is a $15 per night charge.