WOW!
I can't start to describe how wonderful, beautiful, difficult, extreme, and just plain amazing this trail is. But, I will try to share the pics that we captured on our adventure.
Dirtman13, Rat Patrol, and I tackled this fantastic trail as soon as the water dropped for the Sierra Trek week. I am sure that as soon as all of us get home, we will post more of this memorable adventure, but for now, here are some of my favorite shots:
The real beginning of the Fordyce trail has a bypass. None of us took it and Rat Patrol took one of the hardest lines:
We made it to the first water crossing at 9am:
We didn't realize that the PG&E had only shut down the water flow at 7am. That would explain the seriously deep first crossing:
I have seen many pics of the trail on line, but no one has shown the many muddy sections of the trail. Let's just say that there are lots of muddy and slick places. Most are far muddier and tougher than this:
Fordyce Creek is famous for its 5 Winch Hills. But there are lots of tough spots before the first winch hill and between each of them:
When we got to Winch Hill #1, there was a broken XJ that we waited on for a couple of hours before we started trying to find a way around:
Even after we found a very difficult way around, the first Winch Hill didn't get any easier by any means:
We made it to the second crossing of Fordyce Creek late in the day:
There was a great campsite just across the water, so we made camp for the night. Great views from camp:
Unfortunately, Kurt and Chuck had a hard time finding a parking spot:
The next day, we continued on. The trail only got tougher as the day went on:
Until we got to Winch Hill #3. This probably hasn't been the toughest Winch Hill in the past, but after the recent winter, I have to say that Nature has made this one extremely difficult:
Winch Hill #4 and #5 are more difficult than most of the trail, but that isn't saying much. The whole damn thing is a challenge that will leave you smiling.
I can say that in my opinion, if you have less than 35s, two lockers, a winch, and other vehicles with you, just stay home! The only exception is the Sierra Trek event. From what I hear, they will make sure that a 33's and 2-locker vehicle makes it through.
All I can say is that this is a wonderful, beautiful, difficult, extreme, and just plain amazing trail!
I can't wait to do it again next year!
I can't start to describe how wonderful, beautiful, difficult, extreme, and just plain amazing this trail is. But, I will try to share the pics that we captured on our adventure.
Dirtman13, Rat Patrol, and I tackled this fantastic trail as soon as the water dropped for the Sierra Trek week. I am sure that as soon as all of us get home, we will post more of this memorable adventure, but for now, here are some of my favorite shots:
The real beginning of the Fordyce trail has a bypass. None of us took it and Rat Patrol took one of the hardest lines:
We made it to the first water crossing at 9am:
We didn't realize that the PG&E had only shut down the water flow at 7am. That would explain the seriously deep first crossing:
I have seen many pics of the trail on line, but no one has shown the many muddy sections of the trail. Let's just say that there are lots of muddy and slick places. Most are far muddier and tougher than this:
Fordyce Creek is famous for its 5 Winch Hills. But there are lots of tough spots before the first winch hill and between each of them:
When we got to Winch Hill #1, there was a broken XJ that we waited on for a couple of hours before we started trying to find a way around:
Even after we found a very difficult way around, the first Winch Hill didn't get any easier by any means:
We made it to the second crossing of Fordyce Creek late in the day:
There was a great campsite just across the water, so we made camp for the night. Great views from camp:
Unfortunately, Kurt and Chuck had a hard time finding a parking spot:
The next day, we continued on. The trail only got tougher as the day went on:
Until we got to Winch Hill #3. This probably hasn't been the toughest Winch Hill in the past, but after the recent winter, I have to say that Nature has made this one extremely difficult:
Winch Hill #4 and #5 are more difficult than most of the trail, but that isn't saying much. The whole damn thing is a challenge that will leave you smiling.
I can say that in my opinion, if you have less than 35s, two lockers, a winch, and other vehicles with you, just stay home! The only exception is the Sierra Trek event. From what I hear, they will make sure that a 33's and 2-locker vehicle makes it through.
All I can say is that this is a wonderful, beautiful, difficult, extreme, and just plain amazing trail!
I can't wait to do it again next year!
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