Who's in? I'm in for a 3 day, but you could leave on Sun if you can't get Mon off.

Deer Valley

Required mods:
IFS rigs: sliders, at least a 32" tire, and some kind of lift.

Sat 9/08

9am
McDonalds
6800 SANTA RITA RD
PLEASANTON, CA 94588

11am
Raley's
781 S State Highway 49
Jackson, CA 95642
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=raley\'s&near=jackson,ca&z=14&om=1

We should be at the trailhead by 1pm with plenty of time to wheel to camp and set up.

CB8 FRS12

Sign-up:
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1. Huey (pleasanton)

I'm in. I have never run this trail, should be fun. Where are we camping? I might take some extra time off and meet you guys there.

Sign-up:
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1. Huey (pleasanton)
2. Josh + 1 dog and camp kitchen (Truckee)

Casper

I can meet up w/ you guys. My wife wants to see the Sierra in the summer, and that would be a great place to take her. Though I don't think I'll have my truck ready for this trip though.

bummer.

All-

Note that the Safeway in Jackson is no longer in business.

Instead, meet at the Raley's shopping center, located about 1/2-mile past 88/49 intersection on Hwy 49.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&geocode=&q=raley\'s&near=jackson,ca&z=14&om=1

Love to go, but I will be in Hawaii!

Sign-up:
--------------
1. Huey (pleasanton)
2. Josh + 1 dog and camp kitchen (Truckee)
3. Matt (p-town) (Sat and Sun)

Totally forgot about the Safeway thing, but fixed it. Thanks Dean.

Matt (zoojunkie) you are more then welcome to ride with me if your rig isn't ready. What do you need done to it before the trip?

Josh we will be camping at Deer Valley camp : http://www.californiajeeper.com/deerval/deervalley.PDF it will be at the 2nd river crossing if you are going from HWY88 to HWY4. I can get you a more specific way point tonight.

Well, since it is about half way thru, I will camp somewhere else. It looks like we are going in vea HWY 88..??
If thats the case then I will probebly stay at lower Blue Lake and meat you at the trail head.

Casper

Methinks sliders, 32" tires, and a lift. :p

and probably a new radiator...sigh.

My radiator decided to spill its guts today at work, I haven't had a chance to examine it yet, but after filling it up in our parking and driving home, it's still full of water! ?? I'll take a closer look at it this weekend.

-Matt

Ditto with Zoojunkie. I'm so down for this trip but my rig is no where near ready for it. I plan on gettin my sliders and bigger tires soon but not that fast. If anyone's rig has room and doesn't mind me riding along, Im still game.

Here's some motivation, this is a really fun trail.









- Matt

I think you forgot one Matt!

:p Probably not gonna have that problem this year, though. We'll be lucky if there's any water flowing at all!

That is motivation! Someone take me!!!! Por favor!!!

If my wife and dog don't end up joining me for this trip, you can ride shotgun.

My work is requiring me to fill out my availability form by the 20th of this month. That's why Im asking around. haha. If you could get back to me by then, it should be golden road for me.

LOL

As for water, it was bone dry when I was up in the area in July. All the snow up at the top was already gone when we were up visiting, so I doubt it'll be as wet as the picture of Dean needing a pull.

-Matt

Andrew- tell ya what. You can ride along even if Connie comes. I've had 2 passengers plus gear plus dog at Deer Valley before. It will just require a little more shuffling of cargo, but it's definitely doable. Be prepared for a casual, kick-back trip, as the middle day (Sunday), we'll probably just relax at the campsite or go splash around in the creek.

Huey,
Do you have a gps location for where we are going to camp? I might try and see if I can make it into camp on Thursday. I can't wait to get out and do somemore wheelin.

Casper

Thanks Dean! I'm requesting it off ASAP. This trip should be a good preview for later trips as I get my sliders.

Sure:

N 38*34.283
W 119*54.867

Hmm...the NorCal Backroads & 4WD trails book has slightly different waypoints...

trail head:
N 38*36.285
W 119*55.283

camp:
N 38*34.182
W 119*54.491

trail end:
N 38*32.220
W 119*53.444

The trail should be a breeze for you from HWY88 to camp.

- Travel on HWY88 till you see the turnoff for Blue Lakes on your left (I assume you would take HWY89 to HWY88 toward Kirkwood).
- Take that road all the way to the lakes and campground.
- Once you reach the camp area keep to your left and start looking for signs for Deer Valley trail near the dam.
- Hit the trail traveling parallel to the waterfall for a bit
- You will hit the 1st water crossing within a meadow (pic where dean is stuck), just push on
- You will travel a ways and then hit water crossing #2. That is where camp is.

Your total trail time should be around 2-3 hours (going solo) depending on how many pics you take.

I would say just scout the immediate area around that water crossing for a good spot to camp. There are a few really good ones after you cross the stream. I doubt you will have any issue, but give me a call if you need more info.

Thanks Huey. I looked for the trail in the NorCal Backcountry Adventure book and could not find it. Is it under something other than "Deer Vally"?

Casper

You won't find it in that book, but there is a great trail near Blue/Red Lakes that is listed in that book in-case you have time and would like to explore a bit.

It is in the smaller book NorCal Backroads & 4WD trails listed under Deer Valley.

Josh-

Click here to see the route and campsite waypoint plotted in mapsource.

Click here to see the trail plotted in google earth.

Right-click here to download a Garmin Mapsource document that contains the track logs, waypoints, etc for trails in the Sierras.

Right-click here to download a google earth .kmz file that contains all of the waypoints and tracks in the above-linked mapsource file.

BTW, I highly recommend Garmin's free upgrade to the latest version of Mapsource.

The blue Xterra in Matt's pictures looks familiar. Hey! That is my Xterra.

I remember Dear Valley. It's the place where my Xterra got its first body damage (dented wheel well fender). I had a blast in that place, though. It was a very memorable trip.

I moved to the Portland, Oregon area. I miss the NCCX 4 wheeling trips in the Sierras.

Any one gone 4 wheeling in the Pacific Northwest? How is it like here? Haven't gone wheeling ever since I arrived. Because it rains here more often, I might need to install M/T tires now instead of the A/T tires I currently have.

Rommel

OMG! Rommel! No wonder we never heard from you anymore! You sorta just "disappeared." When did you move to Portland?

Dean,
Thank you for the maps. I actually figured out how to import them to my laptop gps. I have to say I love it. There were several other trails in that download. Was that every trail you have recorded?

Are there any changes to this trip? Any more people joining. I am still planning on heading in on Thursday and camping a few extra days. I will probebly head straight to the camp site and then drive out(maybe) and meet you guys at the trail head on Saturday. What cb and frs channels are we using.

Casper

The trails in the file I linked are just a subset of all of the trails I've run. I only included waypoints and tracklogs from the Sierras, but I also have data for Death Valley, Utah (including elephant hill, 7 mile rim and golden spike), and Colorado.

Are you using Bootcamp on your Mac to run the software? How do you like that new Macbook?

I love the new MacBook. I am still learning things, but it is preaty user friendly.

As for the laptop gps, I am not useing the mac, I am using my old compact laptop. With only the Garmin gps 18 software on it it does faily well. I just wish it had a better antenna. The one that comes with it loses signal quite easily. It recovers very fast, however if I am trying to record a trail it stops recording and starts a new track. You don't happen to know of a better/more powerful antenna that I can hook up via usb port do you?

Casper


P.S. I would love to get copies of your map files one of these days. If you feel like sharing. :p

What s/w do you use with the gps? nRoute?

Yep.

Casper

I would recommend the Garmin Mobile10 which has the more sensitive SirfIII chipset, but you'll need a USB/bluetooth adapter for your laptop to use it. If that's not really an option for you, try placing the GPS18 on the roof of your truck for the best reception.

When I have a chance, I'll send you my full MapSource .gdb file that has hundreds of waypoints, and dozens of track logs.

I do have the antenna in the middle of the roof with nothing blocking it. As for the Garmin 10, I guess I could try that, do they make a bluetooth addapter that I can plug in?

The mapps would be great. I will owe you a dinner for that.

Casper

Yes. This is just one example . For similar products, google for "bluetooth usb adapter".

Is everybody planning to stay for 3 days? I'm not sure if I can take Monday off or not, so I might only go Sat/Sun. If anybody else is thinking of going, but can only go for two days I'd be happy to lead a group out on Sunday.

- Matt

Sign-up:
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1. Huey (pleasanton)
2. Josh + 1 dog and camp kitchen (Truckee)
3. Matt (p-town) (Sat and Sun)
4. Geoff (P-town)

Leave on Monday Matt!

Sign-up:
--------------
1. Huey (pleasanton)
2. Josh + 1 dog and camp kitchen (Truckee)
3. Matt (p-town) (Sat and Sun)
4. Geoff (P-town)
5. Dean, Connie, and Andrew?

What do you guys think about planning for food? Hopefully that will cut down on how much everyone has to bring. How about two communal dinners? Everyone can fend for themselves for other meals.

I'll try and get to Cosco Friday and by some tri-tip for a dinner. Geoff, wonna meet up at Cosco? Also as Josh knows, I'm always in for yummy breakfast, so I'll bring extras of eggs and such.

For food, I agree. I would propose that we do the same as we did for Brewer Lake, but this time getting enough food to provide 13 meals (7 mouths to feed on Saturday, 6 to feed on Sunday).

Huey, are you bringing anyone else with you on this trip?

If anyone is OPPOSED to a communal dinner, please say so, in order that we can prevent overbuying.

Huey,
I can meet you at Costco.

I have already been planning what desserts want to try next.

Geoff

Sounds great to me. As always I am willing to cook, clean or just sit back and eat
Huey, I have all the spices and what not so why don't you figure out what we are eating for dinner and I will give you money at camp. As for breakfast, I can bring all that, so don't worry about that part. Just let me know how many will be eating.

Casper

OK guys, let's try this for the two dinners. Everyone participating should sign-up for something and remember you are feeding about 6-8 people.

Sat night:
Meat: Huy--Tri-Tip
Starch:
Veggies:

Sun night:
Meat:
Starch:
Veggies:

*Don't forget to keep receipts. We want to be fair incase some spend more then others.

OK guys, let's try this for the two dinners. Everyone participating should sign-up for something and remember you are feeding about 6-8 people.

Sat night:
Meat: Huy--Tri-Tip
Starch:
Veggies:

Sun night:
Meat: Josh--Pork Tenderloin
Starch:
Veggies:

*Don't forget to keep receipts. We want to be fair incase some spend more then others.

Sat night:
Meat: Huy--Tri-Tip
Starch: Geoff - cornbread
Veggies:

Sun night:
Meat: Josh--Pork Tenderloin
Starch:
Veggies:

Sat night:
Meat: Huy--Tri-Tip
Starch: Geoff - cornbread
Veggies:

Sun night:
Meat: Josh--Pork Tenderloin
Starch:Andrew- Rice-A-Roni *Im thinking cheddar cheese, but if any of you have a preference post now!*
Veggies:

Sat night:
Meat: Huy--Tri-Tip
Starch: Geoff - cornbread
Veggies: Dean/Connie - broccoli (or asparagus)

Sun night:
Meat: Josh--Pork Tenderloin
Starch:Andrew- Rice-A-Roni *Im thinking cheddar cheese, but if any of you have a preference post now!*
Veggies: Dean/Connie - asparagus (or broccoli)

BTW, I contacted the forest service, and they said that fires are not permitted except in developed campgrounds with metal firepits. So that means (unfortunately) no campfire at night. Propane BBQ's are permitted with a fire permit.

Ryan and I are in for all three days, woo hoo!

Since everything else is taken, how about I bring some stuff for breakfast? And stove-top popcorn of course.

Is our final count 8 people?

- Matt

Yea for skipping work on Monday!

Looks like 8 is the final number.

What is the plan for plates and utensils, do we each handle our own?

Both Huey and I have got plastic utensils to share, and I have paper plates to share. If you have special serving plates or utensils, bring those.

Oh yeah, one more thing- I'm bring the PETT toilet and a tent for it, so we'll all have someplace to, uh, avoid the need to dig a hole.

Seeing that we are heading out by way of Hwy4 I'll make my 1st pitch for running Slickrock on the way out on Monday. We will already be up there and have spent the gas. It just means we can't lollygag too much on Monday.

Slickrock

Enjoy the weekend. Too bad I can't make it out this time around.

I'd bring crabs to bbq.

After talking to Huy it sounds like he and Josh are covering breakfast as well. So, Ryan and I will bring some salads to go with dinner, and some other snack type stuff, and then pay money to those who spent more.

- Matt

You guys have an enjoyable trip?

The few pictures that I took.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/piett79/sets/72157601996282949/

Here are some more photos including Porthos, Josh's trailer, and the pineapple upside down cake.

Jose, the good trailer photos are at the end, let me know if you want high res versions.

http://www.blankwhitepage.com/gallery/deervalley20070908

- Matt

Ooops.. really need to update my sig.

33x12.5/760x/Dturdy/open/1310/right foot/318/42re/bent shift post/np249/2.7/D44A/open/33x12.5

Nice pictures.

...Why Huy towing Josh's trailer?

I was just "testing" it out.

Here are my pics (BTW, I'm too lazy to do post processing so these came straight out of the camera): http://www.flickr.com/photos/hogre/sets/72157602024055971/

Heres my batch of pics.
Pics!