Topaz Lake - Multi-nighter
Topaz Lake; runs to Mt Patterson, Deer Valley, Hope Valley, etc. Jim C/Gary R lead
9/28 - Travel/Check-in to Topaz Lake
Lodging and/or camping at the Topaz Lodge Resort Casino, RV Park. Some folks like to stay at the hotel and others camp, the RV resort associated with the casino/resort. Information at topazlodge.com
9/29 through 10/2 (Mon-Thurs):
Daily runs through eastern Sierras and Hope Valley. Options include Bodie Ghost Town, Dundeberg Meadow area, Hope Valley Trails, all are favorites we have done in the past but exploring new runs can be fun as well. Generally speaking, stock Jeeps can to pretty much everything, everyone in club has rigs capable. The schedule will be made upon consensus of the attendees. By the way, if we have more capable rigs we can seek out and explore harder runs. We can always split into two groups, one easy and one hard depending upon what we want to do.
10/3 Fri - Mt. Patterson
Mt Patterson: A favorite mountain run to the peak of My Patterson, at 11,600 ft altitude, it’s one of the highest places in California the you can drive to. If clear of clouds, smoke. or haze, it has spectacular views. Most of the time it is beautiful this time of year, but it can get quite windy (bring a good jacket), and if there are fires in Central California, the smoke can be bad. The trail goes past Lindell Lake, through aspen forests, a few steep switchbacks, up to the peak which is well above the timberline and there is occasionally still a couple of snow patches. The trip down the other side ventures through pinyon-juniper forests and a highlight is the ghostown of Belfort. Depending on out mood and/or energy level, we can stop at Rosie’s Place Mexican Food in Wellington NV. Although a pretty long day of travel, there are no technical spots that require lockers or big tires.
10/4 Sat - Deer Valley
Deer Valley starts at Blue Lakes past Hope Valley and runs south to Highway 4, then back over Ebbetts and Monitor Passes. Fun run but is pretty technical, 35” or bigger tires preferred, 33” can make it but expects lots of scraping over rocks. Anything less is NOT RECOMMENDED!!! This is another long travel day. A subgroup continued to Slick Rock Trail, which is also pretty technical, but didn’t get back to camp (in Hope Valley that year) until around sunset and they said it truly was a very long day. Which spurs the following thought, instead of Deer Valley, we can do just Slick Rock. For now, it is Deer Valley, but we can discuss any and all variations as a group.
10/5 Sun - Travel TIme
Travel day