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Snow Mountain Run in Mendocino National Forest

18K views 255 replies 23 participants last post by  lowranger 
#1 · (Edited)
Snow Mountain Run in Mendocino National Forest, June 22, 2013

Update on Pre-Run:

I did the pre-run to Snow Mountain on Friday, May 31st. The route I planned took much longer than I had anticipated so this will be an overnight run. The first day we'll leave from the Chevron Station in Upper Lake (corner of Hwy 29 and Hwy 20) at 9:30AM on Saturday, June 22nd. We're going to loop around the North side of Snow Mountain Wilderness area, coming out at Stonyford, then through Bear Valley and out onto Hwy 20 at Hwy 16. There's a lot of great views and beautiful country on this trip.

It will take us about 4 ½ hours (approx 44 miles) to get to Bowery Flat where we'll camp which has a small creek. Once we leave the main Bear Creek Road, the remaining 30 miles will be much slower because we'll be in first and second gear.

There are no facilities at Bowery Flat but there is one at West Crockett camp which is about 2 miles from our camp. I chose Bowery Flat because there's a nice open meadow where we will have plenty of room. Once we get to our campsite, there are numerous trails to explore if you want to keep wheelin after you set-up camp. There's also Bear Wallow trailhead that goes into the wilderness area for those of you that like to hike (approx 2 miles from Bowery Flat).

On Sunday, June 23rd we'll leave Bowery Flat at 9:00AM. It will take us approx 6 hours from Bowery Flat to Hwy 20 and 16. We can stop in Stonyford for those that may need gas (it's 73 miles from the starting point at the Chevron Station in Upper Lake to Stonyford).

Total miles from the Chevron Station in Upper Lake to Hwy 20 and 16 is approx 103 miles. You may want to bring extra gas if you plan on exploring some of the other trails once we get into camp. I'll have a map to show you the extra jeep trails right outside of camp. For those of you that may want to hike into the wilderness area, I can show you that on the map as well.

Pictures are on page 7.

Lady drivers are welcome :highfive:

The List:

Goldielocker: CB radio & FRS radio
titomars: CB radio
rosajeep28: CB radio
RonKat: CB radio
villageidiot13: FRS radio
xbcasey: CB radio
FirstsilverLJ: CB radio
Steve and Amy:
 
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#48 ·
Okay you're right the vegetation is different, however the terrain is very close to the same it it's dirt and rock roads. With trails that lead off very similar to the area of Indian Valley or Cow or Hull or Bartlett. The terrain is all the same in Lake county. With the exception of foliage.
Depending on the rout in and or out we should try Love Lady Ridge. It's a steep loose gravelly climb, it can be fun. The gravel is under the dirt and it makes it very "interesting." I've seen stock rigs make it with open diffs when locked rigs couldn't you just never know how it will go. Cause you made it once doesn't mean you will make it next time. And with every rig it gets harder. Just a thought. If life will let up enough I am planning on going this time.
 
#49 ·
Hey Goldie,
Thanks for the link. I have been to Stonyford years ago dirtbiking. Looks fun. and yes that was me that got seperated from the pack.
IVR--I was waiting for the rig behind me and lost the guy in front. Went to find the guy behind me and he was gone. So much for being the good samaritan.
plus my !@$%!! antennae for my CB kept falling off. :rolleyes:
 
#57 ·
Thanks! those are very cool too. I am putting mine through a few changes. I removed the Jerry can mounts and converted them to hold Roto-Pax cans. Installed shocks, they did not come with them from the factory.
Next going to convert it to a 3 axis hitch. I have to have the hitch ready by the slick rock run. ;)
 
#65 ·
Yeah but that one assumes you have a welder capable of making some decent penetrating welds. I have a cheap HF $80.00 flux core welder.
I have the materials list and blue prints for that one but decided against it because of lack of correct tools i.e. a decent mig welder. But I could slap one together in a few hours if I had the welder.
 
#80 ·
It was order #44. It was a toss up between the Lock N Roll and another brand.
It boiled down to the fact that I liked the engineering of your company's product better.
 
#84 ·
Hey JDXX: Good to hear that you're considering joining us. It's a great group of people.

We're going for the pre-run in the next couple of days so we will have a better idea of timing, miles, etc. There are at least 3 creek crossings that we crossed when we tried to make the run a couple of months ago (had to turn back because of snow). We will post info and photos when we get back. Since you're coming a long way, you may consider camping. We plan on doing a loop and where we're planning on coming out has numerous campgrounds. Just an idea. Campgrounds are at a lower elevation, so it will be a lot warmer.
 
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