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| Sierra Trek, CA - August 2000 | Short Cuts | ||||
| by: Randy Wheeler and Vance Anderson. |
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Photos by: Randy Wheeler, Vance Anderson, Dan Hoover & Brad Maberto.
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Meadow Lake, California-The 34th Annual Sierra Trek entered into a new millennium of four wheeling this year. Since Ed Dunkley organized the first Trek back in 1966, this event has attracted a faithful following of hardcore 4-wheelers and their families who come back year after year to challenge each of the five Winch Hills on the short wheelbase run.
The short wheelbase run is the premier trail of Trek and consists of roughly 10 miles of scenic trail that winds through lush forests, crosses Fordyce Creek numerous times and scales some of the finest granite the Sierra Nevada has to offer.
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| On the Fordyce Creek Trail |
The short wheelbase run starts at the staging area located off Interstate 80 near Cisco Grove. Staging usually begins around 4 a.m. with an army of volunteers who get the hot coffee going and set up the registration tables. As the sun begins to come up, rigs start lining up in preparation for the vehicle safety checks and last minute preparations. The staff did a fantastic job of getting all the rigs checked and headed out on the trail.
The first couple of miles of the Fordyce Creek trail traverse through tall pine trees and relatively mild terrain. The first challenging terrain on the trail is Sunrise Ridge, where a boulder-strewn downhill section can leave a rig very off-camber if you don't watch the line (one of the rigs in our group had a near-roll here). The slow crawling down to the creek is a good warm-up for the challenges ahead. The first creek crossing can be hazardous if not for the fact that the Forest Service reduces the flow coming from Fordyce Lake during this event. Even with the reduced flow, the first creek crossing is still about 2 1/2 feet deep.
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3-wheel'n atop Winch Hill #1. |
Once past the first creek crossing, the trail winds up through the trees and past some pretty spectacular pools. Climbing out of the riverbed, there are Bashful's Rock and Devil's Rock to get the drivers' attention. Old Man Mountain is off to the left. Several places along the trail proved too tough for some rigs and soon the CB was crackling with reports of broken axleshafts, spring hangars and driveshafts.
Winch Hill #1 is a long steep climb over loose rock and culminates at the top with an off camber rock ledge. The spotters at Winch Hill #1, representing the Cal Sierra 4x4's, did a great job of getting the rigs up and through this tough hill. The "V" rock at the top of the hill is a great place to catch some 3-wheel'n action as rigs balance on the last obstacle.
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Looking down the loose & dusty Winch Hill #2. |
Once past Winch Hill #1, the trail winds through some lush forests and to the second stream crossing. The slippery boulders and tree roots on the far side made it a challenge for some. Then, it's on to Winch Hill #2. The spotters from F-Troop were handing out beverage coolers at the bottom of the hill with the words "I made it up Winch Hill 2" printed on the side. This winch hill was pretty much a straight shot up some loose rock with a tight turn at the top. I don't think many rigs had much problem with this hill.
From there, it was off to Winch Hill 3 and the "mother of all squeezes" as some would say. Between Winch Hill #2 and Winch Hill #3, the trail crosses Fordyce Creek (third crossing) and over Squeeze Rock as the trail passes into higher and higher elevations.
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Winch Hill #3 - "The Mother of all squeezes". |
Winch Hill #3 routes drivers through some tight s-turns at the bottom then up into the squeeze. The spotters on Winch Hill #3 give you two options, the easier bypass on the left or the narrow rocky chute on the right. Rigs with wide axles or extremely large tires are often too wide to clear the squeeze and many of these rigs have wedged themselves between the rocks. I heard of one report of a rig that got wedged between the rocks and it took over an hour to get the rig extracted using two winches and a strap. With 120-plus rigs running the trail, delays like this can really back up the trail in a hurry.
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Winch Hill #4 - still more tires in the air. |
A short drive up the trail to Winch Hill #4 provided some good trail time and also some time to relax while waiting in line for this Winch Hill. Even with the staggered staging times, it seems that with breakdowns and slow trail conditions, delays are bound to happen. It's just part of Trek. Winch Hill #4 is a long, steep climb over large granite rocks at the bottom then up a rocky ledge up another rock shelf. Winch Hill #4 provides a good opportunity for photographs as it's a short hike down from Winch Hill #5.
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Winch Hill #5 - the final climb. |
The trail from Winch Hill #4 up to Winch Hill #5 has a couple of nice climbs and one off-camber section over a tall cement/asphalt ledge. The trail winds up through the tall trees and over loose granite rocks. The rusted equipment along the trail used to support the Meadow Lake Mine. The first turn up Winch Hill #5 is a sharp left turn up a steep rock face then another sharp right turn through loose rock and dirt. The final left turn at the top provides good photo ops as rigs are directed close to the large rock outcrop on the left. Drivers then must negotiate several deep holes to clear the hill and finish the trail. Winch Hill #5 is a short drive from the main camp at Meadow Lake and is often packed with people and photographers looking for some good action shots. Remnants from the Excelsior Mine atop Winch Hill #5 are evident along the road.
The short wheelbase run is a fantastic trail and offers some of the finest 4wheeling the Sierras have to offer. The technical nature of this trail will test both driver and rig as it traverses over numerous obstacles. This trail also offers some of the best scenery in Northern California. Please note that the Forest Service reduces the flow of Fordyce Creek specifically for Sierra Trek. If you plan on running this trail before or after Trek, keep in mind that the creek crossings can get pretty deep!
Thanks to the CA4WDC staff and the many volunteers who provided support and trail coverage on the Short Wheelbase Run. These folks did an outstanding job of keeping the trail open and moving, supplying support for those unfortunate rigs who had mechanical breakdowns, and making sure each and every rig got off the trail safely. I'm looking forward to next year's Sierra Trek!
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