27 replies to this topic

[craig333]

Ran the heater then the ac, all in one day. Pretty much as expected the weather improved the further east I went. Surprised how little snow there was. Top of Carson pass before I could find a spot to let Riley play in the snow.

Thought about stopping along 88 but I felt good and pushed on for Centerville Flat campground. Glad I did as Monitor Pass still looks kind of mushy. A couple from Sacramento camped sorta close to me, near enough I went over and said hello and checked to see if their two dogs were friendly. They were. If you need anything let me know I said. The kind of thing we say but don't really expect to get taken up on. Hour or so later the gentleman comes over to my camp. He mentions he sort of "forgot" the tent. Oops. At least his SUV was okay for sleeping in.  Borrows a lighter to light his campfire. Sure glad I can't forget my tent   I've camped here half a dozen times and never saw the plaque. Its a bit away from the main camp.

Next morning the weather was looking pretty good and I head on into Bridgeport for breakfast before hitting the Green Creek turnoff and heading over to Ted's spot. Riley took the lead. 

Not a lot of snow in the area but one impassable spot just before the camping spot.

There was a way around but I decided to tread lightly and turned around. Found another spot with a sort of view of Mono Lake.

The weather started getting worse. Time for a campfire.

This was right near the intersection to the Kavanagh Ridge trail. Never heard of it before. The ridge is on my for

est map but not the road. If I'd had brought the Jeep along I'd definitely of checked it out.

A dusting of snow and some light rain and even a Rainbow if you look hard North of the Lake. I forgot my Nikon so just cell pics.

 

Morning brought a decent sunrise and some scattered patches of snow.

I did run the heater to keep the dog warm. Not for me Ran up to Trumbull Lake to look around. Only three vehicles at the trail head. Kind of goes for the whole trip. Probably the lightest Memorial day crowds anywhere that I've ever seen. Took a detour into Lee Vining for breakfast at the Whoa Nellie Deli. I made it all the way back to the MET before the sun was out. Found a nice campsite along the Silver Fork Road to finish off the trip. Felt good to finally get out. The fridge worked okay as an icebox but it wouldn't have if it had been a warmer trip. My ribeye thawed out just in time.

[craig333]

Almost forgot. For all the weird weather, no lightning or thunder or even heavy rain. 

[ski3pin]

Craig, looks like you had a fun time and Riley got some snow time! Kavanaugh Ridge Road - when not snow covered as it is now - is not too bad except for the very tight turns wandering through the lodgepoles part way up. Our last time up to the top -

 

Into the Smoke

 

Where did you camp along Silver Fork Road below MET? I ask because we drove up out of Silver Fork to MET/Iron Mountain Road around 4 Sunday afternoon. You would not have recognized our vehicle but we would have known yours.

 

Thanks for the trip post!

 

Oh, and nice looking steak. Riley help?

[klahanie]

Nice pics, I esp like the sunrise set. Looks like a good, quiet, get away trip

 

surprised to see the snow, but that's a good thing.

 

we had/have a big snow pack here in BC and fire season has already begun :-(

[takesiteasy]

Nice country. Looks like Riley had a good time. Thanks for the pics and the report.

[craig333]

I suspect snow would have blocked Kavanagh at some point. Nice to know I don't need the Jeep. Riley got to have a little bit of steak. Dead end road maybe a mile and half from the MET. I'd barely setup camp when a motorcycle went by. As he came back I inquired how many were camped further on. No one. Of course just as I start to nap a Forest Service Jeep drives by then someone towing a new trailer headed down the road. A bit unusual to see someone arrive on a Sunday. 

 

Riley always enjoys his camping. He's a tired pup today. For a moment I worried about rattlesnakes but the same weather that made it bug free...Riley was a bit disappointed with the lack of critters to chase. Not one deer this trip. 

 

I forgot to mention. We did hunt for the elusive Pliny before turning around. Those are pretty skittish on Memorial Weekend. 

 

Memorial reminds me. Need to bring the flag in. Not looking forward to the first 90 degree work day

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Craig, have you considered snake aversion training and anti venom vaccine?

[Ronin]

This one was just too close for comfort. I usually let them go off on their own but it's an uncomfortable feeling wondering if it could be hanging out somewhere in my garage or on my rig as this one was last week!

Sorry to get off topic so I'll add that we went from 50* on Friday to high 80's yesterday and occasional sound of distant thunder.

 

 

 

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Edited by Ronin, 29 May 2018 - 05:08 PM.

[Bseek]

Ronin - scary, that is just too close. 

 

What do you guys mean by MET?  I assume somewhere off Hwy 4 or 88?

[ski3pin]

What do you guys mean by MET?  I assume somewhere off Hwy 4 or 88?

 

Mormon Emigrant Trail (MET), aka Iron Mountain Road runs through the Eldorado National Forest from Jenkinson Reservoir to Highway 88 at the old Iron Mountain Ski Area. It makes a nice shortcut from highway 50 to highway 88 in the summer as it follows a ridge top. It is a Forest Road and is closed by snow in the winter. It is part of the historic Carson Route of the California Trail and was the most heavily used route into California during the Gold Rush. The route was founded by members of the Mormon Battalion (Mexican American War 1846) as a route from California to their new home in Utah in June 1848. After crossing the Sierra, in Nevada they ran into the first of the immigrants flooding into California overland after the news of James Marshall's discovery of gold at Coloma in January 1848. Being told of the new route, most followed the fresh tracks of the Mormons emigrating from California.