Tahoe Turkey weekend wheeling

[Nomad 13]

So there have been a couple of posts in other threads about possibly wheeling around Tahoe the weekend after Turkey day.
Let's do a roll call and get interest level.
I'll be up in South Tahoe all weekend so I'm game for some fun, and the poor truck hasn't been in the snow since last season in Mammoth so it's about time.
Jump in if you're interested

[Nissan4Life]

Raining here now. I just came back from bounching around in the muck. Most of the snow has melted off at around 6K'. Rain should turn to snow tonight. The gates here in Truckee/Tahoe City area are still open. Will update you guys tuesday as to if they are closed frm sunday/mon's snow.

SOrry I will not be around this T day to join the fun.

[Nomad 13]

Thanks for the update! Looked like it was gonna now tonight.
In any case, the forestry roads behind lake Jenkins? in Pollock Pines are usually open unless there's a monster dump. Some fun trails up there in the snow, nothing really technical. Just as FYI in case they do happen to get enough snow to close the gates up by you.
I think JeniorNV had some recomendations around Carson or something too

[JeniorNV]

Originally Posted by Nomad 13

I think JeniorNV had some recomendations around Carson or something too

That was a "non-snow" suggestion for Carl in case conditions weren't right for snow wheeling. I don't think he's going to want to do the trail I suggested though, being so far from home. It's fairly intense.

Originally Posted by Nissan4Life

Raining here now. I just came back from bounching around in the muck. Most of the snow has melted off at around 6K'. Rain should turn to snow tonight.

I just drove over Donner Pass. You are right - most of the snow from last weekend's storm is melted away. They had chain controls in effect for only a 10 mile stretch, and there's hardly any snow even at the summit anymore.

I like the Dog Valley area for snow wheeling, but it's fairly devoid of snow right now. If there isn't another cold storm between now and Thanksgiving weekend, snow wheeling probably won't be happening.

[Nomad 13]

So my adventure could potentially be a hunt for snow pix
In any case, I'll find an excuse to get out and get my truck dirty and find some mud for the grom to play in.
Invite is still open for anyone who wants to get out in the hills.
Will probably be on Saturday as it looks like we'll be cruising the paddle wheelers on the Lake on Sunday.

[JeniorNV]

Pollock Pines is fairly close to where I'll be staying for Thanksgiving. But the way the forecast is looking, I seriously doubt there will be snow out there. You have anything in mind for a plan B?

[Nomad 13]

Given the current forecast that would probably be the best chance of seeing any snow, though doesn't look like there will be much if any.
Nothing very challenging out there unless there's snow but some great scenery and possibly a chance for some minor bushwacking stripes

Other than that there is always Yuba Pass or Emigrant Gap but that's a bit of a drive from the 50 side of the valley. Everything i know very well is farther down the hill towards EDH/Sac
What do you think? Do you have a preference between Saturday or Sunday? I'll be up there till Monday so either way...

[JeniorNV]

I think we should be flexible until after we see what this next storm system decides to do. Most of the stuff I'm familiar with is going to be off of 80 or in the Reno/Carson area, and I'd be able to provide "snow" and "non-snow" suggestions. I'm not vetoing the idea of wheeling off of 50 somewhere, I'm just not familiar with anything down there. If that's what you decide to do, I'm cool with it.

Are you hoping to find a challenging trail, or are you just wanting to go someplace scenic? Will you have the whole day available to you, or will you be pressed for time? I enjoy technical trails, but I'm also content just being on a dirt road someplace pretty, so it really doesn't matter to me what type of trail we do.

I'm planning on being in the Auburn area from Wed night through Friday at least. I can head back home anytime between Friday and Sunday. I could wheel on Sat or Sun, but if we were to do something that is closer to Auburn than Reno (like Pollock Pines), I would prefer Saturday.

I wish I knew whether suding was able to come and which day worked best for him, but I haven't gotten an answer from him yet.

[Nomad 13]

I'm driving up tomorrow so I'll be in the El Dorado Hills area starting tomorrow late afternoon through thurs and heading up to S Tahoe for the weekend.
I'd actually prefer something a bit more technical than just the Forestry roads around Pollock Pines/Sly Park though they are fun enough. If there is snow up there it can be pretty challenging but not so much without snow. I'd prefer NOT to break my truck with a 450 mi trip back to So Cal but it's big and capable enough to get through most class 3+ trails without too much difficulty.
That being said I'm game for anything I won't need a winch for (as i don't have one yet).
I'll have the whole day and either saturday or sunday will work for me as I'm there till monday.
The only wheeling areas off of the 80 I know are the Yuba/Emigrant Gap areas and some places I go mountain biking so if you know some more challenging stuff over there I'm certainly willing to follow your lead. I'd just really like to get out wheeling while I'm out there.
Thoughts? Any word from anyone else?

[JeniorNV]

My best suggestion for a kinda technical trail with low damage potential that's not too terribly far from SLT would be Hunter Lake Trail. It climbs to a high elevation, and I honestly have NO idea how much snow is up there right now with the recent "warmer" storm that came through. I have been told there is an optional loop at the lower part of it that is a little challenging. But if there is snow, we might not make it all the way through. I'm not sure how adventurous you're feeling. Most of my other ideas for trails that fit into the category of "sorta technical but not too dangerous" are going to be farther from SLT than HLT is. But the snow danger would be minimal.

This site looks like it has some good trails listed. I haven't done any of them (yet). Again, I don't know how the snow level will be on any of these trails.

Will you have internet access when you are up here? Either way, I'll send you a PM with my contact info. If you could do the same, that would be great (and your first name too because I don't know it ).

EDIT: The trail in my avatar pic might not be a bad one either. But it starts about 30-40 minutes north of Reno. I have some past trail runs listed at the bottom of the first post in my build thread. You might want to look through them if you get a chance and see if anything appeals to you.