2020 NorCal Camping, Wheeling, & Shenanigans

Here is a good resource for the local area.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/notices/?cid=STELPRDB5290737

 

Every year I go out to the ranger station and pick up an updated vehicle map. I’d text pictures of my map and the road ahead to friends so that someone know where I’m at. Especially true when I go out by myself just to scout and familiarize myself with some new roads. Of course...I would take it easy and not wheel hard, as I like cruising the woods and enjoy some nature. So friends would make comments like “what!?!? You use maps?”” no apps? and other tools?. I would tell them when technology fails, you’d better have know how to read a map and use a compass lol!

 

I may talk a lot of shit, but I'm always willing to help when i can.

 

This is true, I’ve seen your willingness to help, I recall offering you a beer when you helped some random member here this past year

 

Hell ya! that's old school bro. I just download them, I dont explore a whole lot any more most everything is closed off now days. when i do i find more dead ends and gates.

 

I've been looking at the motor vehicle use maps for the last two days. Unless I'm misinterpreting their legend, Silver Fork is open. Looks like all roads off Silver Fork close 12/31 though.

 

11N40 is Silver Fork.


Legend

 

@2BeersPlease
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=fsbdev7_019037
Their site can be a pain to navigate. this page shows the 11n40 closed. both ends. before it closed it showed as scheduled to close 12/31. they have closed it sooner in past yrs.

 

I agree with this asshole...hes a good dude
..lol...jasons always down to help. Wrenching or pulling your ass out of a ditch...or talking shit to you on tw

 

The maps are only good to see the roads, most of are not even marked anymore. Back in the day they were slightly better marked, now days budget cuts don't allow for much maintenance so they roads get neglected or closed.
Their web site has improved over the yrs. You used to have stop in or call for latest info. I explored Silver fork last summer for the first time in near 20 yrs. only found one side road still open, all others dead end or gated with in 1/4 mile. the one still accessible was only a few miles long and just followed the main road. we used to get lost back there all day and never see pavement.

 

I dont want you pussy's getting soft on me.

 

Most cases, coming from the 50, there is a gate and sign saying closed in November. I have seen that gate open past then.

 

That's being kind. Their web site(s) downright suck from a UX perspective. Some of the pages I've been on don't even show you where you are with respect to the main navigation (e.g., breadcrumbs). There's no search function. Given the amount of content they have (and how shitty the nav is), search is a requirement.

 

I use topo maps for my backpacking trips. The GPS is handy mostly finding someone in the "big" city, very handy unless you're looking for the correct exit off the freeway and there is no way to get in the offramp lane or see over the big truck in front. For FS roads, the GPS is nice to see roads branching off, roads can be tough figuring out if they dont have the fiberglass paddle boards up, even then they could be a 100 or more feet past a intersection. You guys may need to update your wheels.
If dispersed camping , it is usually close to home, if further away, I'll hit a CG as I may not know the area. Last summer on my 19 nights out, if not backpacking, I stayed most nights in a CG that I had made reservations three months in advance in Idaho, Washington. Couple nights were drive up and take my chances, like Mt Rainer NP.
Duane

 

My kids and i have fished/camped silver fork for years now. Cant wait to get out there in the new rig.

 

Having to reserve campsites months in advance has been the hardest adjustment in California vs living in Oregon. I almost never know that far ahead just where I'll be going and when, so a lot less time in CGs these days.

 

On my 19 day trip, got home and realized one reason to hit northern Idaho was to maybe spend at least part of one day looking for recreation property, someplace to basecamp maybe if I want to look around or camp more up there, failed to look. Have a friend in Libby MT.
I made reservations in case I drove long miles and didn't need to drive up numerous FS roads looking for a spot to setup. Only did that the first day out, thinking one spot I could camp, but drove another hour or more before locating a small, empty CG. With my Senior pass, some sites were $3 to $5 a night.
Duane

 

It's great how much more you can play it by ear up there. I spent a couple of weeks on dirt in Idaho in 2018 traveling all over the state and found some great dispersed sites, but it was nice to know if I needed a spot in a CG I could probably just grab one.