2021 Lunchtable Meet SHAVER LAKE, CA

Can you call it pizza without cheese?

 

Are vegans even people?

 

*blinks slowly*

 

Gonna go ahead and pull the plug on this trip this year. Not an easy decision but with rising ticket costs and the stupidity that is rental cars right now, that money will be better used somewhere else. Ill report back if I change my mind.

 

Rental cars are stupid expensive right now. Enterprise wanted over a grand for 6 days of a basic sedan rental for MO trip. Used my father's corporate discount code which knocked it down to just over $400.

I don't know what's driving the price hike on car rentals... demand I suppose.

 

A few years back I went to Seattle and the rental cars were ridiculously expensive. I found if you dig deep you can find smaller car rental places that have better deals. I rented a small compact car for $19 a day for a week. When we got to the counter they were out of small cars so they gave me a full size Volvo free up grade. The company is called SIXT https://www.sixt.com/car-rental/#/

 

Yeah I'm starting to see ads for smaller rental companies competing with the big ones. Issue for us, at least with this last trip, was that with our daughter and all we needed something we could easily pick up at the airport after we landed.

It's crazy too how opposed even the larger companies are about dropping a rental off at a different location than the one you picked it up. We nearly couldn't get a rental because they all want you to bring it back to the same location.

 

That sux. Why would they want to make it harder. I love how companies just don't give a shit about customer service anymore. I guess you cant really do an uber either from the airport to the car rental because of the car seat.

 

Yeah I've never tried Uber with a baby before. We had to rent a car seat from Enterprise and the ones they give you are an absolute joke lol. Basically a plastic tub with a blanket inside

 

Well with plane tix, rental, and probably 2 nights in a hotel by the airport I was looking at close to $1500. My house needs more insulation in the attic and a new fence, so Id rather get those taken care of.

 

Did you clean it before using it?

 

Bringing this up as we're not far from our date!

But I want to revisit a few trails mentioned and see what gets the popular vote; I've been hitting up members and asking questions from the infamous 559Yota's club and here's what they have to say -

Strawberry Lake
Brewer Lake
Red Lake (hardest of the 4)
Iron Lake (simplest of the 4)
Shuteye Peak (easy, but best views)


Hard trails, not recommended without lockers+sliders are -

Swamp Lake
Coyote Lake

These areas are all within an hour or so of where we intend to meet as we can still make a Bald Mountain run, but feel like we could be leaving some trails left on the table.

I need to get with the community as to where the best spots are to camp, not far from whatever trails we decide to hit.

@02hilux

Was a major help as I've talked to him about this a bit. Now that I'm moving out there soon, I may have a chance to scout out the area but want to see what others attending may want to do as well.

 

I'm able to confirm the dates we have up tentatively on the first page, Oct 22-24. I would probably make it one day longer myself just to have more than 1 full day, since the 22nd & 24th would be driving to/from home.

 

Yeah, I'd just assume travel on the 25th to give some more time.


This is of course assuming I don't hurt myself on my new toy:

 

Iron lake and shuteye peak is in madera county (I believe). Both are easy trail and regular 4x4 will get you there. If you're heading that direction and want a more technical trail, look up chepo.

Brewer is easy, a 4x4 will get you there. The hardest part is the last few hundred yard to the lake. Most folks will park and walk.

If your heading to red, I recommend going all the way to Coyote. The camp site and view is so nice better but will require locker, bigger tire, and sliders. The gate keeper at red going to Coyote will determine if you're able to make it to Coyote.

 

Or gather some knowledgeable and experienced wheeler and hit up dusy ershim.

 

Johnny, you're the main reason I had that list of trails, you've been really helpful

I guess my main concern is, camping.

Knowing what areas are good to camp on (BLM) if you've got any coordinates or maps to text me?