• Hi everyone,

    As you all know, Coffee (Dean) passed away a couple of years ago. I am Dean's ex-wife's husband and happen to have spent my career in tech. Over the years, I occasionally helped Dean with various tech issues.

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    Thanks for your patience and support!

Ride report; Deer Valley Rd -- High Sierras

MorrisBetter

MorrisBetter

Husqvarna
AA Class
Apologies to those of you that don't ride in Northern California.

A friend (Keith) and I did a ride in the high Sierras this weekend. We plotted a course from Hwy 88 (Kirkwood) to Hwy 4 via Highland Lakes Rd. past Blue Lakes, and down (south on) Deer Valley Rd. Garmin Basecamp indicated that the southern end of Deer Valley road was "trail". I've ridden "trail" before, and I'm OK with a little adventure. What we found was FAR more then we expected.

Deer Valley is serous rock crawler territory. Unless you are prepared for serious rock garden up-hill and down-hill don't attempt this "road". It was without a doubt the most difficult riding I have ever attempted. By the time I made it to the south end of the trail, I was completely exhausted. Hands down the most difficult 6.6 miles I have ever ridden.

There was some fun. This is a river crossing that was fun;river_crossing.JPG river_crossing.JPG
 
What? No photos of the rocks?? This is the one that drops you onto HWY 4 at Hermit Valley, right?
You should try the Slick Rock "Road" on the western side of Lake Alpine. It's probably easier but still has
some stunning scenery.
 
The road to Deer Valley runs south off of 88 past Blue Lakes. Highland Lake is south of 4 and the road pretty much dead ends.
Unless I'm missing something...
 
These pictures don't show how steep this is. I ended up pinned by my bike against the rock on the right foreground in the first pic after coming to a sudden stop due to the rock in the middle. The second pic is looking down from above. Being a late 50s sea-level dweller, this 7,750' altitude torture track kicked my donkey big-time. The pavement of Hwy 4 looked like heaven to me.

big_rocks.jpglittle_rocks.jpg
 
WoodsChick said:
What? No photos of the rocks?? This is the one that drops you onto HWY 4 at Hermit Valley, right?
You should try the Slick Rock "Road" on the western side of Lake Alpine. It's probably easier but still has
some stunning scenery.
Click to expand...


Yes, that is the one. I should have known when I couldn't find parts of the "road" on G-earth. There is also a dearth of pictures from the south end of the road on G-earth. I'll fix that. Basecamp called it a "trail". I guess it was a road at one time, but it's just a rock half-pipe now.
 
I went on that trail once. they had a jeep elevated from trees trying to swing it out of a mud hole. the people were having a bbq as it would be an all day event! dan
 
MotoXotica said:
I went on that trail once. they had a jeep elevated from trees trying to swing it out of a mud hole. the people were having a bbq as it would be an all day event! dan
Click to expand...


I'm not surprised. It's a serious stretch of terrain. Aren't you happy to see that bike you sold me doing what it's designed to do? As not-fun as it was at the time, I'm glad I did it and have a story to tell. Adventure before dementia!
 
It helps if you go around the rocks.....:D
I bet you are a better rider now from that challange. my first trip with my 310 was the rubicon trail and it kick my butt the first day, but after I was cruising through the rock gardens like it was almost open trail. That place looks like fun...does it get harder
 
MorrisBetter said:
These pictures don't show how steep this is. I ended up pinned by my bike against the rock on the right foreground in the first pic after coming to a sudden stop due to the rock in the middle. The second pic is looking down from above. Being a late 50s sea-level dweller, this 7,750' altitude torture track kicked my donkey big-time. The pavement of Hwy 4 looked like heaven to me.

View attachment 31976View attachment 31977
Click to expand...
That is no trail thats a hiway! jk glad you shared with us.
 
bent70 said:
It helps if you go around the rocks.....:D
Click to expand...

Well, I didn't have much choice. Just prior to hitting the rock, my front wheel was nowhere near the ground. I had just flamed out two times and wasn't about to let it happen again. It was fun until I hit the rock.
 
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