Summer in the West is a time to be joyful. The snow’s melted, grass blankets alpine meadows, and birds are chirping. This sounds sappy, but it’s true — yet many people sit on their duffs and take it for granted. That is unless your weekend gig is pulling your rig out of the garage and heading for the high country.
If this fits you and your mates, then you should be heading to Meadow Lake during the second weekend of August. The event? It’s the 45th Annual Sierra Trek, and if you haven’t been there for a few years, it’s time to get back in the saddle. Last August, we hooked up with the California Association of 4WD Clubs (CA4WDC) near Truckee, California, for four days of the best summer fun the West has to offer.
In 1966, the inaugural year, the Sierra Trek was a simple two-day affair of a few dozen Jeeps, Scouts, and Land Cruisers, and a BBQ on Saturday night. Over the next four decades, they added a bar, live band, kid’s games, vendor displays, a 4x4 show, and eight additional runs. By the 1980s, Sierra Trek had become one of the West’s premier family ’wheeling events. The event was cancelled in 2007 due to massive wild fires and moved to a campground near Cisco Grove for the following two years. The trail rides were still great, but for thousands of Trek regulars, the blue waters and alpine grasses of the Meadow Lake basin had become an annual family vacation destination. The Cisco Grove venue just wasn’t the same, pressure was growing for Trek’s return to Meadow Lake, and 2010 was the year.
The Sierra Trek may not have...
The Sierra Trek may not have the world-wide reputation of the Rubicon and Jeepers Jamboree, but it is by far one of the best events we’ve been to. On a scale of difficulty, we’d give the Fordyce trail a 9 (the Hammer Trails being a 10 and the Rubicon Trail scoring an 8).
In 2008, the Fordyce Trail was inducted into the BFGoodrich Outstanding Trails Program. While the Sierra Trek also offers SUV, historic, and intermediate trail rides that get plenty of participation, the Short Wheel Base runs along Fordyce Creek get all the glory — and for good reason. This is one technical trail. Though the trail is only a dozen miles in length, it presents a non-stop barrage of boulder-strewn obstacles and tight squeezes through granite crevasses.
Case in point: Before you get to Sunrise Ridge — a narrow section with a sheer drop-off to your left and vertical precipice to your right — you’ll know just what I’m taking about. There are a total of five winch hills, which have a full-time staff of volunteers to assist participants.
The Buggy Invasion
In addition to the return to Meadow Lake, big changes for 2010 were liberal adjustments in vehicle restrictions. Basically, rock buggies, which were previously excluded due to their width, are now in the game. It’s not that they can’t make the trail — many of these guys have flat out mastered every line — but rather Trek always had track-width maximums and required a spare tire, and many buggies run 40-inch tires and don’t have room for spares.
Back in the 1960s, the Sierra...
Back in the 1960s, the Sierra Trek was a Jeep run with a few International Scouts, Toyota FJ40s, and maybe a Ford Bronco or two.
Hey, I know how it is to be excluded. During my first Sierra Trek in 1984, I received many a sneer from old-school Jeepers. You see, it was the first Trek where they allowed those “rice-burning” Toyota pickups. (Until that point, the trails were apparently too difficult for us). The only reason they let them in was to carry all the trail lunches (the Jeeps didn’t have enough room). Of course, we Toyota guys were young, stayed up too late, and played our music too loud.
So, in my opinion, bringing the buggies into the fold is a good thing. The Fordyce 4-Wheelers pioneered buggies on the Sierra Trek by volunteering to staff Winch Hill No. 3. This year the Rock Zombies were on board, with palm trees, bikini girls, and leis, at Winch Hill No. 5.
Sierra Trek kicks off near...
Sierra Trek kicks off near Indian Springs with the Thursday morning SWB run.
Fordyce Creek is one of the...
Fordyce Creek is one of the most picturesque settings in the Sierras. Tall pines, firs and cedars lined the trail, and precipitous granite walls rose to the north and south as we descended the trail to the first river crossing.
Fordyce Creek often runs at...
Fordyce Creek often runs at impassable levels (250 to 400 cubic feet per second). Sierra Trek weekend is the only time each year when PG&E, who manages upriver releases, reduces the flow to allow passage.
Jeep invasion! There were...
Jeep invasion! There were several Sierra Trek attendees who have been to the event for four decades straight.
Last year Friends of Fordyce...
Last year Friends of Fordyce worked with the Forest Service to create a bypass around a swampy area of the trail. The result kept everyone out of the mud, but may have created another winch hill.
The Toyota Hilux invaded the...
The Toyota Hilux invaded the trail in the early 1980s, Suzuki Samurais followed suit, and now it is rock buggies.
The Sierra Trek trail guides...
The Sierra Trek trail guides are handy with a wrench or a winch line, and are responsible for getting everyone to camp.
Sierra Trek has a standing...
Sierra Trek has a standing rule on the winch hills. If your headlights are off, the winch crew will provide guidance. Turn your lights on and the spotters get out of your way.
Winch Hill No. 1, at mile...
Winch Hill No. 1, at mile 7.5, is one of the most difficult sluice boxes we’ve seen on an organized run. About half the vehicles, including mine, required assistance from a winch to get through. (There is a bypass.)