WFO

[exskibum]

Rad -- this one is shorter than Friday's Big Dog several pass ride by at least a third. Just guessing -- I'm a luddite without a GPS and have just been wandering around these hills for years by seat of pants. To clarify: the benevolent dictator et al. threw out a number of ride routes on the WFO site which in one way or another cover or overlap what I'm proposing. So, it's hard to take credit for suggesting new routes. All I'm doing is combining some of them and some additional back road connectors -- pretty much like I'd ride myself, whether by myself or with a couple others. And nothing is private about this ride. I figure we're all friends with a common love and I'd love to show you some of where I love to ride. My only criteria is a safety one, and that's why I'd prefer to have multiple smaller groups of 8 or less than a big parade. We'll accommodate getting following groups caught up along the same route.

So, I'd be most happy to have you along on this Hwy. 49 ride (assuming no one else objects -- ). I agree with Mike -- I think it's one you'd enjoy. Probably stop for refreshments or lunch in Downieville and/or Nevada City and/or Truckee, depending upon time of day. No question that we'll be stopping to relax, throw some spring or river water on our faces and take some pics. More relaxed time frame than Friday's Big Dog. Don't know that there will be much chance to park there (it being Sat., but we are on bikes), but I will certainly stop at a spot on the Yuba between Downieville and Nevada City that is probably one of, if not the coolest sunbathing, swimming, hiking and skinny dipping place I know of in the area. (Just in case anyone is back out this way with a hankering to go for a ride punctuated with a nice cool dip in a beautiful river with a huge batch of pools.)

 

[radman]

Then count me in.

 

[DocDanDC]

Looks good to me to! That Hwy49 will take us thru many of the Gold Rush towns and maybe Sutters Mill is near too. Very good riding.

I wonder how many are going to get there on Friday early in order to do a Friday Ride and not just the check in at the end of the day?

 

[exskibum]

Looks good to me to! That Hwy49 will take us thru many of the Gold Rush towns and maybe Sutters Mill is near too. Very good riding.

Sutters Mill is south of Auburn and north of Placerville (aka Hang Town) on Hwy 49. The part of 49 included in this ride is further north and east than that. If you want a really fascinating gold rush fix, try to get to the Museum in the historic courthouse in Auburn (you can't miss it just to the south of Hwy 80 in old town Auburn). There are 3 or 4 museums in Auburn, which was really the heart of the mercantile trade in those days, Claude Chana's discovery site was there in Auburn Ravine, Pony Express, Wells Fargo, the transcontinental railroad -- wayyyyyy too much history to cover here. If you're into that sort of thing, the place to start is Auburn at the museums and go from there. That's not to say that there isn't a LOT of history all along and off of 49.

 

[Groo]

I'm interested as well! After Friday's Big Dog ride, a shorter one sounds like just the thing since I'm getting up in the middle of the night to start my BBG to Kansas City Sunday AM...

 

[Blueliner]

Another picture of the Hilton

What you can expect is vapid conversation and a desire to wash very well.

Soooory, I couldn't help myself.

WFO looks like it wil be a lot of fun. I wish I could have gone! Hopefully next year.

 

[radman]

Another picture of the Hilton

Seperated at birth?

 

[odot]

You guys really have to stop beating down on my wife.

 

[Groo]

You guys really have to stop beating off on my wife.

I corrected your typo odot, no thanks necessary...

 

[odot]

OK...now it's time to throw that illegal video away that you own. Can you do that?....groo?....can ya? Bet you a dollar you can't.

 

[Groo]

OK...now it's time to throw that illegal video away that you own. Can you do that?....groo?....can ya? Bet you a dollar you can't.

Can't throw away what you've never owned... so I guess you're right! 'Sides, she's a primo level skank if there ever was one...

 

[Bluestreek]

I did most of this route last Sunday and including the side trip to N.Shore Tahoe and the Mt Rose Hwy its about 260 miles

 

[Groo]

I was planning on riding a Hwy 49 route on Saturday, Andrew. Probably go north on 395 from Reno to 70 West, then quickly south toward Sierraville and over the usual route along the Yuba River to Nevada City. Get off on Brunswick Road in Nevada City to take 174 back to Colfax and then old Hwy 40 back (all but the Baxter to Cisco Grove section that has to be done on 80) to Truckee, then 267 to Kings Beach, 28 to Mount Rose Highway and then back that way to Reno and the Hilton.

Was putting the above into my GPS, and was doing fine until I get to Colfax. Nothing I have shows old Hwy 40 to Baxter... I'm guessing that starting at Cisco Grove, that Donner Pass Rd. is equivalent to old Hwy 40, but can't get there from Colfax, other than on I80...

 

[madmike2]

Yes, it is Donner Pass Rd. from the campground @ Cisco Grove East over Old Donner Grade. There are back roads from Auburn through Colfax to Gold Run (IIRC) but I don't remember them 'cuz I was trying to follow exskibum, who has run them many times.

 

[odot]

Hm...donner pass....I'm getting kinda hungry now.

 

[kaitsdad]

Hm...donner pass....I'm getting kinda hungry now.

Yep. It'll do that to ya. Last time I was through there, I needed a toothpick.

:blink:

 

[exskibum]

Yes, it is Donner Pass Rd. from the campground @ Cisco Grove East over Old Donner Grade. There are back roads from Auburn through Colfax to Gold Run (IIRC) but I don't remember them 'cuz I was trying to follow exskibum, who has run them many times.

I won't try to explain the Auburn to Colfax super secret back way(s), but if you take old Hwy 40 from 174 just north of Colfax, then at Gold Run, after crossing back over to the north side of the freeway, we make a left on what I think is called Lincoln (?? -- a small inconspicuous uphill tee intersection off the Gold Run frontage road that dead ends a ways up if you stay on it), go over the tracks, and then proceed more or less parallel to 80 between the RR tracks and the area that was hydraulic mined 100+ years ago. Back across the RR tracks and left at the tee onto the road that runs between the Dutch Flat exit on 80 and Dutch Flat, but we stay on that good sweeper stuff until we make a left to go through Alta (is that called Bonnie Doon?), proceed through Alta to Baxter, where we have to get on 80 east. Like I've said, until you ride it a couple or three times from both directions, it's damn near impossible to remember where to turn, and I'm not at all surprised it's tough or impossible to find on a map or to program into a GPS. Between Baxter and Cisco Grove, you have to take 80 -- when 80 was built in the late 50s, it took the right of way for 40 through that area.

 

[Bluestreek]

Yes, it is Donner Pass Rd. from the campground @ Cisco Grove East over Old Donner Grade. There are back roads from Auburn through Colfax to Gold Run (IIRC) but I don't remember them 'cuz I was trying to follow exskibum, who has run them many times.

I won't try to explain the Auburn to Colfax super secret back way(s), but if you take old Hwy 40 from 174 just north of Colfax, then at Gold Run, after crossing back over to the north side of the freeway, we make a left on what I think is called Lincoln (?? -- a small inconspicuous uphill tee intersection off the Gold Run frontage road that dead ends a ways up if you stay on it), go over the tracks, and then proceed more or less parallel to 80 between the RR tracks and the area that was hydraulic mined 100+ years ago. Back across the RR tracks and left at the tee onto the road that runs between the Dutch Flat exit on 80 and Dutch Flat, but we stay on that good sweeper stuff until we make a left to go through Alta (is that called Bonnie Doon?), proceed through Alta to Baxter, where we have to get on 80 east. Like I've said, until you ride it a couple or three times from both directions, it's damn near impossible to remember where to turn, and I'm not at all surprised it's tough or impossible to find on a map or to program into a GPS. Between Baxter and Cisco Grove, you have to take 80 -- when 80 was built in the late 50s, it took the right of way for 40 through that area.

huh?

The ride from Nevada City up Hwy 20 to Cisco is a nice ride and a lot less complicated. Just a thought.

And maybe a side trip to Washington( old gold mining town with an old hotel where you can get a cool beverage) off hwy 20. the road is a hoot.

 

[exskibum]

huh? The ride from Nevada City up Hwy 20 to Cisco is a nice ride and a lot less complicated. Just a thought.

And maybe a side trip to Washington( old gold mining town with an old hotel where you can get a cool beverage) off hwy 20. the road is a hoot.

:lol: I know you came DOWN the hill this way a little over a year ago, since I was leading and you were in the pack. Like I said: you need to see it from the other direction.

To each his own, but to me, Hwy 20 to 80 (from about 5 miles east of Nevada City to 80 anyway) isn't all that interesting -- maybe I've driven it in my car too often. There ARE some really interesting spots for hiking, backpacking, skinny dipping, mountain biking, etc. not far off of that road, and a dual sport would likely be a blast from there. And Washington is interesting -- down a long canyon road to nowhere else -- 30 years ago, you used to be able to cliff dive from the bluffs on the north side of the river and slide down some natural rock water slides on the south side of the river past Washington on the dirt road, but it was long ago fenced off and posted. 174 to old 40 is more fun to me, longer, and since I've ridden it so many times, it isn't complicated to ride all the old 40 route. I just enjoy the twistier stuff, the nearly total lack of other traffic and the scenery and nostalgia of the old Hwy 40 route. No reason we can't have a group going one way and another going the other.

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

I was planning on riding a Hwy 49 route on Saturday, Andrew. Probably go north on 395 from Reno to 70 West, then quickly south toward Sierraville and over the usual route along the Yuba River to Nevada City. Get off on Brunswick Road in Nevada City to take 174 back to Colfax and then old Hwy 40 back (all but the Baxter to Cisco Grove section that has to be done on 80) to Truckee, then 267 to Kings Beach, 28 to Mount Rose Highway and then back that way to Reno and the Hilton.

Was putting the above into my GPS, and was doing fine until I get to Colfax. Nothing I have shows old Hwy 40 to Baxter... I'm guessing that starting at Cisco Grove, that Donner Pass Rd. is equivalent to old Hwy 40, but can't get there from Colfax, other than on I80...

Can you or someone who has the Garmins explain how to plan routes on the GPS. I have the 2730. I would like to do waypioints or planned routes but haven't figured it out. Help if you please. Thanks Mike