2007-07-08 (OrangevaleFJR) Sierra lakes, views, Tahoe National Forest, great day and a lot of dirt roads.

I have been itching to use my DRZ400SM that has its dirt wheels on to go explore in the Sierra. I lit out of Orangevale at 9am and basically slabbed 60 miles to fill up at Emigrant Gap before I headed off the beaten path.

I was heading to a place where in 1866 people branched out of the main gold mining areas to strike their claims in more remote places. The good thing about all this gold mining is that we have roads to places and trailheads that would simply be too difficult otherwise.

So, I often find myself thanking the hearty prospectors that searched the Sierra for gold. Often time they created wonderful mountain towns for us to visit, other times they dammed lakes to allow for their hydro cannons so they could strip away the earth from the rock. We are left with many, many lakes that PG&E deftly utilize for hydroelectric power and wonderful roads into the wilderness that let us find them.

I hope that my age leaves similar such things behind that are of use and a pleasure to visit. The Internet? Rovers on Mars? Skyscrapers made of metal and glass? Cinder block walls between our roads and our neighborhoods? Stories about trips on motorcycles around this beautiful world? Who knows what will be the most coveted by who? But today, I coveted access to places that I could never have visited in a short 8 hour day without these roads and my DRZ.

Heading up Bowman Lake Road, it starts off with tar that takes me past two rivers, the NID Ditch and some nice views.

Just before I got to Bowman Lake, I found this couple relaxing after a slow and scary ride up a pretty nasty dirt road. He said he won't be bringing his full dresser up here again.

I have a lot more, but the software is screwing with the formatting if I post one after another...so I'll just wait and post later.

Posted 09 July 2007 - 10:17 AM

Post to let Andrew continue with his post.

That makes no sense unless you read Andrew's other post about posting. Got it?

IBA #33287

Posted 09 July 2007 - 10:36 AM

QUOTE(twowheelnut @ Jul 9 2007, 11:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Post to let Andrew continue with his post.

That makes no sense unless you read Andrew's other post about posting. Got it?

Thanks twn

Catfish lake is a natural lake. I may assume incorrectly, but I imagine the miners stocked these lakes with catfish to provide a food source.

There were three small lakes between Bowman and Meadow Lake. I saw 5 inch long juvenile catfish in each one. This picture shows them feeding in the shallows.

I wouldn't mind living at this lake as long as it wasn't frozen! At 7,774 feet, you can be sure this place is cold in the winter.

There are camp sites at all the lakes. My DRZ looked good in this one.

Here is the smallest lake of the day. I'm not sure what it is called, but it had a family of water birds with tiny chicks that hid as close to rocks as they could and utilized their camoflage. I bet you can't see them in this picture, but I happen to know three were in sight.

I saw a few cars, a few ATVs and 2 KTMs today.

"Riding Moto-Bike is great fun, I want to hear the stories, I'll never come close to many of these wonderful accomplishments, but I love to hear the stories, I love to dream ...these extremes capture my imagination. Amazing feats." -- RenoJohn|We all live our amazing stories from our perspective and when I read a good story with a good feeling about a bike, I get it.|Watch your temper, I have cows! try me

Posted 09 July 2007 - 11:35 AM

QUOTE(twowheelnut @ Jul 9 2007, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Post.

Hey Slappy?

Thanks again

The flowers were out.

I took this road...

someone post quick!

Posted 09 July 2007 - 11:36 AM

Post. Oy.

IBA #33287

Posted 09 July 2007 - 11:37 AM

...I parked here

and took these shots

Then I sit down and ate lunch...my first ride report food shot:

I added to a rock wall

I saw this weird in ground bee/wasp type insect nest thing

just one more

Posted 09 July 2007 - 11:39 AM

Then I rode some more

Meadow Lake

The original granite dam capped with cement.

This sign is about the only thing left of the ghost town other than the dam.

There was a helipad, but I think that is new.

A water crossing.

I like the granite that is exposed in these hills. I often wonder how much was stripped away to reveal it, or if these rocks were standing here all along.

Bear River at its small point.

Rides like these are a gift. I'm lucky, thankful, and passionate. I have never ridden dirt before this year and I am getting much more comfortable with it now. I think riding 60 miles on some pretty technical at times stuff helps a lot

Done...

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2007-07-08 (OrangevaleFJR) Sierra lakes, views, Tahoe National Forest, great day and a lot of dirt roads.