NorCal Winter Camping

[stu454]

I'm new to NorCal, specifically the Bay Area. When I was back in Georgia my buddies and I would try to go camping about once a month.

Since I have been out here for a few months I now have a serious bug to camp. I also don't feel like waiting until the spring to do it. Anyone out here interested in buddying up and showing me the good spots to camp this winter? I don't mind the cold (I'm an Eagle Scout) and I have all of my own gear, except a campstove.

My Disco II is stock (for now) but I do have a fair amount of trail experience. Of course, I do know that a few inches of snow can make a graded gravel road feel like a killer trail!

Post up and I'll look forward to meeting some of my new Rover neighbors.

Stu

 

[bri]

Tends to be a bit rainy, but you must head up to the Lost Coast and try USAL beach north of fort brag. Beware the locals tear down the sign on loast coast road (or whatever it is). MOST AWESOME. Recommended not on holidays and if it is rainy the #2 road turns into a #4, but you should not have an issue.

Try the Albion River Inn, while you are up there, award winning food and wine and the rooms do not suck.

 

[NorCalDiscoII]

Stuart -

I just came back from a camping trip at Stonyford. This one's a little more civilized as it has bathrooms and a ranger station about 10 miles away. Mostly dirt bikes and ATVs, but many folks bring 4x4s as well. This place has very nice trails/scenery combination and some of the trails last for hours! What's more is the drive up to the campsite is very cool too: it's a good hour+ off I5 and the road taking you up there is beautiful. Trails there are anything from soft dirt roads to some very rocky, narrow and steep hills.

I probably won't be camping much in the next few months or so as it's a snowboard season for me now (4' of new powder at Kirkwood in the last few days!!!), but check out these guys, they set up trips every now then in NorCal.

Here are some pics from Stonyford and the road leading up to it:

 

[stu454]

Those are some great pics! I will definately have to check that area out.

Stu

 

[Rich Lee]

Stu,

Check out the upcomming NCRC "Mendo" trip on the weekend of April 22nd. A lot of good people should be there. I'm not sure if I can come.

BE ADVISED there will probably be significant snow there. Cedar Camp is at about 5000' . Today there is about 4 feet of snow on the ground at Noel Springs, which is at 5100' and about 15 miles north of Cedar Camp.
The creek crossings could also be interesting.

For a link to snow levels statewide, check out this link:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/reports/PAGE6.html

The specific link for Noel Springs is:

http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryF?NLS

In California, the average snow depth this year is close to 150% of normal. Don't put away your skis yet.
Many of the readings are in snow water equivalents. In the spring, the water density of snow is about 45%.

For more detailed maps of the Mendocino NF area, check out this link:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/maps/quad/

Cedar Camp is in the Fouts Springs quadrangle. Noel Springs is in the Felkner Ridge quadrangle.

Have a good time.

 

[stu454]

Rich,

Thanks for the links. I'm on the Mendo Recce list so I am already planning to go.

Can't wait!