m3at333hp
Adventurer
Well here it goes, my first trip report. I am not one for writing more than the minimum necessary, so hopefully you enjoy my laconic story telling!
Got off of work on Thursday and my buddy was waiting for me so we could go run errands and get supplies, mainly in the form of craft beer, for the trip up towards the Sierras. Got all packed up by 11:30 pm and it was deemed necessary that we would have to wake up at 3:00 AM to hit the road by 4:00 AM if we wanted any remote chance of getting a spot at Gold Lake 4x4 campground since I have been told it is a popular spot in the Plumas National Forest.
Here is a high-level map and tracks of where we were:
By 4:10 AM on the 3rd, we hit the road out of Sacramento towards I-80 and I had no coffee; a Monster had to do the trick to get me through Grass Valley and highway 49. This is my third trip to the area, albeit, my first camping trip. I love the general vicinity and the small towns of Downieville (mountain biking mecca) and Sierra City.
Per a member's recommendation, we hit up Goose Lake on the way up to see if they had any spots first. We figured worst case, we would spend $10 to reserve a spot just in case and then drive up to Gold Lake. We pull up and look around and speak to a few folks to no avail! My mood rapidly changed at this point as reality started to sink in. We jump back in the rig and get to the turn in for Gold Lake campground a few miles up the road. We decided to check the non-4x4 campground and it was also full.
We turned on 4x4 and took the road into the 4x4 campground. It wasn't hairy at all, which was good because I was still half asleep around 7:00 am and running on 3 hours rest. We get to the first site and ask the gentleman if he knew if the campground was full. It was only about a mile and a quarter of trail to that point. He indicated that the night before, there were some spots but some people got in late. I drive down a few more hundred feet and find an open spot! A guy comes up to me and tell me there is one available right on the water instead of the inland one I parked in. S-C-O-R-E!! :Wow1::wings:
We setup shop, which was a very simple setup. Took us about 30 minutes or so. I am thinking, I need to just sit down and enjoy this view with a beer. Oh, ********, it is only 8:00 AM!!! Ok, that plan wasn't going to fly. We decided to take the Jeep further up the trail and explore a little. We made it up to Summit lake and decided to park near the Pacific Crest Trail and take a hike up a little to explore.
The weather changed on us really quickly while out exploring. I had taken the freedom top off the Jeep (two covers over driver and passenger) and the rig got its first topless bath. My buddy was more concerned about the interior than I was. I told him, we would at least never forget that day! We high-tailed it back to camp and got it covered and dried up.
Alas, it was time for some beer and luckily, I had found a small brewery near the town of Graeagle. It was called the Brewery Lair. Very cool location in the woods and beers were decent. I ordered a flight but elected not to fill up my Hydroflask growler.
It was still fairly early, so we decided to hit up Sierra City and take the lesser known way into the Sierra Buttes. This is my second visit but I never get tired of the amazing view from the fire lookout.
The biggest disappointment were the fire restrictions for the national forest. i knew it going in, but in case there was some sort of exemption, I brought my handy Weber to-go charcoal grill. Some others in the campsite were lighting up campfires regardless of the restrictions (tsk tsk). It is not camping till I can cook up some USDA prime burgers!
My buddy is into photography, so the better pictures are his doing.
We decided to test out the cameras and take a few pictures of the sun setting over the lake as well as some night shots.
A few more IPAs were consumed and we hit the hay. We got up at a leisurely pace and decided to go out and explore some more, mainly by hiking. We hit up the PCT again, but in a different direction and made it to Round Lake, which was stunning.
Overall, it was a great time and I will be going back to the area often. It is only a three hour drive from Sacramento, but the area is so serene and not as packed as the Lake Tahoe area, which is perfect. I will not be going back to the area without a hammock! What was I thinking?!!? Also, I will plan on renting a canoe to take the wife and pup out on the lake the next time.
Hope you enjoyed this report of a quick trip. Cheers!
Got off of work on Thursday and my buddy was waiting for me so we could go run errands and get supplies, mainly in the form of craft beer, for the trip up towards the Sierras. Got all packed up by 11:30 pm and it was deemed necessary that we would have to wake up at 3:00 AM to hit the road by 4:00 AM if we wanted any remote chance of getting a spot at Gold Lake 4x4 campground since I have been told it is a popular spot in the Plumas National Forest.
Here is a high-level map and tracks of where we were:
By 4:10 AM on the 3rd, we hit the road out of Sacramento towards I-80 and I had no coffee; a Monster had to do the trick to get me through Grass Valley and highway 49. This is my third trip to the area, albeit, my first camping trip. I love the general vicinity and the small towns of Downieville (mountain biking mecca) and Sierra City.
Per a member's recommendation, we hit up Goose Lake on the way up to see if they had any spots first. We figured worst case, we would spend $10 to reserve a spot just in case and then drive up to Gold Lake. We pull up and look around and speak to a few folks to no avail! My mood rapidly changed at this point as reality started to sink in. We jump back in the rig and get to the turn in for Gold Lake campground a few miles up the road. We decided to check the non-4x4 campground and it was also full.
We turned on 4x4 and took the road into the 4x4 campground. It wasn't hairy at all, which was good because I was still half asleep around 7:00 am and running on 3 hours rest. We get to the first site and ask the gentleman if he knew if the campground was full. It was only about a mile and a quarter of trail to that point. He indicated that the night before, there were some spots but some people got in late. I drive down a few more hundred feet and find an open spot! A guy comes up to me and tell me there is one available right on the water instead of the inland one I parked in. S-C-O-R-E!! :Wow1::wings:
We setup shop, which was a very simple setup. Took us about 30 minutes or so. I am thinking, I need to just sit down and enjoy this view with a beer. Oh, ********, it is only 8:00 AM!!! Ok, that plan wasn't going to fly. We decided to take the Jeep further up the trail and explore a little. We made it up to Summit lake and decided to park near the Pacific Crest Trail and take a hike up a little to explore.
The weather changed on us really quickly while out exploring. I had taken the freedom top off the Jeep (two covers over driver and passenger) and the rig got its first topless bath. My buddy was more concerned about the interior than I was. I told him, we would at least never forget that day! We high-tailed it back to camp and got it covered and dried up.
Alas, it was time for some beer and luckily, I had found a small brewery near the town of Graeagle. It was called the Brewery Lair. Very cool location in the woods and beers were decent. I ordered a flight but elected not to fill up my Hydroflask growler.
It was still fairly early, so we decided to hit up Sierra City and take the lesser known way into the Sierra Buttes. This is my second visit but I never get tired of the amazing view from the fire lookout.
The biggest disappointment were the fire restrictions for the national forest. i knew it going in, but in case there was some sort of exemption, I brought my handy Weber to-go charcoal grill. Some others in the campsite were lighting up campfires regardless of the restrictions (tsk tsk). It is not camping till I can cook up some USDA prime burgers!
My buddy is into photography, so the better pictures are his doing.
We decided to test out the cameras and take a few pictures of the sun setting over the lake as well as some night shots.
A few more IPAs were consumed and we hit the hay. We got up at a leisurely pace and decided to go out and explore some more, mainly by hiking. We hit up the PCT again, but in a different direction and made it to Round Lake, which was stunning.
Overall, it was a great time and I will be going back to the area often. It is only a three hour drive from Sacramento, but the area is so serene and not as packed as the Lake Tahoe area, which is perfect. I will not be going back to the area without a hammock! What was I thinking?!!? Also, I will plan on renting a canoe to take the wife and pup out on the lake the next time.
Hope you enjoyed this report of a quick trip. Cheers!
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