Back to Meadow Lake

[hemingray]

Last weekend's trip to White Rock was cool, but there were some things I wanted to check out. I decided to visit Meadow Lake again, this time from Bowman Lake Rd. My first exploration was just a mile or so up from where the pavement ends - a spur that climbs up behind Windy Point. It ends in a gate, unfortunately, but just before I got to the gate I spotted another brown bear (actually it looked black). He took off down the hill on seeing a blue Grizzly.

Anyway - here's a little pond that's right along Bowman Rd. before you climb the hill that starts below the dam. Everyone goes by it, but I bet few notice it.



A short jaunt off the road produced a nice view of the dam and lake.



The lake is pretty far down now, the northeast end has a lot of stumps from before they raised the lake. The water flowing here is from the Milton-Bowman Tunnel. Fun to cross it a little bit upstream.



Tollhouse Lake was looking scenic today. It was much windier today than last weekend. English Mountain looks small from here.



A spur off the "back way" to Meadow Lake has a nice view to the north, and these trees struck me as looking like twins.



I stopped for a nice view of the Sierra Buttes and saw smoke from a fire. It turns out it's in the Buck's Lake area in the Plumas.



Fordyce is looking quite low - no surprise - in this view from Meadow Lake Hill



Snow Mountain sticks up above the Fordyce area.



Castle Peak (and I think Basin Peak) presides over the watershed east of Fordyce.



Fun day, but since I took the Grizzly 660 I beat the crap out of myself. The 700 rides better and the power steering helps a lot. But blue Grizz needs to get out too... But Bowman Road is getting worse and worse.

[EigerMike]

very nice pics!

[oldtrucks]

I spotted another brown bear (actually it looked black).

Actually, the only bear in California is the Black Bear. You can find them in black, brown, red, or white.......still they are all California Black Bears. I know this from 6th/7th/8th Grade Science camp last week in Yosemite

[hemingray]

I always thought you were older than that Larry, but I appreciate the info. The one I saw was very black indeed, and a couple of weeks ago I saw another up by Monumental Creek.

Here is one I actually managed some pictures of, a juvenile I saw while driving up Grouse Ridge Rd. in 2002 Recently seeing two bears in as many weeks out on the ATV is interesting (since I had seen none since the young bear way back in 2002...)

[auendave]

nice pics. I am looking forward to seeing those black, brown or what ever color bears.

[Wildhorse800]

I thought California bears wear Bermuda shorts and carry surf boards!

Great pics. Really liked the bear pics. However, if I see young ones, I steer clear 'cause mama is probabally close by!

[Wildhorse800]

nice pics. I am looking forward to seeing those black, brown or what ever color bears.

[hemingray]

I thought California bears wear Bermuda shorts and carry surf boards!

Whoa, dudes, those are, like, Southern California bears...

Great pics. Really liked the bear pics. However, if I see young ones, I steer clear 'cause mama is probabally close by!

Agree! In the pictures above, the young one was 50 feet off the road and I was in the truck, no worries. In my two recent sightings of adults on the quad I took a big gander around to make sure there were no buddy bears, and in the case of one in the canyon, I high-tailed it out of there. I need to get some pepper spray to carry....

[GrizzlyGuy]

English Mountain looks small from here.

Next time you're out that way, I recommend riding to the top of it. Only about a 10 minute side trip from where you already were, fun ride and it's a super view:







Video showing the ride up to the top: http://GrizzlyGuy.TV/#sierramission

[hemingray]

How do you get there from here??

[Wildhorse800]

Sure...add some more pics...If I leave today, I should make it out there by....

[hemingray]

Sure...add some more pics...If I leave today, I should make it out there by....

... 3 days from now?

I think I found it on Google Earth. There are soooo many roads to explore and you have to get past the idea of ending up on yet another log landing...

I think the viewpoint is about here: 39° 27.145'N, 120° 33.255'W

On the list for next trip!

[Puddle Jumper]

Good movie. I can't wait for the ride to come along so we can all see the view.

[GrizzlyGuy]

How do you get there from here??

He, he, he. I could give you a track log but that would make it too easy for you. It's all about the thrill of the hunt, right?

Since you rode in from Bowman, I'm 100% sure you rode right past the entry point. Those scenes in the beginning of the video (when the music starts) would look familiar if your head was looking right, instead of your right paw firmly pressing the throttle into light-speed regions.

There's another hint in the links over at my video page.

[hemingray]

I think I saw that gate coming from the other direction. Funny - I think I would have found it already but for someone whose truck broke down and I gave a ride back down to the main road. I ended up going to Meadow Lake that day instead. So close!!