Soda Springs Rd

[hemingray]

GG tempted me out to go ride Soda Springs Road from his end of the world (I would normally go from Robinson Flat). We did about 80 miles, getting stopped by snow drifts a few times.

This area can be accessed from Soda Springs (at the Ice Lakes area). Parking is problematic but we did it. You could also drive east on Foresthill Rd. from Auburn, to Robinson Flat, plenty of area to unload there.

Our quarry - the North Fork American RIver area, along with all the side roads we can find.



Down into The Cedars area, we find someone is employing goats to clear the underbrush.



We cross the North Fork American River and get onto the Foresthill Divide (east end).



At one point, the road is actually a creek - it enters at one end, follows the road, then exits, making for a cool stream crossing.



Grizzly Guy doing what he does best - waypoint marking!



Whoa - he looks up and sees scenery!



Stow yer weapons boys!



Nice outcropping of lava, with spring in bloom



Striking colors



Yay - stream crossing!



Paintbrush in bloom



Tevis Trail crossing



Devils Peak dominates this great view, which shows the mix of sedimentary, volcanic and granite of the Sierra



Snow Mountain, elevation 8,000 feet, has a LOT of snowmelt draining off. The summit is 4,000 feet above the North Fork American River.



Gives me the willies just looking at this picture. That's a 3,000 foot drop to the river below. Lots of whitewater!



Winter is harsh to these exposed trees on the ridge here.



On the rock ridge, this small flower (about the size of a silver dollar) must be the last part of the growing season - they have no leaves.



Once again, we pass through the road creek on the way back.

[EigerMike]

wow beautiful pics !!!!! looks like a great place to ride!

[auendave]

awesomw views and great riding what more could you ask for , I love it

[hemingray]

Thanks!

Much of my riding is on Tahoe Forest Road 19; it's on the opposite side of the canyon. It doesn't allow access on the eastern end as Soda Springs Rd. does. Both areas have tons of riding. Note if you plan on riding from the Soda Springs side - from the start to past the crossing of the North Fork, it's all very well signed as private property.

Once at the North Fork Bridge, here's the polite sign. After a couple of miles, the houses are gone and it's mostly forest again.

[GrizzlyGuy]

Dang Dave, you really know how to take great pictures! I either need your camera or I need your eye (probably both).

OK, a few of my crappier pictures. Here's Dave doing the long water section:



The power steering on his Grizzly let's him ride one-handed and shoot video at the same time:



Fortunately he wasn't riding one handed, side-saddle, shooting video and singing all at the same time!

Dave at some of the snow we ran into:



Obey the sign and don't be me: never-ever ride your OHV on paved roads!:



While we're talking about signs, sometimes you DON'T want to believe them. This one was wrong as there was no dead end and we ended up with a nice loop (or would have if the snow hadn't blocked us elsewhere):



On our way back, a 4x4 truck stopped me and the driver said he had to turn back at this spot, and that we'd have no chance of getting around the tree:



I replied that we'd already been around that tree, and he really ought to ride a quad.

[hemingray]

Glad you got a pic of the downed tree! I have the urge to pack the chainsaw and go back.

As for the snow, I wonder how much further we could have pushed up the 43 Road? (only to be found later on the 96 Road paved section going to French Meadows - "but honest officer, we came through the snow but couldn't get back!")

I love my little Canon SD950 IS - it really does great for such a small camera.

[Ken]

Sweet stuff.

[QMaze]

Wow beautiful, you guys have the life I dream of. So lucky.

[hellcat650]

Excellent ride report. You guys are like ATV travel agents =D>

[GrizzlyGuy]

Glad you got a pic of the downed tree! I have the urge to pack the chainsaw and go back.

As for the snow, I wonder how much further we could have pushed up the 43 Road? (only to be found later on the 96 Road paved section going to French Meadows - "but honest officer, we came through the snow but couldn't get back!")

I love my little Canon SD950 IS - it really does great for such a small camera.

I thought that the Placer County Search & Rescue guys would have cut that tree out before we got back to it. Then again, they failed the "Search" part by getting themselves lost, so they might have failed "Rescue" by not having a saw.

Had Kodiak been with us we'd have known exactly how much further we could have gone: he hits the gas, you relax for 15 minutes, and wait for him to return with pictures of what the top looks like.

You should move out here QMaze, lots of riding and I've still not driven more than 30 minutes to a trailhead this year. Hellcat has a heck of an idea - by the time you move, we'll be in business as ATV travel agents and can guide you right to the good stuff.

[QMaze]

You should move out here QMaze, lots of riding and I've still not driven more than 30 minutes to a trailhead this year. Hellcat has a heck of an idea - by the time you move, we'll be in business as ATV travel agents and can guide you right to the good stuff.

I would love to move out there especially now, my biggest concern is employment. Not sure how it is there but IT people where I live in Windsor, ON, its the like the land that technology forgot here. I only have family keeping me here now but other than that, put the house up for sale and leave.

I think Apple administration would be stronger in the US too, in Canada they haven't adopted Macs so readily, brutal.