High Lakes 1-4-14

[Visi]

Got a new ride after selling my Ski-Doo XP 800 sled. Got a 2014 Polaris RZR 900. Me and my girlfriend Andee went up to the High Lakes today. Unloaded where it turns to dirt before the turn off to Philbrook. We did 45 miles and were back home before 430. Nice day besides it being Jan. and not having any snow to ride on up there on snowmachines.

Water is very low at Philbrook


This is the ridge we ride across on sleds on the way from Inskip to Lotts Lake. Picture was taken from the Carr Mine.


High Lakes OHV map

[Visi]

Spring Valley Lake



Long Lake



Where Silvertip, My buddy Ryan, and me found my buddies tuck last winter with about 6 ft. snow on it. Ryan carved the X on the tree.

[Visi]

We had to make sure the RZR could handle 4x4 rock crawling. We took it up this.....


(Took the pictures on the way back. It's a in one way out the same. Didn't let Andee ride down on the way out. No winch yet so I was a little nervous.)

To get to Saddle lake


Grassy Lake - Climbed to the right last year on snowmachines.

[Visi]

Morris Ridge looking at Campbell and Long lake


Morris Lake


Miners Cabin - Usually climbing through the second floor window in the winter.



Looking towards Ben Lomound and Chipps Lake from the Miners Cabin

[silvertip]

Nice Pic Mike. You will like the the RZR more than your quad I think. Have fun and sorry your not going to Wy. with us.

[Visi]

Thanks John. I hope you don't come back! Lol, have fun.

[hemingray]

Nice pix, thanks for posting them! It's been, oh, a couple of decades since I've seen Philbrook and camped at West Branch.

[Visi]

Sounds like you need to get back up there. It's a cool place. Some trails are a little challenging but they are not main routes. Looking to get back up there in a couple weeks.

[EigerMike]

awesome pics!!!!!!!!!!! looks like a great place to ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just remember that the pic of the at the tee is where you are to begin with the green sticker rigs you will get a ticket if they catch you anywhere around phillbrook or west branch. sucks that they have taken so much away from us! let me know when your thinking about going again!

[Visi]

That's a shame if that is true. There were a few trailers where I unloaded at that had quads. They should at least attempt to maintain the road if they are going to ticket you and make you drive to Philbrook. In my opinion they should of paved Humbug Summit instead of going from Inskip to Butte Meadows.

[Mr. Green]

Wow heard its a drought out there in CA but had no idea.

[hemingray]

Here in the foothills near Auburn, Nov: 1.48 inches of rain, Dec: .48 inches, and Jan: .18 inches so far. It's bad.

[Visi]

Decided late friday night to drop everything we were doing on Sat. and go up to the High Lakes again. We decided to go to Bear Lake and then head back and go out to Ben Lomound.

On the way to Bear Lake.


Tree is cool. Also right before the hardest part of the trail.


Bear Lake


Backside on Morris Ridge heading to Ben Lomound

[Visi]

Chipps Lake



Looking towards the Chipps fire from a few years ago





Ended up not being able to make it all the way to Ben Lomound because a tree was down across the trail and with the little bit of snow that was there and being in a hole we turned around. Most snow we found all day.



On the way back we decided to drop into Camble lake and go around to Long lake and then back to the main trail. Here is Long lake with open water!

[Visi]

Last year (2013) was the lowest amount of precipitation CA has had on average since they have been keeping track. It was worse than the years of 76-77.