Sierra Adventure pt 3, Sept 27th

[NevadaWolf]

Given how few storms have moved through lately, it wasn't a natural start. But it will be interesting to see if the investigation turns up deliberate setting of the fire, or being stupid with other activities that got out of control and started the fire.

The King Fire is now 10% contained with winds moving east. Hopefully the fighters can get ahead of it and cut it off before it eats more of the forest.

[algs26]

Who's got the most accurate weather forecast? I'm seeing a chance of rain when I look up Yosemite. Sonora seems OK.

[antiant]

Oh god, I hope not. I don't have adequate gear for rain.

[NevadaWolf]

I tend to use weather.gov

Yosemite Valley

Friday A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. West southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light and variable in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.

Saturday Partly sunny, with a high near 57. Calm wind becoming west northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. North wind 10 to 15 mph becoming east northeast in the evening.

Sunday Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind 5 to 15 mph.


Lee Vining

Friday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Saturday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Saturday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 63


Groveland

Friday A slight chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Friday Night A slight chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 73


Hurmmmm

[NevadaWolf]

Fire update: No updates since the 18th on the Meadow Fire on Yosemite's blog. CalFire still showing it active. InciWeb reporting 98% contained with full containment expected by the 29th. Light smoke possible.

Weather: so, weather.gov shows this for Tioga Pass - allow me to emphasize a key word in here...

Friday A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Breezy, with a southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Friday Night A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. West northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Saturday A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Some thunder is also possible. Partly sunny, with a high near 47. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Sunday A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. Northeast wind around 10 mph.
Sunday Night A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind around 5 mph.



However for Coulterville, I see this:

Friday A 10 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 15 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming west in the morning.
Saturday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light north in the evening.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the morning.
Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West wind around 5 mph becoming northeast in the evening.


So, possibility of *just* doing the Dragon part and maybe the rest of the day decided on the fly?

[antiant]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

So, possibility of *just* doing the Dragon part and maybe the rest of the day decided on the fly?

Yeah, this sucks if the weather is going to be like that. I'll definitely be out, if rain or snow hits. Maybe just the dragon after all, but we shall see as the days progress.

[NevadaWolf]

Its down to either 20% chance or "a slight chance" of snow over the pass.

So, here's something fun to look at. The tightest turn on the Little Dragon.

[EternalNewb]

[chrly]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Its down to either 20% chance or "a slight chance" of snow over the pass.

So, here's something fun to look at. The tightest turn on the Little Dragon.

Ok.. I am in... Not sure I have ever ridden that area..or if i have it was a long time ago..

So could some one recap as to meeting place and time.. I may hit the area the night before..

[NevadaWolf]

Meeting place:
Coulter Cafe
5015 Main St, Coulterville, CA 95311
(209) 878-3947

Meeting Time:
9:00am

Kickstands up
9:15am

Gas Station:
Shell
6386 Greeley Hill Rd
Park Circle Dr
Coulterville, CA 95311
Phone: 209-847-2281


I'll be heading down Friday night, probably finding a cheap room in Sonora or there abouts. Whatever I can find.

[chrly]

Thanks for clarifying......See ya Sat Morning...I guess Coulterville is not very big ??

[antiant]

Nope, not that big at all. I can't wait!

[antiant]

As I was doing more looking around on google maps, I found this... http://www.motorcycleroadtours.com/, very interesting.

[EternalNewb]

^Ha, 750ccs or over. Well, guess I'm disqualified from giving them business. :P

[NevadaWolf]

I am thinking of being there before 9 and hanging out waiting. I'm thinking 9 is the "start getting gear on" time.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by EternalNewb

^Ha, 750ccs or over. Well, guess I'm disqualified from giving them business. :P

What? We need to set up Small Bike Badass Getaways!

[EternalNewb]

Haha, right? It's all at the bottom of the page on who may be permitted to ride with them.

[antiant]

Are you coming along too @EternalNewb? Also, I am as well @NevadaWolf, thinking about coming early and also deciding which route to go, to get to the meeting place. Googlemaps is giving me a direction I wasn't planning, so I'll have to do some more research.

[NevadaWolf]

How much does that racket cost? I wanna know how much riding per day and more much hanging out socializing?

That might be a good gig. Ladies, gents, anyone know anything about being a tour guide in Cali or Nevada?


I've got to ask the 750cc thing. Will report back!

[EternalNewb]

I'm trying! I'd probably have to come the night before, and I don't know what time I'll be getting off of work, which complicates things. :P My ride would be like 6 hours or so to get there.

[NevadaWolf]

Ok, sorry, back on topic!!

[EternalNewb]

Hahaha, no worries. Could be worth consideration.

[NevadaWolf]

I'll be getting off work around 4:30, so on the road by 6 or so. It'll take me close to 5 hours to get down there so yeah, I'll probably hunt down either Rodeway or the Aladdin Motor Lodge in Sonora for Friday night, then finish the ride in on Sat morning.

Now see if I had been smart, I would totally have tried to work this place in: http://www.hoteljeffery.com/

[NevadaWolf]

Seeing reports throughout northern/central California of rain, including up to Sac and Pollock Pines (kill that fire!) so took a look.

Per the NWS, Coulterville is mostly sunny with a high of 73 on Saturday while Tioga Pass is back up to a 30% chance of snow with a high in the 40's (Yosemite Valley itself is 20% chance of t-storms and high of 53)

I'm still willing to riding in slight rain ( @antiant, I have a HD rain suit I never use, want me to bring it for you to try?) though if it switches to snow I may be finding an alternate way over the mountain.

If the passes do get snow on them, looks like I can make a loop out of the New Priest Grade Road and Greeley Hill Road/Smith Station Road that seems on Google to be rather twisty.


Thoughts, opinions?

[algs26]

No too happy with the forecast. Because other than a jacket, I don't have any rain gear (gloves, pants, boots). And they're all perforated for the heat.

I did clean my chain yesterday so my bike's ready.

[antiant]

@NevadaWolf - I really appreciate the offer, but I believe I'm smaller than you (Size 6 US/38 Euro).

I'm not too happy with the forecast either. As I was driving into the Sierra's today for work, I could see the overcast clouds. Let's just hope, that it's a very light drizzle and no snow. I'm still in for the ride, for now.

[NevadaWolf]

Gah you are tiny!

The rain suit is meant to be worn over gear and its too small for me. If I can find a cranny to stuff it into, I'll bring it anyway and if it fits someone, they are welcome to it. Rather see if used than just collecting dust. It's been in its little bag since I was given it.

[antiant]

I know! Yeah, I just didn't want you to carry it when you didn't need to, but then again, you have luggage and if someone can use it, that would be great.

[NevadaWolf]

My and my Sherpa Ninja, we go everywhere!

[antiant]

Haha, seriously! We need a Sherpa Ninja emoticon for riders like you. Upon further inspection, it looks like I do have adequate gear (not gloves or boots though). I have wind proof and water proof liners, but I'm still a little afraid/hesitant about riding in the rain. I want rain for the fires, just not during the ride. At least the weather will be nice and not screaming hot though.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by antiant

Haha, seriously! We need a Sherpa Ninja emoticon for riders like you.

Upon further inspection, it looks like I do have adequate gear (not gloves or boots though). I have wind proof and water proof liners, but I'm still a little afraid/hesitant about riding in the rain. I want rain for the fires, just not during the ride. At least the weather will be nice and not screaming hot though.

You're quickly see I am not into spirited riding and if it does start raining, I'll slow down appropriately.




OH! At the top of the twisty section is a huge turnoff that has a paved portion. It looks like a massive overlook (probably where all the pics of the hill come from). That is my planned turn around point as the road appears to straighten out after that.

[antiant]

Oh, I'm definitely not worried about the pace of the ride, more so the rain and traction. I get apprehensive in my car with rain, so on a motorcycle... yeah.

[NevadaWolf]

Chance of dusting, I could maybe handle. But this? More than likely a trip over Tioga will be canceled, but we can look at the conditions that morning. Still a lot of twisties staying west of the mountains.

National Weather Service: Reno

Low pressure will move across the Sierra Friday Night and into central Nevada by Saturday. An area of rain and high elevation snow is forecast to develop on the north side of the low, leading to snow levels as low as 8000-8500 feet with a few inches of snow over the higher Sierra passes. Travel impacts are possible for Highways 4, 88, 89, 108, 120 and 203 in Alpine and Mono Counties. Those planning outdoor activities in the higher elevations of the Sierra this weekend, should prepare for cold temperatures and winter like conditions.

[chrly]

This could definitely qualify as an " adventure" I will be there probaly early Fri Evening ( Sonora sonewhere), Just booked Rodeway Inn..See yall later.

[iamjacob]

It's amazing how fast the seasons can change.it was a hundred degrees a couple weeks ago and now we're looking at over 3 inches of snow.

I guess I'll bring all my liners and be prepared for the cold.

I'm leaving my place at 6:45ish on Saturday and I'll see you guys in Coulterville.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by chrly

This could definitely qualify as an " adventure" I will be there probaly early Fri Evening ( Sonora sonewhere), Just booked Rodeway Inn..See yall later.

Did they sound like they were full or may have several rooms? I'm lazy and wing it for lodging so I roll in and hope for the best.

[chrly]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

Did they sound like they were full or may have several rooms? I'm lazy and wing it for lodging so I roll in and hope for the best.

I booked online...Not sure how crowded...

[NevadaWolf]

NWS is now reporting 60% chance of snow over Tioga Pass, so I am canceling that leg of the route unless we get down there and there are NO clouds anywhere.

Coulterville is this for tomorrow: Saturday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.


When everyone arrives at the Cafe, we can discuss lunch and route options. Google is showing me some nice twisties that loop around between the western edge of the Park and Hwy 49 so we should have fun unless Nature turns against us.


*grumble* really, this weather could have come anytime over the last few months, Nature. Just saying...


*looks through the various passes for tonight* HEY! Lemme over the mountain, ya silly storm! Snow, snow, rain, rain, snow. Grrrrr

[antiant]

What a bummer! Still looking forward to the ride regardless. Just took a picture of the Sierra's on my lunch break (not looking good)...



Sorry for the huge pic, I am on my phone.

[NevadaWolf]

Heavenly ski resort is sharing pictures of the snow they got this morning. Just a dusting, but STILL!

I may have a far more interesting adventure getting over a pass.... eeny meeny miny moe...