Trip Report

Trip Information

SECOND BACKPACK TRIP - 4TH OF JULY LAKE, FORESTDALE DIVIDE LOOP - AUGUST 5-8, 2010
 
Our second backpack trip of the season will be a three day, two night loop.  We will begin hiking, southbound, on the Pacific Crest Trail, from Carson Pass (Highway 88).  We will cut off the PCT and hike past Lake Winnemucca and Round Top Lake, to 4th of July Lake (5.4 miles).  On Saturday we will continue down to Summit City Creek, heading East, up over the Forestdale Divide, to the PCT, stopping at one of the small, unnamed, lakes just North of the divide (4.9 miles).  On Sunday we will hike North on the PCT back to Carson Pass (4.1 miles).  This hike is rated as easy to moderately strenuous.
 
We will rendezvous on Thursday, August 5, at the McDonald's in Cordelia.  From I-80 eastbound, in Cordelia, take the Suisun Valley Road exit and turn right from the off-ramp.  Turn left at Central Place.  McDonald's is ahead on your left.  Be there and ready to leave by noon.
 
From Cordelia we will continue East on I-80 to Fairfield, where we will turn East on Highway 12.  We pass through Rio Vista and Lodi, staying on Hwy 12, to its intersection with Highway 88.  There we turn left onto Hwy 88, through Lockeford, jogging South on Hwy 49/88 to Jackson, where we may stop for dinner.  After dinner we continue East on Hwy 88, past Kirkwood Meadows, to our bivouac, behind the CalTrans maintenance station at Caples Lake.  There is no water at the bivouac so bring enough for Thursday night, Friday breakfast, and water for the hike to 4th of July Lake.  After breakfast on Friday morning we will drive the few miles to Carson Pass and stop at the visitor chalet for a wilderness permit.  The permits are only available on a first-come-first-serve basis so we need to be at the chalet early.
 
In the event we cannot get a permit we will go to Plan B, which will be a hike North on the PCT to Showers Lake; hiking to Round Lake on Saturday and back to Carson Pass on Sunday.
 

FOR THIS HIKE YOU WILL NEED:
 
1.  Your Mokelumne Wilderness Map (to be delivered to Laura and Cristina at McDonald's).  Also, bring your Fallen Leaf Lake, 15 minute quadrangle for Plan B navigation.
 
2.  Your Compass, Ruler and pencil.
 
3.  Your tent.
 
4.  Your sleeping bag and pad.
 
5.  First-Aid kit.
 
6.  "Canteen" or bladder and water filter.
 
7.  Flashlight.
 
8.  Pot, cup, utensils.
 
9.  Stove and fuel.
 
10. Clothing suitable for expected conditions.  You should carry rain gear for this trip.  The current weather forecast at Carson Pass for Friday, August 5, is for sunny days in the low 70s and mostly clear nights in the high 40s.  We may expect windy conditions from Carson Pass to the saddle West of Round Top Lake.  I will keep checking the weather through next week, and will keep you all informed of changing conditions.  You should have a sun-stopping hat and sun glasses.  You should also carry a warm "wooly" hat.
 

MEALS YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS TRIP:
 
3 Breakfasts.
3 Lunches.
2 Dinners.
Trail Snacks
 
For this trip you should carry an extra lunch for emergency rations.
 
If you have questions please call or email me.  707-338-6955.  redleader429@comcast.net