Hey NorCal folks, i am starting this to see how many might be interested in starting a NorCal club. I have nothing really planned out as of yet, but am just seeing whether or not there might be interest in it. Lets talk about it...
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Gentlemen,
For NorCal's summer get together, I am proposing a day-trip along the famous "Mosquito Ridge", to be followed by a BBQ at my place. Of course, when you say Mosquito Ridge most eyes glaze over unless you're a suicidal maniac from Sacramento like me. It's really not so famous unless you own a sports car or you live here.
What makes this such a compelling "must do" drive is the almost complete isolation up there...not to mention miles and miles of the twistiest roads in Northern California, deep into the Tahoe National Forest. On a map, plug in directions for Auburn, CA to Hell Hole Reservoir, although driving the first 16 miles is the most fun. I normally drive to Foresthill (great fun but too busy and too much LEO) and then east on Mosquito Ridge where you might see only few cars all day, unless there's a Z-club or some group. There are a few sport bikes but generally the road is a little too chewed up for bikes to be safe. For cars the road is fine. Then again, with blind curves and no medical support nearby, I don't blame the bikes for staying away.
Other considerations that keep some away: The road is narrow, with Dragon-type hairpin curves that are very challenging in every respect. The cliff like drop offs (just a few feet from pavement) can be 1,500 feet in some areas, and guardrails are rare. Also, the road winds along miles of shear cliff so falling rock is a constant hazard.
But despite the hazards it's the best driving in the area. And I'm exaggerating the hazards in the interest of full disclosure, but it's really not that bad.
If you've pulled up a map already, keep this in mind: Once east of Foresthill, you immediately drop from 3,500 feet down to 1,500... like fast, then it's back up to 3,500 ft. and eventually to 6,000+. There is absolutely no cell reception, probably because of the cliffs. So if you go alone, make sure somebody else knows where you're out there. If I had my way, I'd insist on having an initial morning run for practice, doing the first 16 miles to a big rest area, then back to Foresthill for lunch. After lunch we hit that 16 mile stretch a little harder and a little faster. I doubt whether anybody will want to do that 32-mile stretch (16 miles x two) more than twice. You'll be ready for a nice steak and the trip home.
I'm thinking July.... with perhaps a trial run for anybody who wants to come up sooner.
Thoughts?
