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I'm still looking for a snow run, but no snow is falling. I was thinking that Dusy-Ershim may be a good choice for snow because it starts at 8,000 feet and goes up to 10,000 ft. I've never been up there, I just found it on the net. If anyone knows that area, other trails around it, or if it just has road signs that you can go around instead of locked gates, please chime in.

My second run of interest is mostly pavement, but I want to see the ghost town of Bodie. I tried doing it in April, but I was running Good Year Silent Armor's, which are great on ice, good in snow, but suck in mud. The elevation at Bodie isn't that high, so the snow was thin and I'd break through into the mud. I didn't have a winch and I was by myself, so it seemed like I was running for my life to find a spot to turn around and get the heck out of there. Now that I have some big mudders and a winch, I want to go back and try it again!

Dusy won't be open. Look at Bald Mountain, it's open year round. You need to go in on the Dinkey Creek side because the Tamarack side is for snowmobiles only this time of year. Figure on 3 - 3.5 hrs to get there.

Bodie and Auora are amazing to see and there are several areas around there that are great runs. We usually are there around 4th of July though, but even then we are able to do some some snow runs even then...with Bodie it is hit and miss for snow. Dusy I have no idea so mostly I was no help . Good luck!

[quote="Franeebeth"]Bodie and Auora are amazing to see and there are several areas around there that are great runs. We usually are there around 4th of July though, but even then we are able to do some some snow runs even then...with Bodie it is hit and miss for snow. Dusy I have no idea so mostly I was no help . Good luck![/quote]


Based on the descriptions and the YouTube videos, Dusy seems like it should give the Rubicon trail a run for the money. It's rated "most difficult". It's 35 miles long and they suggest 2-3 days, 32" aggressive tires, lockers, lift and short wheel base as minimum requirements . The real appeal to me is that it's east of Fresno and could be doable on a weekend.

Here is a sight for all info on the trails east of Fresno compliments of Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno.

http://www.4wdcfresno.net/

[quote="Dirt Mover"]Dusy won't be open. Look at Bald Mountain, it's open year round. You need to go in on the Dinkey Creek side because the Tamarack side is for snowmobiles only this time of year. Figure on 3 - 3.5 hrs to get there.[/quote]

How do you know when Dusy closes? Is it a fixed date, or is it based on snowfall? It's been a warm, dry, winter. I was expecting that some trails would be open late this year.

[quote="Phimosis"]Based on the descriptions and the YouTube videos, Dusy seems like it should give the Rubicon trail a run for the money. It's rated "most difficult". It's 35 miles long and they suggest 2-3 days, 32" aggressive tires, lockers, lift and short wheel base as minimum requirements . The real appeal to me is that it's east of Fresno and could be doable on a weekend.[/quote]

Rubicon has much harder obstacles and bigger rocks than Dusy. So rig requirements for Rubicon are going to be more than for Dusy.

But Dusy is relentless, long, and exhausting - so you see more breakage on Dusy because people get bored and start rushing things. 32s are a little short for Dusy IMO, it can be done for sure, but you will hold the group up for hours picking your way through and getting the strap. You want to keep your underside as high as possible to prevent damage on that trail because you are driving over loose rocks the entire time. I just don't have the patience for that trail and tend to "double time" it to camp.

[quote="desert dog"][quote="Phimosis"]Based on the descriptions and the YouTube videos, Dusy seems like it should give the Rubicon trail a run for the money. It's rated "most difficult". It's 35 miles long and they suggest 2-3 days, 32" aggressive tires, lockers, lift and short wheel base as minimum requirements . The real appeal to me is that it's east of Fresno and could be doable on a weekend.[/quote]

Rubicon has much harder obstacles and bigger rocks than Dusy. So rig requirements for Rubicon are going to be more than for Dusy.

But Dusy is relentless, long, and exhausting - so you see more breakage on Dusy because people get bored and start rushing things. 32s are a little short for Dusy IMO, it can be done for sure, but you will hold the group up for hours picking your way through and getting the strap. You want to keep your underside as high as possible to prevent damage on that trail because you are
driving over loose rocks the entire time. I just don't have the patience for that trail and tend to "double time" it to camp.[/quote]

Good info! Thank you. With that said, any recommendations for a weekend snow run, or even a day trip? I'd prefer the western sierras, but eastern sierras or San Bernadino would be ok. Thanks in advance. :-)

[quote="Phimosis"] any recommendations for a weekend snow run, or even a day trip? I'd prefer the western sierras, but eastern sierras or San Bernadino would be ok. Thanks in advance. :-)[/quote]

Dusy is supposed to open at the end of July, but really has no fixed opening date, as the FS opens high-country trails when they feel like it. Also, the Fresno 4WD club usually does several days of trail maint before it officially opens.

As stated earlier in this thread, Bald Mt is a great snow run in the Fresno area. This is just a shitty year for snow runs, even Lake Tahoe and Mammoth have no snow right now. Locally, Piute Mt is a good snow run, but probably has almost no snow right now. A buddy of mine ran Big Bear last week and there was almost no snow, just a couple patches on the side of the road.

I wouldn't have high hopes for much snow action this year. But its a great time to do the desert trails.

We dont' have snow in CO either :(

It's been hitting town, but not the mtns! ARGH

There are many good trails east of Fresno, and Dusy isn't the best one. It's a great trail, but very long, and I won't run it in less than four days. I like having a lay day in camp one day. For snow runs, like has been said, Bald Mtn is the only trail that the FS leaves open in the winter, east of Fresno. But, the roads themselves get snow on them so you don't need a trail to drive in the snow if there's plenty of snow.

East of Bakersfield the two designated snow runs in the Sierras are Piute Mtn Rd and the road to Jerky Meadow trailhead, north of Johnsondale. If there is plenty of snow, Rancheria Rd can be a snow run to the gate, and Breckenridge Rd to the gate. Further east of the Piute's the trail to McGyver's Cabin is a snow run.

As soon as there's some good snow, there will be some snow runs posted up.

Trails outside Fresno close on Nov 1 or first significant snowfall, which ever is first. They open when the snow is gone and Fresno 4wd can get most of them cleaned up. Bald is run by Clovis Independent 4wd and never closes. Mirror is run by Lock and Low of Visalia and opens when the Red Mt trails open.
Most trails are open by the 4th of July but sometimes the snow is too thick. Last season everything opened on 19 august.
Swamp is just a s good as Dusy but can be run in 1 day but 2 is best.

[quote="Goatman"]There are many good trails east of Fresno, and Dusy isn't the best one.[/quote]

What is the best one?