We bought the Land Rover LR3 HSE just two weeks prior and after getting past the 'official' break-in point, I was itching to get it dirtied up. We decided on the Baltic Ridge Trail in El Dorado National Forest. Situated between Placerville and Pollock Pines, it looked like a relatively short drive to the trailhead, a relatively easy difficulty level (3) and a nice mix of scenery.
So, we loaded everyone up and started off on our maiden voyage!In about an hour and a half, we reached the spot where the guidebook and GPS said the trail should begin, a small forest road named 10N61. After searching unsuccessfully, we decided to take another trail (10N57) that we'd come across. Here's my first lesson - DON'T GO DOWN TRAILS YOU DON'T KNOW! As branches from various trees and bushes rake down both sides of my brand-new truck, I'm repeating a mantra in my head, "This is what you bought it for, this is what you bought it for..."
After driving down a loose slope for a few miles, we were confronted by a large fallen tree that blocked the path and since I didn't have a chainsaw, we decided it was time to turn around. Try turning around a 3-ton SUV on a narrow single-track dirt road! 
I accomplished a very inelegant 100 point turn and got us back up the hill to a campsite we'd found when looking for our original trail. We stopped to eat lunch - well, Sarenna and I ate while the boys threw rocks, sticks and their own lunches out the back of the truck. After taking a hike and letting the boys blow off some steam, we decided to make one last try and head over to the opposite end of the Baltic Rdige Trail and see if we could locate the trailhead from that side. After driving to the opposite end of the trail, we did find it - along with about 100 other intersecting unmarked roads which made navigation all but impossible. It was getting late and we decided to turn around after going only a few hundred yards down the trail.
Here are my notes on this location (10N57):
1. Trail is very brushy and has a number of relatively steep ascents and descents over moderately loose soil.
2. There are no significant rock obstacles, but many fallen logs and branches.
I accomplished a very inelegant 100 point turn and got us back up the hill to a campsite we'd found when looking for our original trail. We stopped to eat lunch - well, Sarenna and I ate while the boys threw rocks, sticks and their own lunches out the back of the truck. After taking a hike and letting the boys blow off some steam, we decided to make one last try and head over to the opposite end of the Baltic Rdige Trail and see if we could locate the trailhead from that side. After driving to the opposite end of the trail, we did find it - along with about 100 other intersecting unmarked roads which made navigation all but impossible. It was getting late and we decided to turn around after going only a few hundred yards down the trail. Here are my notes on this location (10N57):
1. Trail is very brushy and has a number of relatively steep ascents and descents over moderately loose soil.
2. There are no significant rock obstacles, but many fallen logs and branches.
Despite not finding the right trail, we had a great time! The boys loved the screeching sound the branches made as they clawed at the sides of the car. They were laughing like crazy and shouting, "Do it again Daddy!!!" Yeah, I'll get right on that... :)
No comments:
Post a Comment