Shasta-Trinity and Mendo Run

[stratslingr77]

I'm a federal employee and feelin' the Gov shutdown blues...there's no cure like a good ride! With time on my hands, I plotted a route through Stonyford and continuing north through Paskenta before heading up to the fire lookout at Tomhead Mountain. I've been taking my 701 on its share of trips so I figured I'd take the big GS this time. From the east bay, we slabbed to I-505, then Hwy 16 through Guinda, Rumsey, etc., a quick jaunt east on 20, then we caught Leesville Rd. This is a fun (and scenic!) run into the bustling metropolis of--you guessed it--Leesville.



Then, north through Lodoga, Stonyford, Elk Creek, and Paskenta, where we hoped to top off on gas. Except the gas station/store was closed. Maybe they're on government shutdown hours? No biggie, we still have plenty of gas in our GSAs.

...we continued north on a series of dirt backroads and even skirted not too far from Red Bluff. I suggested "hey, maybe we should detour into Red Bluff and top off on gas?"

Monte: "Nah...we've still got 150 miles range--plenty to get us to the next gas on the route."

Me: "Ok, let's roll!"

We eventually wound our way up Long Grade (that's Mt. Shasta way off)


...and threaded our way through the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and up Tomhead Mountain.


You can see the trough in the road right below Monte where my well-worn Dunlop Trailmax Missions reached the limit of their traction. Naturally, I dumped the bike over trying to get it turned around for another try, but hey, that's adventurin', right? Once I got my bike back upright, I decided to keep my powder dry for another day and just parked next to Monte and hiked up to the top.

Your intrepid scribe.

 

[stratslingr77]

After Tomhead, the plan was to traverse over to Horse Ridge and check out the Horse Ridge and Picket Peak Lookouts. At this point, though, daylight was quickly fading and now we're starting to really think about gas since our bikes are now showing around 75 miles of range. Maybe we shoulda gone into Red Bluff after all...

So off we went through the forest. All that stood between us and Horse Ridge was the massive washout on Wild Mad Rd at Dark Canyon Creek. There's no way we're getting around that--I wouldn't even try it on my 701, much less my heifer.



Now it's getting really close to dark. Time to find a camp spot and make our gas dilemma a tomorrow problem. Not too much further along, we fund a little spur on a knoll with a clearing--perfect!


Time for Scotch n' cigars!

 

[stratslingr77]

OK...Saturday morning...up and at 'em! And a beautiful day, it is to figure out gas in the middle of nowhere!


Typing this safe at home, I'm laughing at the absurdity of gas anxiety when riding a bike with a 7.9 gal fuel capacity, but there we were with roughly 60 miles of range showing on our TFTs and a 16-mile ride out to Hwy 36. From there, it looked like the nearest town was Platina, another 10-ish miles east on 36. Easy-peasy. The ride out was BEAUTIFUL. I've got to get back to the Shasty-Trinity and explore more! East on 36 into Platina...and the place that was supposed to be the gas station....wasn't. You could see where gas pumps used to be...but that's not helping our now 37 miles of range. Well, time to head to Red Bluff, I guess...just east of Platina, we reached a summit and saw a dump truck parked at the pull-out along with a pickup with a toy hauler. Maybe toy hauler guy has gas! But they're nowhere to be found. I guess they're out riding their toys.

Dump truck driver says he's dropping his gravel load at a house up the hill and he'll ask the guy if he's got gas. Another guy rolls up in a pickup--it's the adult son of the guy receiving gravel and he rides a KTM 890...he calls dad--no gas. Meanwhile Monte had walked back over to the pickup with toy hauler and noticed a gas can in the truck bed. We availed ourselves of their gas and left a $20 on their windshield wiper. I'm sure they got back and were like "WTF is this cash doing here? And where TF is our gas???"

But I digress...now with extra gas on-board, we had enough range to make it to Weaverville via Wildwood Rd. The plan was to ride through Cecilville into Forks of Salmon. However, over lunch in Weaverville, we decided on a route change with a goal of camping on Anthony Peak. This meant cutting out Forks of Salmon and catching 299 west to Titlow Hill Rd.

...watch your speed on Hwy 299. We both got performance awards from the cute CHP Officer (are we still allowed to say that?) on the long straight descent out of Weaverville into Junction City.

 

[stratslingr77]

So gas drama and CHP drama behind us (she wrote us for 10 over, NOT what she clocked us at), we continued west on 299 to Titlow Hill Rd. After the fast sweepers of 299, Titlow Hill was a change--tight and twisty, kind of like what you'd find in the Santa Cruz mountains. The fall colors were a nice touch!



Titlow Hill Rd. becomes Berry Summit-Mad River Road. This road wound up being a highlight for the trip, traversing the tops of several ridgelines for miles on end.


We eventually wound our way back down to Hwy 36 and caught Van Duzen Rd south to Ruth-Zenia Rd into Zenia, then through Kettenpom, continuing on Zenia Lake Mountain Road for endless miles of dirt before getting into Covelo at dusk. Neither of us had the climb up to Anthony Peak in us tonight, so we got dinner in town and camped at the Eel River Campground.

 

[stratslingr77]

Sunday morning, we woke up to clear skies but within 30 minutes, an overcast and a chill had moved in. We packed up our wet tents and hustled up to Anthony Peak. Up top, it was cold and blustery--it felt like it was going to start snowing at any minute.



After messing around and taking pictures for a bit, we headed back down to M1 and made our way south through the Mendocino National Forest.


...and up to Hull Mountain. Monte and I last did Hull Mountain 4 years ago and I recall it was better to take the split to the left right before the top. I told Monte that, but he went right anyway...and dumped his bike. I went left (the saner, cooler way) and got to the top, then walked down to Monte to help him get squared away, and he was back on his game in no time.

 

[stratslingr77]

As if on cue, the weather cleared when we reached the top of Hull Mountain and it even warmed up a little. Here we are, all satisfied with ourselves!


It was mid-day so we decided to eat lunch.


After that, we made our way down to Lake Pillsbury and out to Potter Valley before slabbing home on 101. It was good to get away for a few days!

 

[Cabrito]

You guys really get around!

Big bike trips like this make me want to keep my 1090.

I guess the lookout on Anthony Peak is closed up for the winter. I was just up there with Banana Chunks and some friends a month ago.

 

[mjj]

Condolences on your forced vay-cay.

 

[stratslingr77]

You guys really get around!

Big bike trips like this make me want to keep my 1090.

I guess the lookout on Anthony Peak is closed up for the winter. I was just up there with Banana Chunks and some friends a month ago.

Ha! I've been riding my little bike like it's a big bike Gotta admit, the big GS is way more comfy!

 

[stratslingr77]

Condolences on your forced vay-cay.

Thanks. This is pretty lame.

 

[SFMCjohn]

awesome pics and trip!

Yes, it's either gasoline in Red Bluff or Hayfork up that way ... take yer pic. I usually pic Red Bluff, since I'm so close, anyway.

 

[budman]

Well with some forced time off going riding is not a bad thing. Some nice pics.

7.9 gallons / gas anxiety — that is understandable.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

Sucky reason to have time off, but a good way to make the most of it. Fall rides are some of my favorite, even if the days are a bit short.

 

[cal scott]

Well with some forced time off going riding is not a bad thing. Some nice pics.

7.9 gallons / gas anxiety — that is understandable.

Great photos of what sounded like an eventful weekend. As you were relaying the story I was wondering what I would do in that situation. Did you ever consider consolidating the gas into one bike to double the range and return to the empty bike with gas? Do you carry any tubing that would enable such a maneuver?

 

[stratslingr77]

Great photos of what sounded like an eventful weekend. As you were relaying the story I was wondering what I would do in that situation. Did you ever consider consolidating the gas into one bike to double the range and return to the empty bike with gas? Do you carry any tubing that would enable such a maneuver?

We hadn't considered it and no, we don't carry anything for siphoning. With a 7.9 gal tank, one would think gas anxiety wouldn't be a problem. But that's also assuming one makes smarter decisions

 

[stratslingr77]

Sucky reason to have time off, but a good way to make the most of it. Fall rides are some of my favorite, even if the days are a bit short.

Shoulder seasons are my favorite--especially fall, for the colors!

 

[CDONA]

Gas anxiety, I sold my 69 sporty with the 2.2 gallon tank,
and bought a R90/6, with the 6 gallon option, during the '74 gas crisis.

I would still find myself sweatin' my next gas stop.
This is when I noticed how relaxed I get, when I have a fresh full tank of Dino juice,
sitting all chill between my knees.

A cold one, between the knees, in the breeze , , ,

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

Glad you got out and had an "adventure" gas anxiety with a beast ...too funny! Good report, riding vicariously with you all

 

[dravnx]

Gas anxiety is right up there with tire anxiety.
Great trip report btw.
I gave up my adv riding but that part of California is my favorite.

 

[MtnRider]

Great report and pictures. Living in the area I have ridden some of what you did but I have so much more to explore!