Usal Beach, TWT, Kettenpom, Hyampom ...

[SFMCjohn]

Good stuff! I've been around there a few times but missed all the good roads. Need to fix that.

Hey rodr,

All the roads look great in spring-time green, too ...
I'd have missed all the good ones without
a guide ... arty

 

[SFMCjohn]

Of all the places I've been riding so far in CA, this area is the one I liked the most. Are you guys going to share any tracks? I'd like to get lost there sometime soon.

Mario i have tracks. I'm heading that way again in a few weeks.

Hi Mario,

Really enjoyed this area, too ... Looking forward to
more exploring in July at the Weaverville Rally ...

Sounds like TWT has you covered on
the tracks ... I still have not adopted GPSs ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

... next morning it was back to
Mad River before attempting to venture north
of Hwy 36, the south side of which is my usual
imaginary "weekend" ride boundary ...
and really, the imaginary boundary is
more like south of FH-7/Mendo Pass ...

... visiting the butcher in Mad River ... free samples!

... exploring South Fork Road we soon hit snow ...

... DOT knobbie-slicks in action ...

... and, that's as far as we go, this way, anyway ...

... Forty-six miles north to Hwy 299 and Berry Summit ... be a sweet
ride when the snow is gone ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

I did have Cary's SPOT device on this trip, because she
handed it to me on my way out the door ...

Here's the useless map of the Usal Road area
the SPOT generated ...
the turn off is near #29 on the map ...
the famous Usal causeway
is at #30 ...

 

[bcv_west]

Let me know if you guys are looking for extra riders to carry fuel and take more pictures

+1

 

[SFMCjohn]

Let me know if you guys are looking for extra riders to carry fuel and take more pictures

+1

I did the Buckhorn BackCountry Byway a few years ago. Don't know if that's on your route but it should be.

BLM website for: Buckhorn BackCountry Byway ...

There's an idea for a ride ... arty
never heard of
the Buckhorn BackCountry Byway ...
the Pine Dunes sound cool ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

... back down the hill on South Fork road ...

... and on to Hyampom via Hwy 36, Hwy 3, gas at Hayfork and then
due west to Hyampom ... didn't look like much when we got
there ...

... looks like "-pom" may mean "land?" ...

... we soon scouted out the gas pump, general store and restaurant/bar ...

Everyone in the bar was very friendly ... which was nice ...
the barkeep told us all about the famous Hyampom pie-auction
that raises money for the local community center ...

One thing about the weed industry in the north is that it
seems to bring young people back into these little communities ...
kind of nice to see ... I was surprised at all the young people
we saw in Kettenpom, Mad River, Hayfork and Hyampom

At this point, TWT and I said our goodbys, she off to see
mama (BARF kiddie-stalker-n00bie! ) and me, having
been ground to hamburger trying to keep up with TWT, off
to find a spot for a nap ... arty

 

[SFMCjohn]

... and ... naptime! arty

 

[Cabrito]

haha John,
our KLR's do like the occasional naps don't they?

 

[SFMCjohn]

haha John,
our KLR's do like the occasional naps don't they?

Regarding my KLR, I'd say regular naps ...
... a good example of why I don't try to ride
around the Reiff/Rayhouse Road gate by myself ... arty

 

[SFMCjohn]

... and the bike unloaded, so I could
pick it back up ...

(I let it roll off the side stand stopping
for a pic ...)

This is the dirt road south from
Hyampom ... it drops down to
one of the branches of the
Trinity River, I guess, north
of Hyw 36 and WEST (golly, I'm dyslexic! ) of Hwy 3 ...

I'll make a left onto Limedyke Lookout Road ...
trying to find my way back south to Hwy 36 ...

 

[two wheel tramp]

I need to know, what road is that?

 

[SFMCjohn]

I need to know, what road is that?

Google calls it Deep Gulch/Saint John Road ...
it was the big left we saw just before
the last drop down into Hyampom ...
maybe a couple of miles from the gas pump ...

It was very pretty, with some epic blooming
madrone trees and river views ...
DOT knobbie-slick worthy ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

... the relatively useless SPOT screenshot
of our Mad River-Hayfork-Hyampom
loop ... gives one an idea of the part of
the world, anyway ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

A madrone tree in bloom on Deep Gulch/St. John Road ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

... Limedyke Lookout ... a good place to
try to camp next time ... arty

... the Trinity Alps from Limedyke Lookout ...

 

[HeatXfer]

In Love with that area. Thanks you two!

 

[SFMCjohn]

Even though I was there I want more, now!!!

(I better start my report )

In Love with that area. Thanks you two!

Hey HeatXfer,

Fantastic area, it was so cool to get off
of Hwy 36 bad Hwy 3 and explore
the other roads in the area ...

All thanks to TWT,
I'd have been sitting at home
on the sofa, instead of
having a chance to explore
this wonderful part of the world ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

... the engine of the
local economy ...?

This was posted over a big
Forest Service sign at the
intersection of Hwy 36
and RD 7/Trinity Pines Dr/Post Mt Road ...

I'll find another
way next time ... (RD 14, I think ...)

this way took
me through many small landholdings
that had been forced to put up huge
screening fences around their
property, presumably due to
a concern that the Feds would be
unduly interested in what was going on ...
it was a creepy area, that demonstrated how prohibition
was impacting how people live, and sad ...

... just avoid it out of respect for
the local's desire for privacy,
I've never had a bad experience (yet)
from growers ...

Can't imagine the fear that motivated
these huge, expensive PIA screening
fences ... reminded me of the
stone castle/forts constructed on mountaintops
in France by people who
were being burned alive by the church ...
... there's motivation for you ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

I rode on ...

Wild Mad Road ...

Made a left on Little Black Rock Road
and got turned around by snow ...

I'd been catching glimpses of Mt Lassen and Mt Shasta
through the trees, and became captivated
with the idea that I could find a campsite with:

1) a view of the sunset;
2) a view of the sunrise;
3) a view of Mt. Lassen; and
4) a view of Mt. Shasta ...

... good luck with that ... arty