How about a Spring Time WTW Rally - Carrizo Plain ?

[Tuff Guy 62]

I'll have two FRS units with me. We'll broadcast on Channel 3, no sub-channel during the geo-tour.

My wife's coworker will be unable to make the trip, so we will be a party of two. As a result I will have room for two passengers for the geo-tour. I'm working on the field guide this weekend and should have it wrapped by tomorrow night.

For the geo-tour on Saturday we will meet at Reyes Station (Junction CA 33/166 & Soda Lake Road). I'll be there no later than 8:30AM with the tour promptly departing at 9:00AM. We'll have about 70 miles to cover with 13 planned stops. I'm sure there will be a few extra stops along the way depending on wild flower conditions. It will be very important to carpool as much as possible to keep the convoy to a minimum size. A 17 rig road train will be unmanageable for the tour.

Looks like a change in the weather for the area is likely according to the NWS.

Thursday​

A slight chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 73.

Thursday Night​

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Friday​

A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.

I'll keep an eye on the forecast and provide daily updates until next Wednesday evening when I hit the road.

My plan is to arrive at the dispersed campsite by Thursday noon-time.

 

[billharr]

To get you ready for Carrizo Plain. Link to a video of Huell Howzer at Carrizo Plain. Scroll down to the video and Carrizo starts at 11:00 minutes into the video.

 

[Smokecreek1]

Bill-

I think me and "Bob" are going to have to back out of this trip-my rehab is going allot slower than I want, but better than before-it would probably take me a week to get down there! I'm limited to short trips for now, so you guys have fun and take lot's of pictures!

Smoke

 

[billharr]

Bill-

I think me and "Bob" are going to have to back out of this trip-my rehab is going allot slower than I want, but better than before-it would probably take me a week to get down there! I'm limited to short trips for now, so you guys have fun and take lot's of pictures!

Smoke

Get well, see you down the road.

 

[Basin Deranged]

Lets try for a pot luck on Saturday night. Bring what you make best.

We will make goat cheese and roasted bell pepper quesadillas for the Saturday pot luck.
Brent

 

[billharr]

We are bringing Antipasto Skewers. And a bottle of red '-)

 

[Bseek]

I am bringing potato salad and carrot cake for the Potluck.
I will be happy to ride with someone else for the Geo tour.
I will arrive mid afternoon Friday.
Hope I can find the site. I don't have a GPS.

 

[Tuff Guy 62]

Made a pot of chili verde yesterday and have it vacuumed sealed and in the freezer.

Field guides are done and ready to go.

Wednesday's high temps will be around 90 as high pressure moves in, but a change in the weather is expected from a cutoff low pressure system that predicted to move in begging Thursday evening. Current NWS point forecast for the Carrizo is as follows..

Wednesday​

Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Wednesday Night​

Mostly clear, with a low around 61. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.

Thursday​

Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.

Thursday Night​

A 30 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 52.

Friday​

A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.

Friday Night​

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Saturday​

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 65.

Saturday Night​

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.

Sunday​

A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 67.

Sunday Night​

A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.


Damp conditions should not present a problem for ingress/egress to the dispersed camp site as the road is quite sandy. I'm hoping that precipitation is light. If we receive significant measurable rainfall it will present a challenge for the geotour. Both Panorama & Simmler Roads which cross the valley are composed of sticky heavy clay soil that becomes impassable to even 4WD vehicles.

If we do receive precipitation, I'm hoping it will be just enough to keep the dust down. I'll make the sign for the dispersed camp turn-off tomorrow and post a pic tomorrow evening with an updated forecast.

I am bringing potato salad and carrot cake for the Potluck.
I will be happy to ride with someone else for the Geo tour.
I will arrive mid afternoon Friday.
Hope I can find the site. I don't have a GPS.

Bseek, the site is pretty easy to find. Turn west at the dirt road immediately south of the Traver Ranch on Soda Lake Road. Traver Ranch has an information kiosk and vault toilet, you can't miss it. We are about a mile and a half up the dirt road.

 

[Missing Link]

We will arrive early to mid afternoon on Friday. Bringing a pot of what we call "cowboy beans" (in the mild chili family). Bseek, we have one seat available and you are welcome to ride with us for the tour if you wish.

 

[hoyden]

Looks like I'm not going to be able to make the trek from Az.
Have a great time, y'all!

 

[craig333]

Planning on bringing a salad. A bit o rain is no problem. Maybe even a nice thing.

Riley is going to miss bob ;(

 

[billharr]

List updated, 15 rigs and 25 people. Just a little rain to settle the dust will be fine.


Edit: Is anyone bringing a table for food? I have a card table. If you can bring one it would help for the pot luck.


Thank you to everyone who is posting what they are bringing.

Bill

 

[Bseek]

I am bringing an Easy Up shelter and I can bring 2 four foot tables.

 

[craig333]

I'll bring a card table. Went to CSAA today. Picked up the Central Coast Region and Kern County map. Covers Carizzo pretty well.

 

[RandyP]

One of the coolest ways to enter Carrizo Plain for the first time would be to come from highway 33 near Fellows (souhth of Taft) on the mocal road, Crocker canyon road and hurricane road. This route will take you thru the oil fields, not too pretty but gives you an idea of what it takes to fill up your fuel tank. This route would take you over the Timbler range. There is a pullout at the pass where you have an overview of soda lane, Carrizo plain and Elkhorn plain. On a clear dry day it's a great vantage point. Then down the west side of the temblor range. Then north on Elkhorn plain road to San Diego creek road and across the clay dam (soda lake) to soda lake road and south to LE Traver Ranch and camp. If it rains, this might not be the best route, especially the clay dam acres soda lake.
Here's a Kmz file of Crocker canyon and hurricane roads from fellows (and Taft) to Elkhorn plain road.View attachment Hurricane Crocker canyon roads.kmz

 

[Tuff Guy 62]

I'll be bringing a six foot and four foot tables.

Attached is a thumbnail photo of the sign that will be posted at the turnoff for the dispersed campsite at the Traver Ranch.

Latest point forecast from NWS is as follows.....

Thursday​

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night​

A 40 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 52. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday​

A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 65.

Friday Night​

A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49.

Saturday​

A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 64.

Saturday Night​

A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48.

Sunday​

A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 66.

Sunday Night​

A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47.


I'll followup with a final forecast tomorrow afternoon before I leave work.

 

[billharr]

Weather for Maricopa CA. .65 in of rain on Saturday. Hope is over quick and not an all day thing, but come prepared.

 

[Tuff Guy 62]

Packed and ready to go, except for the ice chest.

Departing Salinas tomorrow after work, w/overnight in Santa Maria.

Expected ETA at Reyes Station is Thursday morning around 09:00. Dispersed camping route marker deployment @ Traver Ranch turn-off by 14:30.

If anyone is expecting to arrive earlier on Thursday, let me know. I can place the route marker earlier, if desired.

 

[K6ON]

I hope to be there around noon Thursday. Marc plans to be there around 10:00 am Thursday.

 

[Tuff Guy 62]

I hope to be there around noon Thursday. Marc plans to be there around 10:00 am Thursday.

Roger that. I'll deploy camp marker sometime between 10:30 to 11:00.

I'll be out & about, returning to camp between 15:00 & 16:00.