Trip report: boondocking in Sonora Pass in a trailer

[profdant139]

We just got back from ten days in the Sonora Pass area of Northern California. Despite the 26% (!!) grade and the hairpin turns, we had no trouble going either up or down, and we were also able to tow the trailer (very slowly) over the rough forest roads to a good campsite overlooking the McKay Creek area and Leavitt Peak.

Here is a link to the blog entry -- lots of pictures:

Sonora Pass Trip Report

The trip report is way too long to reproduce here. (I know some folks prefer not to have to click on a link to get to trip reports, and I apologize for not duplicating it.) As a consolation prize (and an "appetizer"), here is a photo of the view from our campsite:



(Someone once commented that the way we set up our "cocktail hour" chairs looks like a Cialis commercial. I can assure you that no endorsement is expressed or implied -- that is just the way we have always set up our campsite.)

In all honesty, I should add that for those of you with trailers, Sonora Pass is not an ideal boondocking area, unless you have a very short trailer with great ground clearance and a truck that has a tow rating at least double the weight of your trailer. But this area is perfect for truck campers. And we saw almost nobody boondocking, even though this was in late June.

If you go, bring plenty of water -- it is a long drive to the nearest campground. And be prepared to hang your trash in a bag from a tree branch -- there is no trash facility within a half hour, either. And no cell coverage. But that's ok -- it's boondocking!!

[brokeboater]

profdant139 wrote:
I have a built-in advantage -- my wife is just over five feet tall and very petite.

I thought about going that route but the divorce cost was prohibitive.

[profdant139]

Black7beard, I have a built-in advantage -- my wife is just over five feet tall and very petite. So I don't need a big trailer -- my hiking boots take up more room than she does!

[brokeboater]

Very nice. I had to save it for later reading, but thank you very much. I'm in the process of downsizing considerably and trying to minimalise but you've got me beat by a long shot. Due to close on a Nash 23.5 tomorrow if all goes well. That cuts 6.5' and 5,000#s off my last rig. I don't know if I'll ever be able to whittle it down to your size but one never knows. Thanks again for taking the time.

[profdant139]

DR650, I bought it slightly used from a private party, and there is no brand name on the unit. The Renogy suitcase models are similar, but they come with a warranty, which might be a handy thing. I took a gamble on this unit -- no warranty -- but so far, so good!

[spacedoutbob]

Great Post and Photos, Thank you very much for posting.

Bob in Calif.

[DR650]

Thanks for sharing your trip with us.
I'm looking at portable solar kits. What kit did you end up getting?
Brand, seller info, maybe a link to where you bought yours. Thanks.

[Orcadrvr]

Great pictures!

Thanks for sharing!

[profdant139]

Calisdad, I agree that most trailers should not go up that road. I had to think long and hard about undertaking this trip, including a very detailed conversation with a CHP officer in Bridgeport. I described my rig to her -- a Tacoma with a 6000 lb. rating and a 2500 lb. trailer, which is ten feet from the hitchball to the axle. She told me that I would have no trouble, and she was right.

But I would say that any trailer that is more than 15 feet from ball to axle should not try that road. And unless you have a huge margin of safety (a tow capacity double the trailer's weight), don't do it. We also carry chains for both the truck and the trailer. We have never used them, but I have practiced putting them on and taking them off on my nice dry driveway. (Not as much fun as doing it in the slush, though.)

And to answer your question about the elevation, we do have to acclimate for a day or so. So, for example, we set up camp on a Monday afternoon (at 9000 feet) and did no serious hiking until Tuesday morning, with a trailhead at 9500 and a slow climb up to almost 11,000 feet. (That's why I take so many pictures -- it's a great excuse to stop and catch my breath!)

[Calisdad]

Thanks for another great trip report. Amazing that the gooseberries are just flowering up there and at 3000' they are all but finished. You must have a great constitution that you don't have to acclimate to the elevation.

Taking a trailer over Sonora Pass is not recommended. Every year people, even big rigs, get stuck. The tow fee and the ticket make it so not worth it. We went over in April and the weather went from hot to snow to dumping rain. It even was a burden on our 21' MH with a big Ford 460.

[profdant139]

reasely, well done, and thanks for the cleanup! I wonder if it would be worthwhile for someone with a metal detector to go up there to collect all of the spent brass -- we saw a tremendous amount of it in the gravel, all over the place. I would think that the metal would be valuable -- not sure if it is worth the effort of finding it and picking it up, though.

When we were up in Sonora Pass, Leavitt Lake Road was closed -- I talked to the ranger in Bridgeport the other day, and it was closed so they could repair some of the off-road damage -- but it is now open.

[reasley]

The road into Leavitt Lake has always been a high clearance 4x4 road. The torn up road is due to people with 2 wheel drive trying to get up there. I've pulled several vehicles out of that dry creek bed about half way up, who had high centered themselves.

Every fall the area is inundated with hunters. My off road club spends time every year cleaning up their hunting(boondocking)camps.

[profdant139]

Cal, September would be a great time -- the aspens will be changing and the mosquitoes are dead!

[korbe]

profdant139 wrote:
Korbe, the camera was on a tripod with a 12 second timer. There are many funny shots of me running awkwardly, almost getting back into the shot when the shutter snapped. They make these remote triggers where you just click a button from wherever you are and the camera will take the shot -- no more running! Plus it gives you a lot more range than a 12 second sprint. I really should invest in one of those things . . . .

And a toast with the red solo cups......perfect. Thanks for sharing.

[cewillis]

That's a outstanding trip in a really pretty area. I may come back that way in Sept. I remember once being 'run off the road' by a cattle head up that way (in a sports car at the time). Beautiful pictures, especially the night shots. I agree with you 100% that links to TRs are perfectly fine.