Mormon Emigrant Trail open to get to Bonetti Road?

[jmpeal]

Almost if it snows, it often melts pretty fast if we get a warmer storm with rain in Pollock Pines. There a few weather Pollock pines webcams if you search Google .

[Sapperforward]

Was up there on Saturday 11/7 shooting all day. We had a very light dusting of snow as we shot.

We went back the next day, Sunday, 11/8 to ride dirt bikes and there was a foot of snow in Pollock Pines at exit 60 (sly park). My buddies 2x4 truck almost got stuck just leaving the exit ramp turning around when we aborted plans. No snow on the ground all the way to exit 57 then BAM.

FYI

[kev301]

Went up there today to do some plinking, there was snow but it was reachable.

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[vik1200]

Heading up today to send some down range. Will update on the conditions when I return.

[Luciansulla]

Neat, curious how it’s looking. I know they closed the gate at highway 88, at least according to the forest service.

[vik1200]

Today. Was there for 3 hours and left around 2pm, was starting to get chilli. No snow however the ground was soggy, bet the snow melted within the week.

I picked up the trash and also left 12 heavy duty trash bags on the tree stump for others to help them self’s. We all enjoy the great out doors and the small privileges allowed to practice our 2nd amendment. Please do your part!

[dfriedma12]

How did you make it up there? On their website it says the road is closed?

[vik1200]

Originally Posted by dfriedma12

How did you make it up there? On their website it says the road is closed?

Road was open as normal when I went. Gates at Dam we’re open as well with no restrictions.

As someone mentioned previously, they never close the gate and the area is open hear round however you most likely can’t get to it because if the snow in he winter time.


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[dfriedma12]

Super appreciate all the helpful info. Never been up but gonna try my luck this week. Any chance anyone wants to post a map pick with a ping on best spot or spots to try?

[vik1200]

Originally Posted by dfriedma12

Super appreciate all the helpful info. Never been up but gonna try my luck this week. Any chance anyone wants to post a map pick with a ping on best spot or spots to try?

Please check pm


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[vik1200]

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Dude, send it in PM. Last thing we need is this place to get shut down because chitbirds leaving trash.

True, Done


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[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by vik1200

True, Done


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[galaxius]

Anyone been at the trail recently? Hows the snow?

[jmpeal]

I was wondering the same thing too, how far the snow goes up on the road where all the shooting spots are. Want to do a little overnighter up there sooner. Mountain air....

[kev301]

I was there two week ago, the snow wasn’t that bad.. I was able to go pass the bridge and go up till it open up. Some area there were snow but I was able to go to the shooting spot

[jmpeal]

Did a last minute overnight camping trip with my son on Wednesday. Pretty much all clear until the road forks. One of my places I like to camp pretty deep had enough snow where did want to chance it. Went to another back up spot away from everyone but not a single person I saw or heard except that famous white mini van that is always up there. Lol Saw him on my way down. Few pics of the terrain. Supposed to snow next week pretty low.

[vik1200]

@jmpeal thank you for the update. I’d love to go camping overnight there but the white van always scares me away :-)


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[kev301]

I was up there today and there were people camping. It was nice and sunny. B6DA948E-B692-4F2A-B4EB-DEBF02C36CB0.jpg

[vik1200]

Looks like our spots burned up. Can anyone confirm?



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[Loopwell]

I'm pretty sure this is all eaten up by fire.

[jmpeal]

Yep it is all gone. Take a look at the structure damage link on this page. You can see where the fire burned via street.
https://www.edcgov.us/Pages/Caldor-Fire.aspx

[creepyoldgamer]

Very sad day indeed.

[galaxius]

Anyone go up there recently to assess the damage? I'm assuming now that the place is burned down it's actually less of a fire hazard to shoot out there? As sad as that sounds.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by galaxius

Anyone go up there recently to assess the damage? I'm assuming now that the place is burned down it's actually less of a fire hazard to shoot out there? As sad as that sounds.

Wondering if MET is open to 88. Does anyone know?

[jmpeal]

I believe the road is open but forest closed till the end of month.

[hawks]

CALDOR FIRE CLOSURE - The forest wide closure has been replaced with the Caldor Fire Closure. All roads, trails, and facilities within the fire closure area are closed. This includes Morman Emigrant Trail. Forest Order 03-21-18
Go to the El Dorado National Forest web site to view the closure map. It's a large area.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by jmpeal

I believe the road is open but forest closed till the end of month.

I went to Tahoe this weekend, stopped to check if MET was closed on my way back. MET is CLOSED before Bonetti. There was a security guard there.

[WLDWUN]

Originally Posted by vik1200

Looks like our spots burned up. Can anyone confirm?

shooting areas are not as bad as the rest of the forest
all of them will be usable when the forest opens next year. (4/1/2022)

Originally Posted by jmpeal

Yep it is all gone.

the first 4 miles of Bonetti is not that bad. Yes it did burn almost everywhere in the area. the red cabin (Campini) at 4 miles was destroyed.

Originally Posted by galaxius

Anyone go up there recently to assess the damage? I'm assuming now that the place is burned down it's actually less of a fire hazard to shoot out there? As sad as that sounds.

the area got burned bad just as you go in Bonetti but lightens up about a mile in.
Stonebreaker creek area is not bad at all as well as the 3 large shooting areas before you drop down to Camp Creek. at the river, the fire was light even though there was a tree still with viable flame yesterday right in that area. the shooting area on the left going up the hill looks good with some burned logs on the ground. the big area at the top of the hill is fine, though the trees in the back are going to die from the heat they saw. next area up on the left looks good, one downed burned log blocking the entrance to it. once you pass the 4 miles post it gets very ugly. cabin is gone, everything is scorched for a mile section after that. All the very big trees alone the road are gone (6-8 foot diameter) the last shooting area on the right didn't get hit to hard, but the very large 8 foot fir there is gone (40 foot burnt pole)
lots of smoldering still in the area, with a few visible flames 8 weeks after the fire went through

Originally Posted by California_Deplorable

Wondering if MET is open to 88. Does anyone know?

MET and all road into the burn area are closed. MET has a staffed check point 1/4 mile past the dam, you will not get in without a permit or reason to be there. the are falling hazard trees along many roads right now as well as cutting a lot of timber in the North South road area and up higher near Silverfork

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by WLDWUN

MET and all road into the burn area are closed. MET has a staffed check point 1/4 mile past the dam, you will not get in without a permit or reason to be there. the are falling hazard trees along many roads right now as well as cutting a lot of timber in the North South road area and up higher near Silverfork

Yeah I know, see my post right above yours. I scouted it out last weekend.

[j15w]

I noticed the Caldor Fire Closure expires on 3/31. Are they simply going to issue another, or is there hope we can start using this land again?

[Skip_Dog]

Have hope. Clean up trash.

[WLDWUN]

I talked with the Forest Supervisor at length last week. there will be a new Forest Order issued tomorrow as the current one expires tonight.

the new order will be opening up much of the area, but still keeping many areas closed do to safety issues.
Bonetti has some lightly burned area, and others that are 100% mortality. please take care of what it left. there are a few areas that will be closed permanently for shooting (Stonebreaker creek for example), but we never should have been using those areas to begin with.

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by WLDWUN

I talked with the Forest Supervisor at length last week. there will be a new Forest Order issued tomorrow as the current one expires tonight.

the new order will be opening up much of the area, but still keeping many areas closed do to safety issues.
Bonetti has some lightly burned area, and others that are 100% mortality. please take care of what it left. there are a few areas that will be closed permanently for shooting (Stonebreaker creek for example), but we never should have been using those areas to begin with.

Will MIT be opened to 88 this year?

[WLDWUN]

well here ya go!

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...prd1008718.pdf

Yes, it is open tomorrow, but not all the way thru due to snow

Elkins area will remain closed as well as all the campgrounds and a few roads

[California_Deplorable]

Originally Posted by WLDWUN

well here ya go!

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE...prd1008718.pdf

Yes, it is open tomorrow, but not all the way thru due to snow

Elkins area will remain closed as well as all the campgrounds and a few roads

Looks like everything east of Carson Spur will be open.

[vik1200]

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[California_Deplorable]

Yes

[jmpeal]

Anyone been up there lately? How she look? Was thinking of taking a drive up there this week and change it up and shoot somewhere different and see if all my old camping spots are gone .

[kev301]

I was up there yesterday and it’s still doable. We were up there shooting Saturday and there were others there as well.

Originally Posted by jmpeal

Anyone been up there lately? How she look? Was thinking of taking a drive up there this week and change it up and shoot somewhere different and see if all my old camping spots are gone .

[WLDWUN]

I have been up many times over the last 2 months. all of the areas are being used almost on a daily basis. most of them did well in the fire. for a real eye opener go back 4.5 miles and everything burned to sticks.

we need to get people to stop putting targets on live trees. if you see them doing it, give them a polite reminder that there is a hefty fine for doing so. there also will be a heavier push to cite for that violation.

Trash is building again slowly and hope to get a group out there soon to do what can be done.