Doug, I'm not a mountain biker, but I'd say riding to Washington Lake is very doable, I've seen bikes on this trail before. The trail gains 800' of elevation in the first two miles, just like Hyndman. Although the fourth of July trail winds and twists around a bit more, and there will likely be a few more people to dodge. Of course if you plan to start really early, that won't be an issue.
Should be no problem getting a large van to the trailhead. The road is really bumpy with washboards, but you don't need high clearance. And there's a big parking lot at the trailhead.
Best of luck on the climb,
Dave
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
I can hike in, just wondering about the riding.
Can you drive into trailhead with 19 RV type camper? Anyone know this?
Other wise I'm a go.
Leave trailhead earily to make sure we can be successful in our attempt. 5 AM would be my recommendation.
Take the shortcut over the mountain ridge into Chamb.. Basin, around the lake and up to the summit, retracing our steps on the way out.
what do you think?
Doug 941-8000.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
I think that you would be fine with the RV. I know you can make it in to the TH with a snowmachine/horse trailer. Other than the road being VERY narrow in spots with no real pull-outs. Once, we had to back-up DOWNHILL when a family of Douche-nozzles wouldn't put their tires off the road so we could fit by (after I put it in 4 wheel drive and drove up the bank). The other thing would be parking. That TH fills up with day-hikers. I would get there early/late.
If bikes are allowed on the trail, I would ride it for sure. When we skied Castle last year, we were able to ski back down to the bridge from the lake. So at least you would cut MAJOR time with the downhill back.
Hope that helps!
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
I rode from 4th of July TH to Washington Lake a few weeks ago. It won't be smooth singletrack like going in to Hyndman, but I think I was able to ride almost the entire way and I don't consider myself a great technical rider. Going up to the pass has a lot of rocks and after there are a few sharp switchbacks and short steep descents IIRC. Probably can't ride back up these either but I wouldn't know since I looped all the way around Castle via Boulder Chain & Born Lakes. If I were climbing Castle again and taking the shortcut, I don't know if I'd bother taking a bike since it's only 2.5 miles each way. Although the quick descent back to the TH from 4th of July lake on a FS bike was pretty damn fun.
FYI, I haven't ridden this (too much gravel road), but the Falcon Guide "Mtn Biking Sun Valley" describes a loop up 4th of July Rd, over to Washington Lake, out Germania Creek, and back around via Polecat and Valley Rd. It's described as "difficult/abusive". Have fun.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
I was planning to take the same route. Hit the trail early and enjoy the hike.
I don't like that trail on bike because the ride is fairly short but rocky, so you would have to push the bike at some points. You could ride until the top of the saddle before Washington Lake, which would help a little. I can ride the bike if you want to.
The road is decent. There were some deeper potholes, but you could get through with a passenger car or a van. There is a fairly large trailhead. I will drive a SUV.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
The weather was great, You would not have know their was a fire.
But climbed Johnstone peak out of Sun Valley on sat. It was smokey and Galena was socked in sat. night when we drove over to it.
We had the best day, clear, cool, slightly overcast, no to hot.
Scoring disabled. You must be logged in to score posts.
