Coyote Flat, CA (5-days)

[SWbySWesty]

EDIT: PICTURES ARE ON PAGE 3 OF THE THREAD!

Hi Everyone! Coyote Flat expedition was a 100% success! It was the first time that I've gone extended camping since I was a little kid doing it on horseback!

My girlfriend and I left late Monday morning and drove out to Bishop, CA. We stopped at Vons for dry ice and food (we already had drinks in one cooler with 3 frozen bottles of water (2-Liter size). We then stopped at the sporting goods store (Wilson's) for a bear vault since all the LA area stores were SOLD OUT! :Wow1:

Then we hit the trail for Coyote Flat off of Schober Lane. We used Charles Wells "Guide to Northern California backroads and 4x4 trails". We camped at the first primitive sites about 8 miles in because it was dark by then. This is when we discovered that I had forgotten the poles to my nice canvas tent over 300 miles away! :costumed-smiley-007 My girlfriend seeing my bad mood brewing came through with 3rd grade engineering and fabricated a fort with 2 chairs inside the tent. Needless to say we were warm and she's a keeper for being a good sport! We then ate like royalty with a fresh batch of frozen Bertolli shrimp fettucini cooked on the propane stove.

After that, we opened up the tequila...we didn't use cups and it went downhill from there and the next morning was a wee rough on me :coffee:. We trucked back down the route into town for a mexican lunch at Amigos in Bishop and then went to Kmart for an el cheapo $30 tent which proved fantastic. Back up the hill we went and we followed the directions in the book all the way to the Baker Creek campground. There was not a soul in site as we "bounced" over the rocky ground picking lines so that we wouldn't break the underside of the Jeep Cherokee. We set up camp in the afternoon and broke out the sun shower on the roof to heat up. We were the only ones in campground for THREE DAYS!

So let's see - day 3 - we would wake up late on our camping pad from Cabela's which is a phenomenal piece of car camping equipment. It's very bulky and not for everyone, but we figured that if we're taking the Jeep, we're taking the luxuries...we'll save the hardcore for the backpacking! So between our camping pad (which was more comfy than a futon mattress while much thinner), solar heated camp shower (104 degree showers kept us clean for tent fun :ylsmoke: and the little $15 aluminum table from Big 5 allowed a pleasant dining table near the Cabela's suitcase camp kitchen which was also ESSENTIAL to car camping! We had it all!

We'd wake up late, make breakfast of potatoes o'brien, tortillas and cholula hot sauce and a side of pancakes and bacon! We'd clean it all up and repump a full aquatainer of fresh filtered water direct from Baker Creek. The filter and corresponding chlorine drops yielded better tasting water than any bottled water! We then filled up the camelbak and hiked all around and up to Baker Lake and Hidden Lake with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We didn't go far enough to hit Thunder and Lightning Lakes. We came back when the sun was in a good spot and showered off which felt :drool:!!!! We cooked up a nice dinner of bratwurst and beans and later had s'mores over the fire!

Day 4 we drove over to Funnel Lake. While the lake was specified in the book, the road was not. I would definitely take your time as we did as the trail was definitely a moderate trail (for a stock height Jeep Cherokee). After banging around on the rocks and having a grand old time, we found a false lake right before Funnel Lake. Being slightly disappointed in its size, we pushed onward looking for the REAL Funnel Lake only to find it a stone's throw over a slight hill about 1/10 of a mile away! We hung out and had lunch and then made the hike over the rocks to Rocky Bottom Lake which is right behind Funnel Lake over a swarm of boulders/rocks. The drive back to camp was a fun one and we bonded. We showered off quickly and made a great dinner of Hebrew National Hot Dogs and Velveeta Mac n Cheese with a nice bottle of wine to boot!

So now, it's Thursday night and a few other people have arrived at the campsite. We're kinda bummed because we liked our solitude! We decided to see how we felt on Friday to decide on whether to stay or not. We woke up Friday to a relatively windy morning and decided to break down camp. We packed everything up better than before (nothing rattled an inch on the way down) and we went exploring! We went up a huge vista road to the top of the meadow's mountains and overlooked down to Big or Lone Pine. We decided that if we had extra fuel, we'd have tried the route down into the town, but we also wanted to backtrack to see teh Schober Mine! So back down into Coyote Flat we went and tracked all the way to the Schober Mine. A cool little site and a fun adventure awaited us for the ride back.

On the way back, we went up another unmarked road to the top of a mountain. Upon seeing that it could potentially go in the right direction, we put the book aside and busted out our regional Bishop map which listed trails including OHV trails. We were on a random ATV route that would connect back to the main road right near the fork at Coyote Flat! Let's dooo it! The road wasn't well maintained and you could tell it was traveled by light ATV's but the Jeep ran it like a champ!

After that, we just headed down to Bishop for a quick late lunch and trucked it back to Los Angeles where we rallied to go out and went ice blocking in Malibu!

Let's see: I know some people said they were going up for the weekend to Coyote Flat...did anyone happen to see us? We were in a white Jeep Cherokee and saw a bunch of other 4wheelers as we left the flat on Friday!

PICTURES ARE ON PAGE 3 OF THIS THREAD!!!

[SoCal_80]

Can't wait for the photos as this is a trip I have been wanting to go on for some time now. Thanks for the report and i am looking forward to the photos! Did you happen to make into Rusty's in Bishop for a drink?

[SWbySWesty]

nope, no Rusty's...after the trip, we just wanted to get home as it was about 4pm when we were getting out of town with a 5+ hour drive ahead of us!

AdventureDuo recently went there: Here's their site: http://www.adventureduo.com/2008/07/coyote-flats-eastern-sierras.html

[adventureduo]

Sweet! Can't wait to see the photos.. i love Coyote Flats dude.

[JChatary]

That sounds like you had an epic trip....right down to the tequila! :victory:

I went to Coyote Flats with AdventureDuo, and YES...it was an AMAZING trip! Look forward to seeing your pics!

[spressomon]

CF is a great place to hang when the summer heat is burning high down in the valley. We were there with a group of rigs a couple weeks ago and almost had the place to ourselves.

Better enjoy it while we can because its under constant threat of getting closed for wilderness. I think it is the only access to 10,000'+ on the Eastern Sierra that has remained open for motorized rigs.

But you don't want to be there during rifle deer hunting season. A few years ago we made that mistake and counted ten...YES TEN!...deer camps. That's a fairly small chunk of land for TEN deer camps. And a little unnerving to hear shots ring out at daybreak! And I'm a hunter :)

[nwoods]

as we "bounced" over the rocky ground picking lines so that we wouldn't break the underside of the Jeep Cherokee.

Three cheers for the GF, sounds like a keeper. Yes, those basketball sized cobblestones are quite jouncy.

http://nwoods.smugmug.com/photos/168861431_FykHZ-L.jpg

Did you make it down to the meadow on the south end? I don't have any good photos of it, but you can kinda see it in the shadows of this image:

http://nwoods.smugmug.com/photos/168861307_VaKoH-L.jpg

[cellularsteve2]

Nice write up. I went with AD and Ringin10 and it is a great place. Glad you made it to the lakes. That would be a cool place to camp too.

Waiting for your pic's.:victory:


BTW I am in LA also and have a White XJ.

steve

[RocKrawler]

pics... pics... pics...

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a148/ericrwalker/pichers1.jpg

[JChatary]

Nice write up. I went with AD and Ringin10 and it is a great place. Glad you made it to the lakes. That would be a cool place to camp too.

Waiting for your pic's.:victory:


BTW I am in LA also and have a White XJ.

steve

Steve! How are you doing??? Long time no hear!!! We all need to get together and go on another trip real soon!!!!

*bring those amazing brownies*

[kellymoe]

Did it look like this?

[adventureduo]

Did it look like this?

Pic# 052! :Wow1:

[SWbySWesty]

Did it look like this?

Why yes, it did. The gf goes home to Monterey today and will hopefully upload photos soon!

[SWbySWesty]

Can't wait for the photos as this is a trip I have been wanting to go on for some time now. Thanks for the report and i am looking forward to the photos! Did you happen to make into Rusty's in Bishop for a drink?

but we did stop at Indian Wells Brewery on the way back. We got a 6-pack variety and man, so far each one has been great!

[spressomon]

Here's a link to a video Snook made of our CF trip a couple weeks ago:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/4706489-post43.html

[adventureduo]

Great video... thanks for sharing.

[SoCal_80]

but we did stop at Indian Wells Brewery on the way back. We got a 6-pack variety and man, so far each one has been great!

Ya, Indian Wells has some great brews! They brew for a lot of smaller "breweries" in the LA area. They will actually put your own label on their stuff for a very reasonable fee...(My buddy has done this a couple of times for bbq's and other events). But ya, nothing like a nice brewery in the middle of the desert. Do they still have a tasting room or did they stop doing that ?

[SWbySWesty]

Do they still have a tasting room or did they stop doing that ?

Tasting room is still there, but was closed when we visited so we just purchased at the restaurant next door.

[SWbySWesty]

Here are a few photos from my phone. I should have the photos from my gf's camera later tonight!
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31483&d=1250875078
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31484&d=1250875078
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31485&d=1250875078

[SoCal_80]

Thanks for the update! Keep the photos coming...

[SWbySWesty]

and full photo barrage for anyone interested!
Sunset on the way up
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758127284717_3620585_43832457_1526506_n.jpg
My girlfriend
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758130393487_3620585_43832478_5241859_n.jpg
Camp kitchen
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758130428417_3620585_43832481_670303_n.jpg
Coyote Flat
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758133622017_3620585_43832560_6253045_n.jpg
Solar Shower (essential for 5 day trips)
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758133681897_3620585_43832564_2311781_n.jpg
Enjoying a bottle of wine our second night
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758137239767_3620585_43832597_2780929_n.jpg

[SWbySWesty]

The view from the campsite
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758140712807_3620585_43832776_5606150_n.jpg
The meadow
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758140717797_3620585_43832777_4450966_n.jpg
Hiking around the meadow
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758140727777_3620585_43832778_731910_n.jpg
Me being awesome
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758140742747_3620585_43832780_6822339_n.jpg
The Jeep going to Funnel Lake
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758159584987_3620585_43833764_6734921_n.jpg
Funnel Lake!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758159604947_3620585_43833767_563193_n.jpg

[SWbySWesty]

Better Funnel Lake photo
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758162738667_3620585_43833870_6625211_n.jpg
We hiked over to Rocky Bottom Lake
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758162763617_3620585_43833872_2017992_n.jpg

More to come...

[adventureduo]

Awesome.... for some reason im finding an 1980's theme. The sunglasses, the XJ, the camp chair. Too cool.

[SWbySWesty]

more Funnel Lake on the way back
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758166546037_3620585_43834110_5758610_n.jpg
Yea...we decided to go up it
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758169799517_3620585_43834310_2393186_n.jpg
From the top, we could see down into Lone Pine...the map said we could possibly make it, but we wanted to head to schober mine!
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758169824467_3620585_43834312_3257084_n.jpg
The glacier
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758171715677_3620585_43834343_1434872_n.jpg
River coming down the road on the way to Schober Mine
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758171725657_3620585_43834344_1960267_n.jpg

[SWbySWesty]

Fun wildlife! BAMBI!
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758171735637_3620585_43834345_1956492_n.jpg
some cabin built into the trees
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758171740627_3620585_43834346_2291026_n.jpg
Backside view on the way to the mine
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758175807477_3620585_43834598_2891462_n.jpg
The mine with my trusty guidebook! (most of you may recognize it!)
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758175827437_3620585_43834600_499458_n.jpg
Crazy Dave driving along the cliff!
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758175837417_3620585_43834601_7740603_n.jpg
Coming back from the mine
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758175852387_3620585_43834604_2142399_n.jpg

[SWbySWesty]

Dave gettin' wild on the trail!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758180098877_3620585_43834717_7452091_n.jpg
Dave runnin' down the ATV trail back towards the Schober mine road that we took the long way around to get to!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758180103867_3620585_43834718_359078_n.jpg
Me, Sam and Dave with the trusty guidebook and Coyote Flat behind us!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758180118837_3620585_43834719_677384_n.jpg
Water crossing!
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758180128817_3620585_43834721_69256_n.jpg
coming down into Bishop
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758181376317_3620585_43834732_3274738_n.jpg
Dave and I giving a thumbs up for the trip!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs173.snc1/6488_758181381307_3620585_43834733_1176845_n.jpg

[nwoods]

Awesome.... for some reason im finding an 1980's theme. The sunglasses, the XJ, the camp chair.


Its the socks :-)

[nwoods]

My girlfriend
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758130393487_3620585_43832478_5241859_n.jpg

Cute! (I'm referring to those adorable little tires :-)
The GF is good looking too :clapsmile



Enjoying a bottle of wine our second night
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs193.snc1/6488_758137239767_3620585_43832597_2780929_n.jpg

Very cool photo. Love the expressions.

[kellymoe]

You know a lot of people couldnt pull off the sweats tucked in to the socks look, but you, you really pull that outfit together.

Great TR. I am 42 and I have been going up to Coyote since I was 6 months old, I cant think of a single Summer that I have not made it up there, even a few Winters:sombrero: The place grows on you. Again, great TR.

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Yea, it's the socks, but

I was thinking '60s, with the socks outside the sweats !!

Wonderful pics and did you notice how warm the water got, in the black shower bag? ain't they great ??

:costumed-smiley-007:safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

[SWbySWesty]

The solar showers are amazing! up to 104 degrees!
Thanks for the girlfriend compliments ;) she'll be pleased.
haha- I only got 2 bug bites the whole trip which COINCIDENTALLY one was on my ankle!!! LOL

[jeepmedic46]

It looks like it was a great trip and beautiful pics. Thank you for sharing.

[cellularsteve2]

Good to see you the other night.
Great writeup and photos. Looking forward to your build. We should plan a trip to bigbear and I will bring my XJ too.
PM me.

steve

[milo12]

Thanks for the pictures and writeup.

Is labor day too late in the year to go visit?

When is deer season? I don't want to have to deal with tons of hunters.

[SWbySWesty]

Seems like it would be fine to visit next weekend. I have no idea about hunting season though - anybody else?
Just read up on Mt Whitney! Sounds fun for an expedition to work at

[TJDIV]

Looks like a fun trip! Props on the socks in the windpants.

I was always amazed on the drive up to Mammoth at just "how much" territory there is in that area. I never got a chance to traipse around though. Maybe one day.

Until I do, thanks for the pictures and the write up!

[kellymoe]

I was up there a month ago and everything looked great, we camped at the lower Baker Creek spot next to the meadow. I just got back 10 minutes ago from another trip with the family and the same trail into Baker Creek is now closed permanently with signage and large wood barricade. I also noticed several other new blocked trails in the same area. Anyone know whats going on? It was a bummer to drive all the way up there only to find our favorite spot closed.

[SWbySWesty]

WOW - really? So the road to the upper campground with the vault toilet is closed? I was planning to head up there this fall pretty soon. I'll have to call the rangers

[Jeff Wanamog]

Send me a PM when you find out whats going on. I was going to go up next weekend with my son.
Jeff

[kellymoe]

The trail to the end of the road is still open, the campsite with the toilet. The trail that is closed is to a campsite about 3/4 mile back down the trail. The site that was closed is much nicer and remote and unspoiled. My family has been using it for over 50 years and it has really only improved as far as impact is concerned which puzzles me why they would close that section.

[Saline]

That sucks, no other way to put it.
Quick question: Can you get a full size up there (SMB)? It's been years since I have been there and I was only there once.

[kellymoe]

Full size would have no problem making it in.
BTW the fly fishing was great.



That sucks, no other way to put it.
Quick question: Can you get a full size up there (SMB)? It's been years since I have been there and I was only there once.

[b jeepin]

and to think i thought i was the only one rockin the socks over pants!
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g236/bradiroc87/online%20tag%20photos/IMG_5835.jpg

[Mlachica]

Full size would have no problem making it in.
BTW the fly fishing was great.

So jealous I didn't get to go yet. What waters did you fish?

[kellymoe]

Fished Baker Creek with a fly rod and Hidden Lake with fly and spinning set up.
I fished the middle of Hidden Lake with my pack raft but had very little luck at Hidden Lake even with the boat. Last month I fished Baker Lake and did pretty good with a fly from shore and from my raft.



So jealous I didn't get to go yet. What waters did you fish?

[speshalted]

Looks like a great trip.

Thanks for sharing the writeup and pics!

[kellymoe]

Found out more today on the closures and it does not look good, at least for me. The closures are part of a wide spread wilderness plan to close roads in wilderness areas. It sounds like several roads in the Coyote Flats area were chosen to close as well as several in the White Mountains and the Inyo Mountains. The Papoose Flat area in the Inyo's was impacted as well as the Crooked Creek and Cottonwood Creek areas in the White Mountains. The roads that are in question are not seldom used roads but roads that have been used for years. Some roads were left open that I would have assumed closed because of fragile soil and habitat but instead they chose to close some of the most traveled roads. It seems like the NFS is trying to discourage use by closing the more popular roads in hopes that people will lose interest and go somewhere else.

[Mlachica]

Awe that's not good. Any word on funnel lake? I called the ranger station today to find out about the closures and was left on hold for several minutes and had to hang up.

I just started fly fishing this year and was really looking forward to returning there with my new gear. :-(

[Explorer 1]

That sucks, no other way to put it.
Quick question: Can you get a full size up there (SMB)? It's been years since I have been there and I was only there once.

I lead a group up there in my SMB EB last year. You should have no problem going up the front way out of Bishop.

As for the view south looking down toward Lone Pine, I think all you could see from there is to Independence and this route would have been too difficult for a stock Cherokee.

I was up there a few weeks ago and didn't notice any closures, but then I didn't go everywhere. Hunting season was just starting and I've never seen so many people, ATV,s , Trucks, and large tents before.

Did the hike from the top of Green Lake over the pass and down to Baker Creek camping area, was a great day hike.

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q41/fredsjeep/Coyote%20Flats%20GHFC%20August%202010/IMG_0241.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q41/fredsjeep/Coyote%20Flats%20GHFC%20August%202010/IMG_0242.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q41/fredsjeep/Coyote%20Flats%20GHFC%20August%202010/IMG_0243.jpg

Thanks for sharing,

Fred
Explorer 1 & 2

[Mlachica]

Found out more today on the closures and it does not look good, at least for me. The closures are part of a wide spread wilderness plan to close roads in wilderness areas. It sounds like several roads in the Coyote Flats area were chosen to close as well as several in the White Mountains and the Inyo Mountains. The Papoose Flat area in the Inyo's was impacted as well as the Crooked Creek and Cottonwood Creek areas in the White Mountains. The roads that are in question are not seldom used roads but roads that have been used for years. Some roads were left open that I would have assumed closed because of fragile soil and habitat but instead they chose to close some of the most traveled roads. It seems like the NFS is trying to discourage use by closing the more popular roads in hopes that people will lose interest and go somewhere else.

Where were you able to obtain this info? I called the ranger station to get some detailed info and she was unable to give me road specific info because these closures were not by the usfs. She's only heard of these closures from visitors. She also didn't know where to find any other details. Who else is allowed to close fs roads on usfs land?

[kellymoe]

I also called the ranger station and they have not been informed yet as the closures are so new. I spoke yesterday with the person who has the final word on all closures at least with the Forest Service he is very sympathetic to those affected by the new closures. I will be speaking with him again about the specific closure at Baker Creek. He is unable to get to all closure sights himself and asked for more knowledgable insight into that specific area and that specific road. He told me that while the trail study and closures are final he still may be able to do something to help out. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. He is a really great guy with tons of back country experience and climbing experience. He held the record for a time for the fastest car to car climb of Whitney, something like 3.5 hours. Not that that has anything to do with the closures but still impressive:sombrero:




Where were you able to obtain this info? I called the ranger station to get some detailed info and she was unable to give me road specific info because these closures were not by the usfs. She's only heard of these closures from visitors. She also didn't know where to find any other details. Who else is allowed to close fs roads on usfs land?

[kellymoe]

For those of you familiar with Coyote Flats and would like to send a letter to the Inyo Nat. Forest Supervisor to express your concern over the closure of Route N2217 the short road that accesses the lower meadow campsite, the address is:

Jim Upchurch, Inyo National Forest Supervisor
351 Pacu Lane
Bishop CA 93514

Please be courteous and polite in your letter. I gave a solution of placing a barricade at the meadow to prevent knuckleheads from driving on the grass or placing a barricade on the road just prior to the meadow which would still allow camping close by but eliminate motorized traffic near the meadow.

Every letter counts.
Below is a link to the proposed closures.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3gDfxMDT8MwRydLA1cj72 BTMwMTAwjQL8h2VAQArb-_RA!!/?ss=110504&navtype=BROWSEBYSUBJECT&navid=130110000000000&pnavid=130000000000000&accessDB=true&position=Project*&groupid=17479&ttype=projectdetail&pname=Inyo National Forest- Projects