Fresno Area Road Meet (May 6-7, 2023)

[Max Rockatansky]

The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday.  At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/

[skluth]

The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday.  At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/

Not surprising given this winter's weather. I haven't seen any of it as this entire trip is new ground for me.

The In-n-Out Burger parking lot in Kettleman City on CA 41 has the best view I've found of the lake bed. 

CA 41 borders the NW side of the lake bed. Is it high enough to remain open or would traveling to Fresno via CA 41 involve detours?

[Max Rockatansky]

The road projected road openings were announced by the Park Service yesterday.  At this point the full Generals Highway is definitely out of the picture given it won't fully reopen until June:

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/when-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-parks-would-start-reopening/

Not surprising given this winter's weather. I haven't seen any of it as this entire trip is new ground for me.

The In-n-Out Burger parking lot in Kettleman City on CA 41 has the best view I've found of the lake bed. 

CA 41 borders the NW side of the lake bed. Is it high enough to remain open or would traveling to Fresno via CA 41 involve detours?

CA 41 sits atop a levee from Kettleman north to Stratford.  The road is high enough that it would take nearly the entire historic extent of Tulare Lake filling up to close it. 

[Max Rockatansky]

CA 180 to Grant Grove reopened a week early after slide repairs:

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/local-news/update-sequoia-and-kings-canyon-national-park-reopening/

Trouble is CA 245 south from CA 180 to Pinehurst won't reopen until 5/15 according to the QuickMap.  This leaves the only viable option of getting out Grant Grove as CA 180 westbound to the vicinity of Dunlap.  CA 63 south towards Visalia fortunately is a decent way to get going southbound for anyone heading that way.

I'll be monitoring the status of Kings Canyon National Park this next week, I might even go up myself on Friday.  Right now the NPS wants drivers carrying chains, but that will likely be dropped once CA 180 to Cedar Grove opens.   There is still a decent chance CA 180 to Cedar Grove might be significantly open by the time May 7th rolls around (the QuickMap says projected reopening on 4/17).  More to come as I find things out.

[Quillz]

So is this meetup happening? I would love to get into Kings Canyon or Sequoia at some point.

[Max Rockatansky]

It is, 5/6 and 5/7.  I went into much of the details early on in this thread. 

Speaking of Kings Camp National Park, the closure on CA 180 east of Hume Lake Road is no longer on the QuickMap.  I'm uncertain as to how far the road is open given the NPS is showing Cedar Grove is still closed.  In theory CA 180 is presently accessible down to the Kings River and Cedar Grove NPS boundary.

[cl94]

Speaking of Kings Camp National Park, the closure on CA 180 east of Hume Lake Road is no longer on the QuickMap.  I'm uncertain as to how far the road is open given the NPS is showing Cedar Grove is still closed.  In theory CA 180 is presently accessible down to the Kings River and Cedar Grove NPS boundary.

In theory. Caltrans hasn't announced a reopening, so it may just be that they forgot to extend the closure on the map. Most of District 9's closures expired a couple weeks ago only to be put back up a couple of days later.

[cl94]

Today's NPS update still shows Cedar Grove closed with an undetermined opening date, NPS citing damage along SR 180 as a reason. Sequoia National Forest will supposedly open next weekend.

If Cedar Grove reopens in the next 2 weeks, I'd count that as a major win given what the Sierra has been through this winter. Lots of large slides, record snowfall, flooding, you name it. Most of the seasonal roads are nowhere near ready to open, even those that usually open in March or April.

[Max Rockatansky]

Even going down to Horseshoe Bend, Boyden Cave and the terminus of CA 180 would be worth it.  Sequoia National Forest still has lots to see before the NPS boundary at Cedar Grove.

[cl94]

NPS just gave an update and it isn't pretty: SR 180 had several large slides east of Hume Lake. Large enough that NPS is saying Cedar Grove won't open this summer. 180 closure point is at Hume Lake Road per NPS.

[oscar]

I'm a maybe at this point. I might combine this meet with the Omaha meet the preceding Saturday.

I'm now out. Lingering health issues (hopefully short-term), which also led me to back out of the Omaha meet.

[Max Rockatansky]

NPS just gave an update and it isn't pretty: SR 180 had several large slides east of Hume Lake. Large enough that NPS is saying Cedar Grove won't open this summer. 180 closure point is at Hume Lake Road per NPS.

Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2.  Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter. 

[Techknow]

Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2.  Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.

Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1

[kurumi]

I'll need to withdraw (family member is ill). I hope you all have a good time!

[Max Rockatansky]

Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2.  Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.

Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1

No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.

[cl94]

Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2.  Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.

Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1

No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.

And to make things more fun, we could be getting one last blast of snow this week in the Sierra. Because we really need more snow. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Considering this and feedback from the two people who were confirmed for Sunday I'm just going to call it on Day 2.  Shame it played out that way, but there isn't much do with Day 2 considering the closures from all the snow this past winter.

Thanks for the update and transparency! I'm still committed to make it for Day 1

No worries, suffice to say the monster winter season was not something anyone saw coming.

And to make things more fun, we could be getting one last blast of snow this week in the Sierra. Because we really need more snow. 

Good thing I didn't put the chains away just yet.

[skluth]

I'll still be there. I had planned to visit Yosemite afterwards, but it looks like that's not happening now. Still, this weekend should be a fun start to my first post-Covid vacation.

[Max Rockatansky]

My map links in the original post got fouled up.  I corrected them and added new hyperlinks.  If anyone misses this post I'll point it out tomorrow at the meet up before we get rolling.

Here is the abridged tour route for tomorrow with just the map hyperlinks:

Segment 1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKuCJEAHZzH6dHYX6?g_st=ic

Segment 2

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Riz3KmFRuPBrbzrt9?g_st=ic

Segment 3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7UMqaVyUJuqGhRy5?g_st=ic

Segment 4

https://maps.app.goo.gl/36FFkF8SxcQPPSLw5?g_st=ic

Segment 5

https://maps.app.goo.gl/13erJ3D435iASL176?g_st=ic

Segment 6

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H2VwH58Zy3XQSs1V6?g_st=ic

[SSOWorld]

My map links in the original post got fouled up.  I corrected them and added new hyperlinks.  If anyone misses this post I'll point it out tomorrow at the meet up before we get rolling.

Here is the abridged tour route for tomorrow with just the map hyperlinks:

Segment 1

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKuCJEAHZzH6dHYX6?g_st=ic

Segment 2

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Riz3KmFRuPBrbzrt9?g_st=ic

Segment 3

https://maps.app.goo.gl/o7UMqaVyUJuqGhRy5?g_st=ic

Segment 4

https://maps.app.goo.gl/36FFkF8SxcQPPSLw5?g_st=ic


Segment 5

https://maps.app.goo.gl/13erJ3D435iASL176?g_st=ic

Segment 6

https://maps.app.goo.gl/H2VwH58Zy3XQSs1V6?g_st=ic

WARNING: This road meet and any accompanying events contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

[roadfro]

Things didn't line up for me to attend today

I hope you all have a good meet!

[Max Rockatansky]

If anyone is arriving we are all sitting outside. 

[Max Rockatansky]

Finished with my base album from the meet today.  If anyone took anything during the meet, they want to add let me know:

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjACFvz

I definitely want to thank everyone who came out today.  We had eight people in attendance during the Fresno Meet which think is a more than respectable showing given we really haven't had many west coast events.  I think we were able to give the segments of US 99 in Fresno about to be razed by the HSR a nice send off.  I certainly appreciate others pointing out all the wig-wag rail signals in downtown Fresno, I don't know how I missed them.  I'm hoping to do a similar event next year for Bakersfield.

[Techknow]

Had to leave a little early but I made it back safely for hot pot dinner with my family. I managed to drive through all the sightings that Max planned. Thanks for organizing this, there were some interesting sightings and roads today!

[Duke87]

Meet photo:


Left to Right: Steve (skluth), Anthony Costanzo (Duke87), Tom Fearer (Max Rockatansky), Josh Schmid (cl94), Connor Lauzon (deathtopumpkins), (Techknow), Ian Ligget (Ian)