Back to the MET
Northern California has been hit with much needed rain the last two weeks. And more rain can only mean….MOAR SNOW. Our NorCal chapter finally found a good weekend to get together and head out to the snow trails.
The morning started EARLY (4 AM for the ones from the Bay Area) and the roads were greeted with light showers as we headed to our rally point in Folsom by 7 AM. Our entire group was rolling deep with 15 rigs total. Slightly on the larger side of our normal runs, but we were happy to have some new friends from San Jose tag along. We finally get to the trailhead at about 8:45 AM and start prepping to roll out. The last time I was here was back in January of 2021 (Emigrant Night Trail and Metcon Snow) and the look and feel of the trail felt completely different due to last years massive Caldor Fire. The lush snow covered greenery have now been replaced with burnt leafless trees and empty mounds of snow. Even with the destruction, the sights were still beautiful as ever.
We were relieved that there was practically no trail traffic to the otherwise popular snow trail. A layer of fresh powder made the trip a breeze, minus our encounter with the new “green” gate about half a mile to the summit. Bypassing this gate proved to be a bit challenging since there were boulders defending against our differentials. But thanks to Tommy’s winch (@2_tangz) and some clever maneuvering, all 15 rigs were able to pass with no hiccups.
Once we reached the top, we found ourselves facing the obstacle of getting to the abandoned ski lifts. A handful of us got stuck in deep snow with basic recoveries needed. A few moments later we see Hung (@trd_black_pro) effortlessly zoomin’ towards the ski lift and right there we realized there was an easier path to take. The abandoned ski lifts offered breathtaking views and an awesome backdrop for flicks. Though freezing, the day ended with music, good food, great company, and a sense of accomplishment! Zero casualties means it was a good day. Till next time!
