Trekking in the Sierras
SIERRA TREK CELEBRATES ITS 55TH ANNIVERSARY
The morning sun streamed through tall stands of fir and pine, taking the edge off the alpine chill and illuminating a dusty two-track that disappeared into the forest. Ed Dunkley poured a cuppa joe and glanced down the row of flat fenders, CJs, and Scouts before him. They were lined up for a new trail ride event, a 13-mile traverse of an old mining road to the Gold Rush boomtown of Summit City. After a short driver’s meeting he loaded up, turned the key, and led his small posse into the next chapter of the region’s storied chronical.
The year was 1967, and the California Four Wheel Drive Association had been keen to create a family-oriented excursion similar to the Jeepers Jamboree on the Rubicon. It would thread a path along Fordyce Creek, passing abandoned stamp mills and boilers of the Excelsior and Carlisle mines, culminating on the alpine shores of Meadow Lake with a barbeque and campfire. Placed high in the Northern Sierra Nevada, it was only fitting that the event be deemed Sierra Trek.
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Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Vintage Sierra Trek
With roots dating back to 1967, these photos of the 1984 Sierra Trek look quite contemporary. By this time Sierra Trek had grown to a 3-day event. Most of the vehicles were Jeeps, Broncos, and Scouts, but the new-on-the-scene 4WD Toyota Hilux, which was previously not allowed because it was considered too long, had a small contingent of loyal enthusiasts. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Base Camp
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
Sierra Trek’s Summit City basecamp, which rests along the alpine shores of Meadow Lake, is a hub of activity. During the 4-day event participants canoe or fish on the lake, relax along its shores, or hike in the local mountains. Each night after the bonfire is lit, the Wild West chuckwagon crew serves up country-style meals, a band takes the stage, and night owls kick up their heels on the dance floor. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Fordyce
The Fordyce Creek Trail is the original Sierra Trek route and traces the old Summit City Road from Cisco Grove to Meadow Lake. Although it was once traversed by ox-drawn wagons, it is now highly challenging and reserved for experienced drivers with modified four-wheel drives. There are a total of five “winch hills,” each of which is staffed by a team of skilled guides to help participants along. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Historic SUV Run
The Sierra Nevada abounds with lonely dirt two-tracks, mining routes, and logging roads. The historic and SUV trips (suited for all four-wheel drive vehicles with a low-range transfer case) take participants back to an era of steam-driven ore mills and rough-and-tumble placer miners. The Wednesday overnight run follows the Tahoe Rim Trail, visits old train tunnels, and stops at the site of the 1846 Donner Party tragedy near Truckee, California. -
Sierra Trek Outer Limits
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Sierra Trek Outer Limits
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Sierra Trek Outer Limits
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Sierra Trek Outer Limits
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Sierra Trek Outer Limits
Through the `70s and `80s, the event grew in popularity and expanded to three days with multiple trail options. Clubs volunteered to staff the new raffle, in-camp games, and prepare meals for participants. It became a gala event, an annual vacation for thousands of adventure-seeking families. Although Ed and most of his crew have long passed, their vision continues.
Flash forward to 2022, and Sierra Trek is celebrating its 55th birthday. While that might have been the call for an easy chair and slippers back in the day, Trek is charging into the future like a youthful 20-something. They have pulled all the stops for the upcoming event, which will encompass four days and include more than a dozen trail rides ranging from the challenging Fordyce route to UTV runs and narrated tours of the Gold Country.
A volunteer staff will be resurrecting Summit City, replete with a chuck wagon-style camp kitchen, car show, massive raffle, and vendor show. When the sun sets, a live band will take the stage and Trekkies can cut a rug on the 50-foot dance floor, warm up around the bonfire, or belly up to the wooden bar in the Mountain Goat Saloon.
The 55th Sierra Trek takes place August 11-14 near Truckee, California, and is expected to be a sellout crowd. For information on reserving your spot go to https://cal4wheel.com/sierra-trek
COMING UP
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Jan 06CA4WDA North District Meeting09:00 AM - 05:00 PM 8120 36th Ave, Sacramento, CA 95824, USA
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Jan 12Jan 14Winter Fun FestivalNevada County Fairgrounds, Grass Valley, CA
CA4WDA North District Meeting
06 Jan
09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Winter Fun Festival
12 JanJan