From the Archives & Early Days of Overland Bound

I had a great solo trip to Lake Alpine on the Corral Hollow Trail in July 2012. It’s a great drive if you leave around noon on a Friday. In the summer months you are there before the sun goes down. It takes about three to four hours from the Bay Area to base camp including the time it takes to clamber up the trail.

The camping crates were already packed, so only about 45 minutes to hit the highway. The Pack 3 Cases set up is super helpful for last minute trips. You can read more about the 3 cases here. 

I stopped by the store on the way out to get cold goods. I usually eat pre-packaged food and on one night I’ll make a full meal with a good hunk of meat.

Then it’s turn the music up, hit the road and enjoyed the country. On the road again. The urban landscape quickly gives way to agriculture and then huge spans of grassland as you head east. The rig is quite a spectacle in the Bay Area, especially when loaded down. I find the further east I go, the more I tend to blend in.

When I got close to the trail head I filled up my tank so I had more fuel for trekking around.

If you are exhausted after a long week I have a tip for this section of the trip. Get a Super Gulp at a gas station and fill it with ice. Just ice. Also get a Red Bull and eat the ice as you travel down the road. Pour that Red Bull over the ice and take a sip from time to time. You will NOT fall asleep. It’s a trick I learned from my Dad.

As you head up the mountain the grasslands give way to high Sierra mountain passes. It is an incredible experience to watch the landscape change so fast and dramatically. It’s a reminder that the classic experience of overlanding across different landscapes and countries can be experience here in the expanse of the US fairly easily, and there are no Visas and passports required. But that’s a discussion for another day. 

To get to Corral Hollow, you will almost reach the Bear Valley Ski Resort. If you reach Bear Valley, you have gone too far! Just after the Alpine County line sign, you will see a hidden turn left.

You’ve arrived!

Before hitting the trail, get out and inspect your vehicle. Tighten it up. The trail is about to get bumpy. Cinch everything down. If you are like me, the last thing you want is to have rattles, and things sliding around your truck or rack.

After a few miles of trail, it opens up into  a beautiful meadow. In July, the plants are super green, and the wildflowers paint the terrain with a wash of color. In the distance is an incredible view of the mountain range. 

So, climbing up the mountain I saw a “small” stump. I thought I could clear it so I straddled it, placing a tire on each side. I know better. The differential struck the stump and stopped the truck dead in its tracks, throwing me against the seat belts. I got out at the top of the trail and inspected the rig. No damage. Lesson: Put a tire on large rocks and stumps and drive over them. Most things under your truck do not react well to large and hard objects.

Arriving at the bluff camp will take your breath away. I’ve been to Corral Hollow 5 times. This site has never been taken. In fact, I have only ever ran into 2 other rigs driving on this trail.

When you get settled, its fun to get your bearings. It is often surprising how far off your internal compass can get after a few hours on the trail. I often think, “No friggin way”.

I’m usually tired my first night, and I don’t want to deal with a lot of dishes and cleanup. Actually, I don’t want to deal with any dishes or cleanup. The perfect meal for me is to open a stew can, stir and then eat up with a few slices of bread and a beverage. Warming it up is just plain unnecessary, but please feel free to disagree with me on that one.

And then it’s a peaceful night of sleep and on to Day 2.

After cold cereal and a cup of coffee, I made a pretty early start down the trail. My plan was to explore and then come back to spend the evening at the meadow view. When you head out in the morning, place your food containers in the shade. You don’t want it in the sun all day.

You really need to check out Slick Rock Trail. Go back to the main road to get there and head towards Bear Valley. Go a few miles and just after the road turns to a one lane road, turn right into the campground and keep going. The turn is just before the Lake Alpine store and restaurant. Side note: The Lake Alpine store and restaurant are GREAT. We love making a pitstop there to grab a burger and make a pitstop.

A little bit down the Slick Rock trail there is a river that is a great place to take the family and hang out for the day. Don’t go beyond this if you are alone or your rig is stock. It is a very technical and difficult trail. I’ve run it twice and it is a blast. Definitely do it if you are correctly outfitted and with others. 

Take your time on the trail. Don’t be “that person” who plows over rocks and damages trees. Go slow enough to avoid the trees. They don’t move very fast, so that should be simple enough.

I came back up to Lake Alpine and got in a great round of fishing. I HEAR there are 13″ trout in this lake. Apparently they are allergic to my bait.

Off-road driving. River sitting. Fishing. It was time to head back. And remember that stump I talked about? This time on my way back up the trail I did it right. Put a tire on it and go over! This is the way to take a rock, stump or other obstacle that cannot be avoided!

The second night was about relaxing and a real meal.  Again, I don’t really like dishes, so I keep it simple and use a pan and a plate. One pan with some meat and vegetables is simple and fast to clean. This method results in a great tasting perfectly cooked piece of meat if you do it right. 

On the second night I managed to keep myself entertained until 11:00PM metaphorically howling at the moon. It is the best place to clear you head and reflect. I do my best thinking up here and I come home with that clarity. 

And in the morning…its time to pack up and head out.

I’m not quite in a place in life where I can live fulltime on the road, but it doesn’t stop me from going out on the weekend and engaging my gear and my brain to think ahead to the days where living like this will be more daily reality than weekend. For now co-parenting my two young kids takes priority, and longer adventures will have to wait for another day. 

 Thank you for reading!