Annual four-wheel trek at Meadow Lake, Calif.

By Don Quilici

The California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, with 160 clubs and more than 6,000 members, has announced that it will host its 38th annual Sierra Trek event at Meadow Lake, Calif.

That event will be held from Thursday, Aug. 5 through Sunday, Aug. 8, according to Carrol Bryant, Sierra Trek Chairman.

Bryant announced that this year's Sierra Trek, the largest all-volunteer, four-wheel drive event in the country, will feature four short-wheelbase trips.

Those trips will consist of the legendary Fordyce Creek Trail, one intermediate run on the Bear Valley Trail and three narrated historical sport utility vehicle (SUV) runs through the Sierra backcountry.

The first SUV tour is scheduled for Aug. 5, where participants will be treated to a narrated historical trip into Blackwood Canyon near Lake Tahoe.

The trip includes stops at the Donner Memorial, Ellis Peak, the eastern portion of the famous Rubicon Trail and many other points of interest along the way.

Cost for this trip is $135 for adults and $35 for children, 12 years of age and under.

The cost includes all meals from Thursday breakfast through Sunday breakfast.

On Saturday, Aug. 7, two SUV trips will be offered.

The first is the Bear Valley Run, which will be set up for long-wheelbase vehicles and SUV owners seeking a little more challenge.

In addition, there will another SUV trek that begins at Meadow Lake at the 7,200 foot level and takes guests through historical mining camps, portion of the Henness Pass Road and a stacked masonry dam.

One of the highlights of this trip is a journey to the top of the Sierra Divide, where on a clear day, participants, will have magnificent views of Mt. Lassen, Castle Peak, Old Man Mountain, Signal Peak and the Sierra Buttes.

Cost for the Bear Valley trip is $100 for adults and the Meadow Lake trip is $110 for adults.

Cost for children, 12 and under, for either Saturday trip is $35.

Both trips include a continental breakfast on Saturday, trail lunch, dinner at base camp and a dash plaque, as well as all camping fees at meadow lake.

Bryant explained that children's activities in the main camp area will include a climbing wall, horseshoes, swimming, fishing, nature walks and a host of kid's games.

Parents can look for a RTI ramp that will provide 30 degrees for articulating their vehicles, and a tilt test that measures a vehicle's maximum tilt angle.

Live music and dancing will be featured on Friday and Saturday nights .

For information or to register for the 38th annual Sierra Trek, call Robert Reed at (925) 447-3142.