Mount Patterson CA

[Shine13]

Planning a ride from somewhere around Smith NV to Mammoth CA in late August and am wanting to cross over Mount Patterson. Would anyone be willing share your tracks or ground knowledge of that rout? Have wanted to do that ride for a while and am finally doing it.

- Ben

[rider914]

What kind of bike?
There are some mild graded roads, medium 4x4 trails, and some single track up there.

-M

[Shine13]

Originally Posted by rider914

What kind of bike?
There are some mild graded roads, medium 4x4 trails, and some single track up there.

-M

All will be on converted dirt bikes ie. plated XR 400s or KTMs. Just got some great tracks around Mt. Patterson from dualsportmaps.com. Now I am looking for some tracks that will take us there from Smith and beyond there to Mammoth past Bodie.

The more single track the better.

- Ben

[bigdog99]

Dirt bike should be no problem. I've been over on my R100GS several times, including camping near the summit. It is harder east to west than vice versa. Go past Lobdell Lake and bear right at the base of the mountain. The final climb starts after a left switchback and the next switchback is the critical turn on a big bike, keep your speed up. You may need to bulldog the bike in one or two spots going downhill to Sweetwater.

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by Shine13

Planning a ride from somewhere around Smith NV to Mammoth CA in late August
- Ben

Yes I have tracks on GPSXchanage.com but you would have a lot more fun if you just ride both my topaz ride on July 14-15 and my Mammoth ride on Sept 8-9 you will see all the great stuff in the area.

http://www.dualsportwest.com/

[rtguy]

Just did a few of Countdown's tracks of Mt. Patterson, since they have not been too updated since 08 I ran into a few of the tracks closed to bikes mainly on the west side of 395. The east side was fine but only a selected few tracks were good on the west side so be very careful riding on that side

The one area that was good between Walker and hwy 108 needs more riding by everyone to keep the route burned in so riders can see what way to go. It was a total adventure but hard at times when riders came to signs saying closed, so just be aware the west side of 395 is very limited.

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by rtguy

Just did a few of Countdown's tracks of Mt. Patterson, since they have not been too updated since 08 I ran into a few of the tracks closed to bikes mainly on the west side of 395.

Yes Toiyabe screwed us. I appealed travel management decision but lost.

I am the only one who ever maintained (cut downfall) the trails west of 395. No one ever wanted to use them but bikes but they close them to bikes. None are in Wilderness and all are in "Multipul Use Areas", yea sure!

I have never seen a ranger much less LEO any where near these trails.

[oclv454]

I rode over Mt Patterson the third week in September. We went from the 395 side to the Sweetwater side. I was on my DRZ400S with D606 tires. It was a handful up near the top on the west side but we made it. There was a long steep section with orange sized rocks just below the summit that was interesting. Going down the east side was no picnic but if you are going over Mt Patterson, I would say going from the West to the East is the easier way to go. Incredible views and a neat ghost town. From there we road dirt and two tracks all the way to Bodie. Mt Patterson was an amazing ride. Quite challenging for me on the 400 but worth every ounce of effort.

[Kampfire]

I've been thinking of riding this route over Patterson. I've been up there in my 4 wheeler and had a blast around Balfort, and then down into Smith Valley.
Any recent pictures from up there? And ideas on how a KLR with camping gear loaded on could handle it? I would drop to the 14 tooth sprocket in front, and probably change out the rear also for that ride.

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by Kampfire

I've been thinking of riding this route over Patterson. I've been up there in my 4 wheeler and had a blast around Balfort, and then down into Smith Valley.
Any recent pictures from up there? And ideas on how a KLR with camping gear loaded on could handle it? I would drop to the 14 tooth sprocket in front, and probably change out the rear also for that ride.

Until at least May the picture comes out all white.

[renogeorge]

When I last rode this 2 Summers back, the trail just down/east from Belfort had gotten pretty bad. I would hesitate to try it with a lot of gear strapped on. Going west to east would be better--downhill on this section. As mentioned, lots of snow now.

And, access to 395 east of Devils Gate has gotten tougher/impossible with a new house and fences built where you used to be able to get through.

For a Smith-Mammoth route Desert Creek, over Patterson, though Belfort to Sweetwater, highway south to Lucky Boy/Hawthorne road, east to river crossing, south through Masonic to Aurora Rd, Bodie to Aurora, Aurora east and then south around back side of Mono Lake (don't know dirt route here), south via Mono City, back to 395 or pick up trails paralleling 395 to Mammoth. Lots of options....