Hyw 36 in January, and the Rain?

[5150ninja]

I'm looking to ride from Santa Cruz to Fort Bragg (day 1, all Hwy1), then to Eureka (day 2), then over Hwy 36 and up to Redding (day 3). I'm shooting for a next Monday departure, but can basically leave any time after Friday.

My question concerns Hwy 36 in the Winter. Can someone with experience, or who lives in the area give me an idea of what to expect?

I rode from Santa Cruz to Pescadero Rd., to Hwy 35, and down Hwy 9 today just to get out and check my rain gear and ride in the hills around here during the rain. No problems encountered on the little test run. I was mostly double checking my new riding gear, as I don't want to get wet. I've got good gear, as far as I can tell, just for reference.

I'm a Hwy 17 commuter, rain or shine, just to give an insight into my experience. I'm a survivor, in other words! :laughing

 

[dravnx]

Ft Bragg to Eureka is not much of a run. I would get up early on day 2 and push on through to Weaverville. Stay at the 49r. very moto friendly, decent rooms, good prices. While I've done 36 a few times, it's always been during the summer so I can't give you any intel on winter conditions. I would guess very good chance of rain and ice. South Fork Mountain is 4000 so snow is also a possibility.

 

[5150ninja]

Thanks dravnx. I wanted to eat Samoa Cook House, visit the crabbers in town, and see what kind of trouble I could find at the bikini bar Eureka! :laughing

 

[5150ninja]

I was mostly wondering about the snow/ice issue. Hwy36 has a 4000 ft. pass? Looks like Mad River Ca. is about 2,500 ft.?

 

[qball]

Did 299 from eureka to redding on new years weekend and it's cold as heck. Road has a lot of gravel, sand and debris. Bridges will have some icy spots. Expect to encounter wet spots every time you hit any shaded areas. There is still snow on the sides of the roads and electronic road signs recommends to carry chain in case of snow but the weekend weather was sunny so we made it thru without having to go thru snow. I would assume since 36 runs somewhat parallel to 299 that you'll encounter similar conditions.

Recommend checking weather condition before you depart otherwise if they forecast for rain/snow you might not make it across or at least won't enjoy it as much due to the crappy riding conditions.

 

[BillSmith]

Mornings where there is shade can be extremely cold. Got heated grips/gloves?

Yes, depending on the storm, can snow/freeze at 4,000 feet. Also, with this rain, bound to be some mud slides making sections of 36, 299, et al slick enough to spill you.

That said, I'd go. ;-)

 

[dravnx]

I was mostly wondering about the snow/ice issue. Hwy36 has a 4000 ft. pass? Looks like Mad River Ca. is about 2,500 ft.?

From Ca DOT
SR 36 has four mountain passes: South Fork Mountain - elevation 4,077 ft. in Trinity County (Post Mile
10.22),
I've always thought the food at the Somoa Cookhouse is pretty blah. Cool place to visit if you've never been there though. Crab season is still shut down.
Tip Top Club-stick with the entertainment in SF
Definitely stop at the Black Lighting Motorcycle Café in Eureka. On F St. Good food, owned by great folks. It's a mix of a motorcycle museum, café and motorcycle chachkys.

 

[Map8]

I was mostly wondering about the snow/ice issue. Hwy36 has a 4000 ft. pass? Looks like Mad River Ca. is about 2,500 ft.?

Its really cold up there for riding. I was on a ride in mid-October several years ago and we had subfreezing temps until almost noon. This time of year there will be sections of road in the canyons that only get sun for an hour or less each day. I'd be real careful considering how remote much of Hwy 36 is. Long way from any help.

 

[5150ninja]

Did 299 from eureka to redding on new years weekend and it's cold as heck. Road has a lot of gravel, sand and debris. Bridges will have some icy spots. Expect to encounter wet spots every time you hit any shaded areas. There is still snow on the sides of the roads and electronic road signs recommends to carry chain in case of snow but the weekend weather was sunny so we made it thru without having to go thru snow. I would assume since 36 runs somewhat parallel to 299 that you'll encounter similar conditions.

Recommend checking weather condition before you depart otherwise if they forecast for rain/snow you might not make it across or at least won't enjoy it as much due to the crappy riding conditions.

Yeah, I definitely expect mud/gravel and wash out type conditions. It's the snow that concerns me the most. I will probably route over Hwy 299 since it is more heavily traveled than Hwy 36. That way if there's an issue I will at least see other vehicles. I don't have to get across the pass if anything seems too scetchy, I can do something else. :laughing

Mornings where there is shade can be extremely cold. Got heated grips/gloves?

I do, indeed, have heated jacket, and gloves. I'm going to put heated grips back on the bike this week. So check those items.

Yes, depending on the storm, can snow/freeze at 4,000 feet. Also, with this rain, bound to be some mud slides making sections of 36, 299, et al slick enough to spill you.

That said, I'd go. ;-)

Yup, I'm going, worst case I never get over to Redding. I'm not concerned with the coast as much, but if I run into trouble I'll just get a room and wait it out. :dunno

From Ca DOT
SR 36 has four mountain passes: South Fork Mountain - elevation 4,077 ft. in Trinity County (Post Mile
10.22),
I've always thought the food at the Somoa Cookhouse is pretty blah. Cool place to visit if you've never been there though. Crab season is still shut down.
Tip Top Club-stick with the entertainment in SF
Definitely stop at the Black Lighting Motorcycle Café in Eureka. On F St. Good food, owned by great folks. It's a mix of a motorcycle museum, café and motorcycle chachkys.

I remember someone else said that about the Samoa Cook House. It's a fisherman haunt from days gone by. When we hit town when I was younger, we would go there. I remember it being fun, but we pretty much made anywhere fun when we hit the beach! arty

Yeah, I was told they opened commercial crab season, but it looks like it's only open from Arena to Pigeon? So yeah, still shut down up there?

Its really cold up there for riding. I was on a ride in mid-October several years ago and we had subfreezing temps until almost noon. This time of year there will be sections of road in the canyons that only get sun for an hour or less each day. I'd be real careful considering how remote much of Hwy 36 is. Long way from any help.

Yeah, that advise will probably be heeded. I think I'm going to go 299 instead of 36. As explained above, I'll have more traffic on 299 in case anything happened. I know it takes about 3 hrs. in a car and in the dry to get to Redding on 299, so I'll leave around 11 a.m. or so to hit the warm part of the day over the passes. If any questionable weather is going on, I'll just scrap it and head south again.

 

[DIY]

This doesn't directly apply to what you're doing but I always pass this one along when I get a chance. I was talking to some guys in Redding. One of them was a nurse and explained that the overwhelming majority or crashes that were brought to the hospital where he worked were from 299. I questioned him because, to me, 36 always seemed more challenging and therefore more dangerous. He explain that the volume of traffic was much greater on 299. So more vehicles=more crashes. He also explained that a notable proportion of crashes came from cars hitting bikes.

More on topic, do you have enough cold weather gear?

 

[5150ninja]

This doesn't directly apply to what you're doing but I always pass this one along when I get a chance. I was talking to some guys in Redding. One of them was a nurse and explained that the overwhelming majority or crashes that were brought to the hospital where he worked were from 299. I questioned him because, to me, 36 always seemed more challenging and therefore more dangerous. He explain that the volume of traffic was much greater on 299. So more vehicles=more crashes. He also explained that a notable proportion of crashes came from cars hitting bikes.

More on topic, do you have enough cold weather gear?

I've got the gear for the job, until further notice! :laughing

Seriously though, my gear should be up to task, as I've got some good gear. I'll be taking my Rev'It Vapor model pants and jacket. the Vapor stuff isn't GorTex, but should be fine. I've also got heated gear, to supplement that, and I've got a BMW ProRain2 Rain oversuit as well(which is awesome), should it decide to piss buckets.

I've got GorTex BMW gloves if it rains and I switch from heated gloves. I've got BMW SportTour Gor-Tex lined boots (they're absolutely awesome BTW). I've got some temporary heated things for my feet if it gets too cold. I have BMW GorTex winter gloves and Aerostich claw thing covers if I want to try and use the heated gloves in cold to freezing temps. The covers are water proof, but my heated gloves aren't. I will have heated grips installed on the bike once again by Saturday. No chains though? :loco

 

[jao]

Yeah, I was told they opened commercial crab season, but it looks like it's only open from Arena to Pigeon? So yeah, still shut down up there?

Not meaning to change the thread topic, but I thought i would clarify that crab fishing is open for recreational fishing south of Piedras Blancas light station, and only the commercial Rock crab fishery opened in that area (commercial dungeness is still closed)

From: https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2015...heries-open-in-southern-portion-of-the-state/

And good luck on the ride.

I have only driven 36 in the winter in a truck, but there are some very slick spots, with people driving over the double yellow lines because they took turns too fast.

 

[DIY]

I've got the gear for the job, until further notice! :laughing

Seriously though, my gear should be up to task, as I've got some good gear. I'll be taking my Rev'It Vapor model pants and jacket. the Vapor stuff isn't GorTex, but should be fine. I've also got heated gear, to supplement that, and I've got a BMW ProRain2 Rain oversuit as well(which is awesome), should it decide to piss buckets.

I've got GorTex BMW gloves if it rains and I switch from heated gloves. I've got BMW SportTour Gor-Tex lined boots (they're absolutely awesome BTW). I've got some temporary heated things for my feet if it gets too cold. I have BMW GorTex winter gloves and Aerostich claw thing covers if I want to try and use the heated gloves in cold to freezing temps. The covers are water proof, but my heated gloves aren't. I will have heated grips installed on the bike once again by Saturday. No chains though? :loco

Nicely done! That'll do the job.

 

[two wheel tramp]

I had snow and lots of rocks in the road when I did it in late October. :teeth :ride

 

[5150ninja]

Not meaning to change the thread topic, but I thought i would clarify that crab fishing is open for recreational fishing south of Piedras Blancas light station, and only the commercial Rock crab fishery opened in that area (commercial dungeness is still closed)

From: https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com/2015...heries-open-in-southern-portion-of-the-state/

And good luck on the ride.

I have only driven 36 in the winter in a truck, but there are some very slick spots, with people driving over the double yellow lines because they took turns too fast.

Yeah, I didn't read too deep on the crab season, I was assuming they opened the commercial fishery. That's too bad for us and them! Maybe after this series of storms? Hopefully, for the boats.

I had snow and lots of rocks in the road when I did it in late October. :teeth :ride

If I do it, I'll be vigilant and as careful as one on a moto can be. :laughing

 

[two wheel tramp]

^bring rope. Have fun. Profit.

 

[Kalvin00]

Not much I can say that others haven't, but it will be slick/wet and covered in red gravel everywhere. And chilly in the higher altitudes.

Also check the weather.. it's a lot different up there. Looks like chances for precipitation every day including Friday (not that rain matters to you, but snow might)

 

[ST Guy]

You should work 96 and 3 into your ride. Leave Weaverville going north on 3. Go all the way to Yreka and then north a bit on 5 to 96. Then head southwest on 96 for a most amazing ride and spend the night at the Hoopa Indian reservation at the Tsewenaldin Inn Motel where 96 crosses the Trinity River. If the weather is good, go behind the inn and hang out at the river with some wine or beer and dinner you pick up at the deli in their supermarket there. The trip from Weaverville to Yreka and back down to Hoopa is easily done in a day.

 

[dravnx]

You should work 96 and 3 into your ride. Leave Weaverville going north on 3. Go all the way to Yreka and then north a bit on 5 to 96. Then head southwest on 96 for a most amazing ride and spend the night at the Hoopa Indian reservation at the Tsewenaldin Inn Motel where 96 crosses the Trinity River. If the weather is good, go behind the inn and hang out at the river with some wine or beer and dinner you pick up at the deli in their supermarket there. The trip from Weaverville to Yreka and back down to Hoopa is easily done in a day.

+1:thumbup

 

[89fj]

bikini bar???
Eureka???
Where???