Community Forums

Magic Trek · 04-22-2021, 12:03 AM

Hello all!
We are Bear and Elle and we will celebrate four years full time in May. We have a wonder 98 Safari Trek 2830 and enjoy hiking, bouldering, chasing waterfalls and campfires.

We are about to head west through the Sierras and are trying to find the best route from Gardnerville NV to Somerset CA, 88 vs 50 vs 80. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Xmcdog · 04-22-2021, 12:24 AM

Welcome aboard. Always good to have a new face at the campfire.
Four years eh? Bet you have some tales to tell.
Good luck on the next four.

twogypsies · 04-22-2021, 02:13 PM

Google Maps shows 84 miles via. 88/89/50, Exit at Carson Rd. to get onto Snows Rd. Take Snows to Newtown Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd and Mt. Aukum Rd into Somerset. The roads look good on satellite view on Google Maps. Check it out.

NevadaNick · 04-24-2021, 06:08 AM

You can exit 50 at Sly Park and that road becomes Pleasant Valley Rd after a while and then turn on Hwy 16/ Mt Aukum Rd to Somerset.

TandW · 04-24-2021, 06:15 AM

Welcome aboard mates!!! The chow line starts at the forward break.

Magic Trek · 04-24-2021, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Google Maps shows 84 miles via. 88/89/50, Exit at Carson Rd. to get onto Snows Rd. Take Snows to Newtown Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd and Mt. Aukum Rd into Somerset. The roads look good on satellite view on Google Maps. Check it out.

I looked on GE & GM. I am hoping for information of a more personal experience, instead of a virtual mapping model. Have you actually driven those directions in an RV?

Magic Trek · 04-24-2021, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

You can exit 50 at Sly Park and that road becomes Pleasant Valley Rd after a while and then turn on Hwy 16/ Mt Aukum Rd to Somerset.

Have you driven this route and also driven 88? Do you recommend this way because of your experience or are these possible directions only? I am under the impression that 16 is NOT RV friendly

NevadaNick · 04-25-2021, 07:28 AM

I have driven them all. I would not hesitate to take any of the routes but i am not bothered by hills, curves etc. since i don't know your comfort level, you have to decide. When i lived in Gardnerville i would sometimes go 88 to Omo Ranch Rd to go that way, but i would not suggest it to someone i don't know. I have even taken Iron Mtn Rd (it has a different name now) to North/South and went in through Grizzly Flats.

NevadaNick · 04-25-2021, 07:29 AM

16 from Pleasant Valley Rd is fine.

twogypsies · 04-25-2021, 12:23 PM

I haven't driven the routes but I looked on Google satellite view & 'drove' the route and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it in a 40' motorhome. You have a 28' so you shouldn't have any concerns.

None of the mentioned roads are in the 'Mountain Directory for Truckers & RVers' which is our 'bible' when traveling mountainous areas. I don't have trust solely with a GPS until I do some background work first. We've run into issues by only using a GPS.

Magic Trek · 04-26-2021, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NevadaNick

I have driven them all. I would not hesitate to take any of the routes but i am not bothered by hills, curves etc. since i don't know your comfort level, you have to decide. When i lived in Gardnerville i would sometimes go 88 to Omo Ranch Rd to go that way, but i would not suggest it to someone i don't know. I have even taken Iron Mtn Rd (it has a different name now) to North/South and went in through Grizzly Flats.

88 to Omo Ranch is exactly the way I would need to go to get to my friends place! Why would you not suggest that way to someone you don't know?

Wildwoods22 · 04-26-2021, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Google Maps shows 84 miles via. 88/89/50, Exit at Carson Rd. to get onto Snows Rd. Take Snows to Newtown Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd and Mt. Aukum Rd into Somerset. The roads look good on satellite view on Google Maps. Check it out.

There's no easy way. The above is a good way but south of 50 Snows Road has some twisty turns.

As I recall, when we lived off of Highway 50 we'd tow our 19' trailer through Somerset and take Omo Ranch Road to 88 to camp at Pipi Campground.

Unless you are going to So. Lake Tahoe I'd take 88 rather than 50. Semis do both regularly so an RV will do fine, I would just avoid the narrow Echo summit on 50.

Be sure to stop for berry cobbler at Sorensen's which is just east of North 89 on 88.

NevadaNick · 04-26-2021, 05:45 AM

I say that because i don't know your abilities or comfort level. Omo Ranch Rd is a backroad with no striping on it. It also gets narrow at times other than that it is fine. Been down it in our mh which was 40ft and years ago towing 35ft fifth wheel. Have you been up Hwy 4 outside of Markleeville ? Its like that but not steep and twisty like 4.

Magic Trek · 05-02-2021, 08:03 PM

We decided to drive the route in the Jeep to check out Snows Rd and Mt Alum because of the satellite view and very happy I did before getting on either! Steep, narrow, very sharp curves. I do not recommend getting on either with an RV.

As for 88, the road is excellent with way less traffic than 50. Coming out of Gardnerville there is a climb from 4300' up to nearly 8600' of steady ascent with some over 8% curving up the Sierras. Beyond the summit the descent and curves, while not too sharp, will have me downshifting to a speed well below the posted limits. I am going to drive that route but definitely will not be towing and the gps estimate of 1hr 45 mins is laughs

Quote:

Originally Posted by twogypsies

Google Maps shows 84 miles via. 88/89/50, Exit at Carson Rd. to get onto Snows Rd. Take Snows to Newtown Rd., Pleasant Valley Rd and Mt. Aukum Rd into Somerset. The roads look good on satellite view on Google Maps. Check it out.