Trek from Jupiter to Twain Harte - Friday and Saturday

We left on Friday in two Jeeps to try to make it to Twain Harte. We were trying to get Michael to Tuolumne City and in the meantime leave a Jeep at church for my husband to get into Jupiter (we all knew the Volvo would NOT make it even with chains!).

As we headed down the hill from our house the sun was shining and it looked as though we wouldn't have too much trouble. Little did we suspect..... There was an oak branch just past Rose Creek, but we were able to pull it off to the side - on we continued.

Just before and just after the cattle guard there were pine trees hanging over the road - low, but not low enough that we couldn't drive under them. It felt as if we were going through a snowy car wash!

As we began going up the hill just past the guard, we see Herschel shoveling.

He is trying to make a clear enough spot to turn around. Just ahead of him a decent size pine is down totally across the road. We backed both Jeeps up and turned around at the cattle guard. Home we went. We guessed Columbia way would have as much debris and so we called Michael's leader and said we are NOT getting out!

Well, Einar was VERY insistent that we try to get out yesterday. Michael and I were packing up with chain saws this time, when Bob Porter drove by in his bobcat. Yes, Bob saved the day!

We hopped in our Jeeps and took off after him. Apparently Brian and Matt, and then Chuck tried to get out on Friday after we had given up. They had cut the two overhanging pines and then got stuck around a turn just before the downed pine. STUCK DEEP. They went back and got the brat, met up with Chuck. Chuck cut the big pine, but they couldn't get Brian's truck unstuck.

No one got past that point until Saturday when Bobby came through. We all dug and dug, and shoveled and shoveled until we unearthed the truck. Then Bob pulled it out of the hole with his bobcat.

Brian went home, Matt came with us, and Chuck helped clear a wide path up to the top of 9 mile where Joseph left the trailer and continued on is Bob's wonderful big truck.

Joseph drove Bob's truck while Bob was in the cat. They cleared path to the top of 5 mile.

Someone had already driven to 5.5 mile (or out, I'm not sure which), so after Bob and Jo turned around we followed the tracks out. We had a caravan.

Janice was stuck in town, so JC was headed out to meet her. We had 2 Jeeps, and then Doug & Deb with chains on all 4 and Jason with Reggie in his truck.

Not too much trouble after that. Doug ran out of gas, but as all good Jupiterians do, had some with him - so no problem. Reggie and I each lost a chain and another of our broke. On we went until just before we hit pavement.

Someone, on their way in to play in the snow, amazingly wasn't stuck! But was blocking our way out, so we had to orchestrate our way past. Once done, we were free and clear to get to town.

Roads were only partially plowed in town. Power was out in many places (post office, 7-11...) but on in many others (TH EV Free Church, TH Market...).

More prayers on the way back - it was very scary. We had to back up in several spots, just to go forward. Very tough from South Fork Bridge up to 5 mile and then again from the bottom of 7 mile up to the top. Also scary at the switch backs by 8 mile.

Took 6 hours total to get to town. Thankfully not as long on the way back (1 1/2 hours) as the path had already been cleared. THANK YOU Bob and Joseph!

Well, it boils down to: The path is clear now, but still narrow and in snow. Definitely 4wd required, better with chains too. Very sunny now - it will melt a lot as the snow was fairly wet to begin with.....

Anyone with a report from the Columbia side?
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in Christ,
Betty