ATV 6

I have lived here all this time and never been to the Fossil Creek area. I took a record 169 pictures ! I wish I had unlimited space to post more pictures. I better keep to the format and just give you the highlights so you can plan your own trip.

This area is all about small scale hydro-electric power. Everywhere you look you see large pipes, flumes and many small power plants.

I'm not sure where they get the water so high up the mountains. The great thing is the by-product of hydroelectric is water. The water is absolutely crystal clear coming out of the pipes. I don't know if you can see but there are fish in the water.

There is a concrete flume, must be very old. The flume has water rushing in it. Further down the road is a steel pipe, I'm not sure if they are connected. The water coming out of the pipe is crystal clear. This water finds its way to Stehr Lake.

At the end of the road is Childs (an APS possession) The sign says "NO public allowed". But you can go to the camping area. The sign is painted over and says "NUDE BEACH". I didn't see anyone nude but it is a very nice area.

In many of the low lying areas there are very nice isolated roads to just cruse down with an ATV. In general I saw 2 trucks on the road in 6 hours. This is the first expedition to this area. I should do some research and go back again to find more off the beaten path attractions. The scenery on this trip was awesome !

I'm starting at Horseshoe Reservoir, as usual the place is empty. My ATV is on the boat ramp, why not, there are no boats! I'm puzzled, this is a nice lake? The next pictures are to prove a point (and I wanted to do it again to). Do you see the water going over the dam ?

(Left Picture)
OK,,,, I'm walking up to the dam. Do you see the cat-walk on the left.

(Right Picture)
I'm standing on the beginning of the cat-walk looking at the waterfall from the side.

Ok,,,, Now I'm on the cat-walk that goes behind the waterfall. This cat-walk crosses Horseshoe Dam!,,, all the way!,,, From one side to the other,,, "Behind The WATER"! In a few places you could get a little wet. So when I tell you about this don't give me "The deer in the headlights look" ! Here it is ! (I told you I didn't do drugs !)

(Left and Below)

I moved on to Bartlett Reservoir. This is the opposite case, it was packed ! There were a few nice narrow gauge tracks to ride on but in general both of these 2 lakes are not ATV friendly. Many of the remote camping areas are posted "NO ATV's" This sucked ! At Bartlett Dam it is fenced off so you can't even get near the dam,,,dam it !

One of my goals was to make it to Sheep Bridge. Many years ago I kept trying to find my way from Pine Mountain in, that area is closed off now and considered Wilderness. The only way I can see to get there is through 7-Springs. I made it 1/2 Way to an area I think they call "Ranch 51" and it was after 5PM,,,, MMMmmm……. I turned around and came back to the truck. I'll need an earlier start on this one. (I should have done it first ?)