Jerseydale Campground

Miami Trail 4X4 Route

The weekend of May 18-20 I spent camping at Jerseydale U.S. Forest Service Campground and exploring some of the trails in the area. I have been on the eastern end of the Miami Trail near Fish Camp where the motorcycle trails are. This time, I took about half of the route from the western end which begins opposite Jerseydale Campground on Jerseydale Road. Here are scenes from the route up to near Battalion Pass and the intersection with Chowchilla Road Miami Trail 4X4 Route .

Fire emergency declared for Mariposa County

A state of emergency was declared Saturday for Mariposa County, where a nearly 4.1-square-mile fire continued to burn in Yosemite National Park.

Fire crews set the blaze Wednesday as a prescribed burn, but it quickly sped beyond the planned 90 acres. By Saturday, the Big Meadow fire had spread to more than 3,500 acres and was about 30% contained, officials reported.

Park officials closed a campground and a portion of Highway 120, anticipating that the fire would spread north toward Tioga Road, the highest elevation route through the Sierra.

Little Jackass, Road 6S22 & Mammoth Pool

I got off to a late start going camping and off-roading this year, but I fully intend to get my seasonal trips up to par. So Friday, July 18, I met a friend in North Fork and we headed for higher ground. The plan was to go to Mammoth Pool Reservoir and then camp and explore other nearby areas over the course of the weekend.

That first afternoon, we decided to head to Little Jackass Campground and that would put us withing good striking range of Mammoth Pool either that afternoon or the following morning.

We arrived at the campground about 1:30 p.m. to find it was full; there are only five sites there anyway. But as we were about to take off, a couple drove out and stopped to let us know they were leaving. We set up minimal stuff to secure the site and then headed out Forest Road 6S22, which turned out to be a great trek to start the weekend. Here are scenes from the Little Jackass area and 6S22 .

Yosemite blaze gains ground

Updated: A wildfire burning in Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest has grown to more than 3,500 acres and is only about 16% contained, park officials said Saturday morning.

Park crews set the Big Meadow Fire on Wednesday as a prescribed burn, but it crossed containment lines. The fire is burning about two miles east of El Portal.

The fire and firefighting work have closed some roads, campgrounds and communities. Big Oak Flat Road is closed from the Crane Flat Gas Station to the intersection of El Portal Road and Big Oak Flat Road.

Firefighters focus on Sierra campground

Firefighters battling the Big Meadow fire in Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest were working Wednesday on containing the blaze at Tamarack Flat Campground, a park spokesman said.

If conditions are favorable, firefighters will conduct burnout operations along Big Oak Flat and Tioga roads. There was no word about when Tioga Road will reopen.

More than 1,300 personnel are fighting the fire, which is 55% contained. Total containment is expected Sept. 10.