Pickering Bar on the NF American River

[MadMarshall]

So I talked my brother into goning down to Pickering bar today to see what has changed...Of course we could go down river on the Blue Wing Trail on the otherside of the river or even the Nameless trail that splits of from pickering bar trail. leads a downriver bar(Honestly I think its an old Mining Ditch) but anyway if you ever been there you know that once you get to the river from pickering bar trail and proceed upriver you are stopped by a mountain with sheer cliffs to the river and its huge..Anyway having tried once before to get upriver on that side..By climbing and finding a route we get there and back in one peice but with no luck as we finally decided that it was to dangerous..Anyway we crossed the river today in a somewhat calm area had to swim with our gear..and hiked upriver past the mountain and look for a reasonable crossing to the other side.. it worked good for the first half hour of the walk and then another mountain..The river in that part was uncrossable and the rapids were movin..So we walked all the way back crossed the river and decided that if we proceeded higher on the mountain and not take the obvious edge we may be able to conquer it.. We hated every step every so often you would come across where that side of the mountain gave and is now just loose and broken shale..We had to give up after swallowing our egos...The trip back sucked but on a good note on the way back we did manage to get to a small area next to the river somewhere between and clear the cracks out and sample gravel..It was actually superising how well that littlel edge did... Neither of us got skunked and for throwing less then ten pans in the water it was a good day..The hike back to the car was all up and kinda irritating with all the leaves as it makes the steep walk up slippery..We saw allot of snakes no rattlers though..No video as I expected to be crawling up the mountain..But it is a great place with allot of history and old Junk(I love old prospecting junk).here is a video of me cleaning my snuffer bottle from earlier today

 

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[63bkpkr]

MM, from Pickering there is a wide waterfall in the NFAR, and near that spot when you were heading up river there is a waterfall coming in on the left that empties into the NFAR. Once into the Giant Gap Gorge there is nothing but water and High Cliffs that reach all the way up to the Sun. It is like that all the way till you reach Green Valley. It is bad water in there and at around ~250 to ~180 cfs a good swimmer is unlikely to be able to swim against the current. During the time you and your brother were in there the river was at ~640 cfs. For whatever reason there are Rattle snakes on those high cliffs.

Be good................63bkpkr

 

[MadMarshall]

63 I suspect that I will have to hit it late summer..As more then a day is required. I really would like to spend some time prospecting that finger Between Bogus Point and Lovers leap...But as always time is against a man.. But I will go back maybe Friday for scouting mission..and most likely a day or two later this year But I figure It will be a few years before I actually get to where I want but I will eventually find a way or create one..And enjoy the remoteness and the thrill of the conquest and some gold never hurts!!Truthfully I am Just a huge addict of the NF American River The beauty of the area and history and all the other things it has to offer..And gold wise I have always done well on that river which is always a plus..So many places to see and only one lifetime to see them in...Anyway I hope you are healing well..and be able to make use of the weather..

 

[calgeologist]

Pickering trail is one of my favorites. Not because of the gold, but because it is some of the best fishing that I have ever experienced. The hike coming back up the Pickering Trail is always a fun/really difficult hike. Its just so slippery with all the oak leaves on the trail.

Good luck and maybe I will run into you on that trail one day.

 

[63bkpkr]

Myself I've never hiked the trails there, just floated on by four times on a raft. @ 90cfs and less there is a Lot of portaging to do and there were some dry spots way in the gorge. A lot of High walls and deep runs with almost zero Fish, I guess due to a lack of enough gravel and food?? Years ago there were some very large hunks of the canyon wall obstructing a portion of the passage channel and I'd guess that more have fallen. At the correct water level it would be an easy days float from Green Valley to Pickering bar. As always be very careful, pay attention to the sound of the river as there are/were a few small water falls in there and could be more obstructions in the way, rocks/trees, and do it with at least one friend. Oh, bring diving goggles!.....................63bkpkr

 

[sidvail]

I'm looking at some awesome pictures of the cliffs below Moonshine Ravine. Is this accessible from Iron Point trail?

Looks like the same kind of hike as Euchre Bar - maybe a little longer but not as steep?