Sisar Canyon

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:06 pm

We hiked Sisar Canyon up to White Ledge and beyond for the first time. The road says "private road no trespassing" but it is a public easement and there is no problem driving up to and parking at the trail head. It was a beautiful canyon with wildflowers everywhere, but...read on
trailhead

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The Topatopa

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Mariposa Lily

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White Ledge Campground

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and then there were fields of poodle dog

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we thought we were above it and into the goldfields

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until we ran into what looked like .2 mile of head high poodle dog

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It did not seem worth it to go further, Still it was a great hike--12 miles through amazing views and wildflowers. 3,000' of gain.

Post by **dima** » Thu Jun 04, 2020 10:27 pm

Where would you have ended up if you kept going?

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:22 am

You used to be able to go up that road further than where the gate is now. Don't know what changed.

How was the trail from Sisar Road to White Ledge? And how far above White Ledge did you hit the wall of Poodle?

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 6:33 am

We were looking at going to the Hines Peak/LadyBug area. The Dawg began at about 200 vertical feet above White Ledge Campground. It was passable for .8 of a mile, about half way to the road junction above. Then it looked too risky and a cold brew sounded much better. The trail from Sisar to White Ledge has two parts. The first is about 3 miles on a fire road with a good surface and easy passage. The second part is single track, overgrown with a few washouts (about the last mile). Still, it was not bad. Above White Ledge Campground the trail was in good condition.

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:10 pm

I have been wanting to do White Ledge. I heard that since the fire the vegetation might be clear and it would probably be easier now to make it to the top. Looking at your pics, I guess not. Poodle Dog is a nuisance. If you want a challenging hike do Eagle Rest. This hike was a butt-kicker and inspired me to do White Ledge but we were not sure about the trail.
Nice pics. Thanks for the report.

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:19 pm

Girl Hiker wrote: I have been wanting to do White Ledge. I heard that since the fire the vegetation might be clear and it would probably be easier now to make it to the top. Looking at your pics, I guess not. Poodle Dog is a nuisance. If you want a challenging hike do Eagle Rest. This hike was a butt-kicker and inspired me to do White Ledge but we were not sure about the trail.
Nice pics. Thanks for the report.

The hike to White Ledge is to 3,800' which is lower than Poodle Dog elevations. You won't find any along the trail and the wildflowers are outrageous!

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Sat Jun 06, 2020 8:09 am

Girl Hiker wrote: I have been wanting to do White Ledge. I heard that since the fire the vegetation might be clear and it would probably be easier now to make it to the top. Looking at your pics, I guess not. Poodle Dog is a nuisance. If you want a challenging hike do Eagle Rest. This hike was a butt-kicker and inspired me to do White Ledge but we were not sure about the trail.
Nice pics. Thanks for the report.

FYI, there is a White Ledge trail camp:
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=34.4854 ... =15&b=f16a

And then there is White Ledge Peak:
https://caltopo.com/map.html#ll=34.4665 ... =15&b=f16a

Jerry's TR and pics relate to the former, but it sounds like you might be thinking of the latter.

Post by **tekewin** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 2:14 pm

White Ledge Peak has only been climbed a few of times I think. Lots of failed attempts. It looks challenging from any direction.

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:05 am

A good read about White Ledge Peak, and yes, I was talking about White Ledge Campground up Sisar Canyon
http://davidstillman.blogspot.com/2013/ ... gully.html

Post by **tekewin** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 10:15 am

How far away from Nordhoff Ridge Road were you when you ran into the poodle dog?

JerryN · Post by **JerryN** » Fri Jun 19, 2020 11:32 am

We were 1.2 miles away. The entire area as far as we could see was a field of poodle dog. If you are going through the Thomas Fire burn area, expect it. I am not sure if it stopped before the Nordhoff Ridge Road, but from our vantage it did not.