Driving help....SF to Kirkwood

[Huckwheat]

Sorry, dont live in SF, dont ski Kirkwood (normally).

Sunday morning.....from SF, which route is fastest and what time should I leave to get there by 8ish.

[MSG]

Not sure which bridge will be best for you, either Bay or San Mateo but....

East on 580 past Livermore
then take 205 North to meet up with 5
North on 5 for a little while
East on 4
North on 99
East on 88 all the way to Kirkwood

88 makes a couple left turns, so watch for signs.

From the city 3.5 to 4 hours. Maybe since this is your first time driving it plan on 4.5hrs.

[skimoore]

you can do it in three hours flat....but only if you know the shortcuts. you can go the route described by MSG, but you have to take ridge road, otherwise you end up going through Jackson which is way way longer. so ridge road comes off of 88, and you have to make a left turn onto it (the first time there's a huge lumberjack statue) and you have to make another left to stay on it after Jackson Rancheria Casino. It will end back at 88 in Pine Grove and you can take it up there. Definitely allow at least 3 1/2 hours if you haven't driven it before.

[dima]

80 - 24 - 680 - 242 - 4 - 160, 12 turn right @ Rio Vista, 99 - Liberty rd Exit, 88 - 104 past sutter creek - 88 you are there.

http://maps.google.com/

[Cirquerider]

So, we need someone else from the Bay Area at Kirkwood? Sierra at Tahoe is an easier drive, but if you decide to do the 88 tour, the Ridge Road cutoff is the way to go. Snow levels are not forecast to be so low this weekend. (you shoudl still go to Sierra).

[runethechamp]

you can do it in three hours flat....but only if you know the shortcuts. you can go the route described by MSG, but you have to take ridge road, otherwise you end up going through Jackson which is way way longer. so ridge road comes off of 88, and you have to make a left turn onto it (the first time there's a huge lumberjack statue) and you have to make another left to stay on it after Jackson Rancheria Casino. It will end back at 88 in Pine Grove and you can take it up there. Definitely allow at least 3 1/2 hours if you haven't driven it before.

That shortcut is not as good as advertised. Saves you max a couple of minutes. Sombody told me you would save at least 10 a couple of years ago, and after looking at the distances, it didn't add up, so I tested it.

[Arty50]

(you shoudl still go to Sierra).

No he shouldn't. Huck lives in North Lake, and he's getting the full tour on Sunday.

When I come up 88, I take Ridge Rd. It used to be a little better before the Jackson Rancheria opened. Now it's about the same as just taking 88 the whole way. I take Ridge because there are less police. Meaning there's only 5 instead of 10.

[kidwoo]

So, we need someone else from the Bay Area at Kirkwood? .

Yeah go back to the bay son!!!















and visit whoever it was you were visiting............in the bay..........where you don't live............and stuff

[Superstar Punani]

Sorry, dont live in SF, dont ski Kirkwood (normally).

Sunday morning.....from SF, which route is fastest and what time should I leave to get there by 8ish.

From SF take 101 South to 84 East (Dumbarton Bridge), cross the bridge to 880 N. Then take 92 W (San Mateo Bridge) to 280 N, then follow to 19th avenue to the Golden Gay Bridge. Take the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and then take 80 South to 880s to 580east to 680 North then 80 Eastbound. Follow 80 to Reno then take 395 South until you hit 88 just before Minden. Follow 88 to Kirkwood.

[Spats]

From SF take 101 South to 84 East (Dumbarton Bridge), cross the bridge to 880 N. Then take 92 W (San Mateo Bridge) to 280 N, then follow to 19th avenue to the Golden Gay Bridge. Take the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and then take 80 South to 880s to 580east to 680 North then 80 Eastbound. Follow 80 to Reno then take 395 South until you hit 88 just before Minden. Follow 88 to Kirkwood.

You forgot the shortcut where you take 395 South to 89 to 88. Much faster, especially in winter.

Of course, the real shortcut is 580 -> 205 -> 5 N -> 4 E -> 89 N -> 88 W. That'll be way faster than anything else. But you'll need a good 4WD once you get past Bear Valley.

[Cirquerider]

Sunday should be amazing since all the upper lifts are closed today. You need to check road conditions for 88 before you leave. Right now Carson Spur is closed. If it is tomorrow when you leave, the Hwy 50 to 89 to 88 is your best shot. Check this link

IS CLOSED FROM 3.5 MI EAST OF SILVER LAKE TO KIRKWOOD /CARSON SPUR/(AMADOR CO) - DUE TO AVALANCHE CONTROL - MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

[BLOODSWEATSTEEL]

That shit was WATER today. Hopefully the temp will drop 10-15* tonight and dry some of it out. I only stayed an hour. 8-12" of cream cheese off chair 5 in a 40 mph crosswind is teh suck.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

That shit was WATER today. Hopefully the temp will drop 10-15* tonight and dry some of it out. I only stayed an hour. 8-12" of cream cheese off chair 5 in a 40 mph crosswind is teh suck.

Yikes. Glad I stayed home today. Those forecasted 90 - 100 mph gusts on the ridges had me thinking the top wouldn't open (or barely) today.

But if a nice layer of colder lighter blower gets laid down on that heavier cream.....tomorrow could be hucka-fun

[Arty50]

Skied a couple of laps off 11 today. Think wind tunnel lined with cream cheese. They teased us with chair 6 this morning, but there's no way that thing spun. Tomorrow could be good. Don't forget to wax just in case.

[Superstar Punani]

Skied a couple of laps off 11 today. Think wind tunnel lined with cream cheese. They teased us with chair 6 this morning, but there's no way that thing spun. Tomorrow could be good. Don't forget to wax just in case.

The first descent lines of untracked, unskied, 50-degree sickness with AKA were my highlights of the morning.

[BLOODSWEATSTEEL]

The first descent lines of untracked, unskied, 50-degree sickness with AKA were my highlights of the morning.

P-house?

[Huckwheat]

Yikes. Glad I stayed home today. Those forecasted 90 - 100 mph gusts on the ridges had me thinking the top wouldn't open (or barely) today.

But if a nice layer of colder lighter blower gets laid down on that heavier cream.....tomorrow could be hucka-fun

I second the above motion.....just need to get my ass up at 4 and get there!! See ya tomorr....

[ski_trader]

From SF take 101 South to 84 East (Dumbarton Bridge), cross the bridge to 880 N. Then take 92 W (San Mateo Bridge) to 280 N, then follow to 19th avenue to the Golden Gay Bridge. Take the Richmond San Rafael Bridge and then take 80 South to 880s to 580east to 680 North then 80 Eastbound. Follow 80 to Reno then take 395 South until you hit 88 just before Minden. Follow 88 to Kirkwood.

I second this route. It shaves over half an hour off the traveltime, and has some nice scenery along the way. If you leave by 5 you should be fine.

[Huckwheat]

Not sure which bridge will be best for you, either Bay or San Mateo but....

East on 580 past Livermore
then take 205 North to meet up with 5
North on 5 for a little while
East on 4
North on 99
East on 88 all the way to Kirkwood

88 makes a couple left turns, so watch for signs.

From the city 3.5 to 4 hours. Maybe since this is your first time driving it plan on 4.5hrs.

Thanks MSG....solid info. Got on Bay Bridge at 4:30, sitting at Kirkwood at 7:45 (with snowy roads over Carson).

Fun day at Kirkwood.....thanks to all those that let me tag along.