DELTA-SIERRA GROUP

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Trip 12: Gates of the Antipodes, Middle Fork of the Yuba River, Level 3 Day Trip. To see more Trip 12 photographs by Paul Plathe click here.
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At 5000 feet this is high by our standards, but it has no poison oak to deal with. The trail in can be a four wheel drive road or a bushwhack down to the Commodore Mine and its ruins. The pools can be swam or floated, however, the water is cold. A wetsuit and or air mattress is advisable.

The canyon bottom has a significant number of beautiful gorges, one in particular has an inverted down climb requiring a technical move and or some assistance with minimal exposure to fall. The most significant feature is the Gates of the Antipodes. A rather lengthy, narrow dogleg shaped gorge. This canyon offers a different look than many of the other gorge scrambles and brings us some variety.

This trip offers excellent solitude. The trail out is good. A bit steep at the bottom it has about 1600 feet of elevation gain on the hike out. We are not aware if this trail has a name. Along the way out we do see the remains of a large miners cabin. At this point the trail becomes a four wheel drive road. Trips 11 and 12, Gates of the Antipodes and Box Canyon #1 can be combined for an excellent overnight trip.