Watch: Riding The Himalayan Through The Infamous Poker Flat – ADV Pulse

The Lost Sierra is a lesser-known part of the Sierra Range, away from the crowds, with pristine wilderness landscapes, high granite peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, and plenty of rugged trails. On a mission to scout out the full menu of trails, we set out on an unusual mix of machines a Husqvarna Norden 901, Beta 430 RR-S and a Royal Enfield Himalayan. Our biggest challenge of the trip would be getting through the infamous Poker Flat Jeep trail, a boulder-strewn descent into a canyon dropping 1,700 feet in about 1.5 miles followed by a super-steep climb back out the other side. Just when you think the hardest part is over, it gets way worse.

Wed all heard horror stories about this section of trail riders abandoning their bikes after reaching the point of exhaustion so we left it for the end of the trip. Getting stuck at the bottom, not being able to get out from either side, was a major concern. This was especially true for the budget-minded Himalayan, fully-loaded with camping gear, riding on 70/30 street-biased tires, piloted by a rider relatively new to off-road riding.

Follow along to see how the Himalayan did on this little adventure and see many of the incredible points of interest we explored during this scouting mission to the Lost Sierra, including Volcano Lake, the Sierra Buttes, Jamison Mine Complex, Mills Peak Fire Lookout, and more. In addition to the video, you can also check out our full Lost Sierra Ride Guide, which includes route details, maps and GPS tracks, so you can recreate this turnkey adventure with your own crew.

Photos by Rob Dabney

Originally posted here:

Watch: Riding The Himalayan Through The Infamous Poker Flat - ADV Pulse