If you don't need to go all the way to Sacramento, just stay in Auburn and take the Georgetown route to the trailhead. 
Has that yet been considered?
How is that much faster? It is 739 miles to Auburn via Chico and 774 via Sac. I would think the higher speed limit on the freeway, considering we should be arriving fairly late, would make the driving time similar? Placerville is only 789 miles. What am I missing?
