Utah Meet ‘n Greet/Trail Run #8 July 29th / 30th

The first page has been updated. Let me know if you are going to be able to make this meet, and if you will be able to make it to the camping part and or just some Saturday wheelin.

Lets get this thing rolling. Thanks to those that will be pre-running the trails looking for a good camping spot.

 

You can count me in for Saturday for wheelin Jas!! Maybe plus one with a 2006 DCLB/no lift.

 

I wouldn't be able to go exploring Friday, but I could do Saturday or Sunday if you dont have work.

I do have a few changes to your map though.

B. I have been calling that the Graveyard Flats area, as even though the road is marked as Major Evans and the flats are at the start, I'm sure its blocked off at some point up the canyon from this side as well. We never really did find a real entrance to this though.

D. We tried to find the way up Mary Ellen last summer and the only paths we found got really narrow really quick. I know you and I would be willing to take our trucks up against the trees, but not so sure about the others.

E would be Miller Hill. The entrance is no longer accessible from the main road, but you can still get there if you go past the Kiosk at the entrance to Mineral Basin. We didn't know that at the time and the road is actually blocked by rocks on the main road side so we never made it up.

F is mineral basin before the rock garden? My only concern would be that since its close to the road, it might be taken by others already. I would be interested in checking it out to see how wet it currently is though.


The other place I was going to check is over past Silver Lake Flats.
Basically, you go past Tibble, but instead of turning on the dirt road towards Forest Lake, you keep on the pavement until you see another pay booth. There is a road to the right a few hundred yards before that which takes you up to Silver Lake Res. Past Silver Lake Res, you'll go about half a mile further and the road splits into Milk Maid (down the steep hill to the left), or Major Evans up the road to the right.

The place towards Milk Maid is where I was thinking it might be nice, as there are lots of smaller camping spots if you keep to the right after dropping down, or we could all just gather at the bottom of the hill where its nice and open.

There was also that spot near the top of Major Evans that we stopped to take pics at last time we were up there.

I'm just worried about how wet it will be there and if we'll be able to climb out the next day (Milk Maid), assuming the stream crossing is realistic and the area is even open.


btw, how well did sleeping in the back of your truck do in Moab? I was thinking I'd just keep it simple and do the same. Toss my air mattress back there with a sleeping bag, and a tarp from the roof to the tailgate if it looks like its going to rain.

 

I AM ABLE TO GO SUNDAY !!! if i have another truck going ( hence you ) i would be ok with waiting till sunday to go up the canyon. what time sounds good to go up... where you wanna meet ?

B- there is a way up im about 70% sure, you just go threw campgrounds to make it there. the old entrance they blocked off for sure got blocked off couple years back
D. yeah tiki aint afriad of "rocky mountain pinstripes" as i call them, but if it turns into a 4 wheeler road i agree lets turn that trail into a no go, but as far as sunday goes im still willing to explore it... ?
E. yeah before the kiosk there's a mud puddle that always catches my attention... i dont really go farther cause i never see others go farther then i see maps saying i can then i forget to go farther when up there ...then repeat
F. to get to the camp ground i was talking about you actually drive threw the river and not alot of people know that... cause it doesnt look like your suppose too, but get on the other side and its oblivious your suppose too, so its almost like a hidden camp site, hence why i like it

at the north end of silver lake you cross threw the river to start up there. there is a gate there in the spring blocking the river off cause it wipes out the road and all other fun stuff so even gettting as far as north the lake isnt a possibility. but maybe now it is open... not sure, but with all these rain storms we keep getting i highly doubt it.

i always sleep in my truck with two foam pads, and i always do it that way for how simple it it and i enjoy it, with a passenger its a little tight unless you care to snuggle, but if no passenger your golden. if you had an air mattress you'd be fine and as you said a tarp in case, i have a 12x10 size. close the corners in my doors. fold it back on my roof so if does rain easy to drape it down over my tire with bungys and its good for me. worst part is when it does rain its VERY loud but hey your dry

 

Cabelas at 10 sound ok?

 

Anyone else want to join

 

So, we went to check out a few places.

1. Everything past silver lake flat is still closed, so thats out. Probably be closed until Forest Lake is open.

2. Forest Lake is still closed, of course.

3. Graveyard Flats is open, but Jason might have to bring his trimming sheers (pretty close trail). Would probably be good for a few less people.

4. Mineral Basin area looks fantastic to me. It's well before the rock garden, so no worries about that. It is officially the entrance to Pittsburgh Lake and it is a legitimate trail/camp site, even though it doesn't seem like it having to drive in the river a bit. The river does have a low spot, but nothing to worry about (Jesse has a pic).


Jesse said he's going to try to snag the spot earlyish Friday, so anyone wanting to head up early on Friday, you might want to get with him to find the spot.

I will be leaving work at 5:00, so I can meet up with people at Cabelas about 6:00ish if people want to do that as well.

For those more adventurous, the place we're thinking about is http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.54...5.677068&sspn=23.875,57.630033&num=1&t=h&z=18 (look for the green mark, not the red A). Jesse is planning to mark the tree near the entrance so people dont miss the turn. If you drive past the Y with numbers at it, you've gone too far. Attached is a 180 degree pic of the road + entrance. (Red is main road, Green is the entrance)

And just as a reminder, there is a fee to enter the park, but they do take cc.

 

I might be down for the saturday

 

I can't think that I have anything planned so I could probably cruise down after work. Not sure how long it will take coming from Rock Springs, WY (leave at 3 Friday) so I may have to meet you guys somewhere, plus I'd probably come through Heber. I'd like to come.

 

So as Greg said most other trails are closed or get very tight, but from there camping wise. here's some pics of the camp site



PLEASE VIEW THE LINK BELOW if you get confused
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=UT-144+N%2FAmerican+Fork+Canyon+Rd&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=40.54482,-111.591868&spn=0.018621,0.043945&sll=40.482234,-111.645545&sspn=0.00466,0.006899&geocode=FRi6aQId6W9Y-Q%3BFUq6agIdzyJZ-Q&mra=me&mrsp=0,1&sz=17&z=15

CAMP SITE FROM TIBBLE FORK RES parking lot is close to 6.5 miles away keep following road 007 or signs saying mineral basin. pass the swamp with old mining equipment in it. keep on driving the road WILL GO DOWN INTO THE RIVER with a fence to your right, keep going !!! it'll go back up, from there keep following the road you'll go into where the road takes a sharp left where the road looks as if its a dryed up river bed filled with gravel. ( with the spring run off, it was a river ) there will be TWO RED FLAGS go in between them, if you pass the tree in the middle of the road that you can pick to go in either side with the brown sign 007 you went too far.
now for the pictures to help you ...
V below V ... the fork that if you pass this you went TOO FAR

the brown 007 sign in those trees

where in the picture the more brown / wet ground go threw those trees, there will be RED FLAGS



the trail will turn into the river... KEEP DRIVING THREW THE RIVER ... turn left you'll see the trail


there is a deep spot, i made it threw in 2wd others might have to use 4wd

... this jeep made it threw... WHY CANT YOU !?

with very little ground clearance

if you hit the RED FLAGS and the brown 007 sign and not sure where to go... start honking i guess again
PLEASE VIEW THE LINK BELOW if you are confused with these instructions
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=UT-144+N%2FAmerican+Fork+Canyon+Rd&daddr=Unknown+road&hl=en&ll=40.54482,-111.591868&spn=0.018621,0.043945&sll=40.482234,-111.645545&sspn=0.00466,0.006899&geocode=FRi6aQId6W9Y-Q%3BFUq6agIdzyJZ-Q&mra=me&mrsp=0,1&sz=17&z=15



.

 

I'm game for meeting at Cabela's at 6:00 then heading up. I'll bring some camping gear and a small stove to warm things up if anyone wants to use it.

I still baby the truck (kinda new still) so won't be going on anything too crazy, but if that Jeep made it, i'll make it.

 

Kidding aside I like Z's new fenders and tires. The Jeep is looking good.

Ok so lets plan on a group meeting at 6:00 at Cabelas.

 

I might be able to make this one, still down in Texas right now but I'll be back on the 27th.

 

If you can make it Friday camping is going to be pretty awesome. I have extra tents etc. you are always welcome to to use

Hope you can make it, I want to see some of your LED lights one of these days.

Hope you can make it. I would love to see your truck.

Big thanks to you guys for pre-running this for us.

Was that white Jeep with you guys?

I'll build you a jump if you can make it .

 

It all depends on traffic for me, but I do plan on being there by 6:00. I might be a little late as I have to come from 5400 S Bangerter.

Nah. He had a broken drive line from crossing the river and went to get help. (I'm kidding - He was already there. I'm sure they hiked up to the lake or something.)

 

Funny guy. That white Jeep looked really out of place.

I'll be comming from downtown and I have a buddy that I may have to pick up. No rush we can just call it 6:00ish.

Z's Jeep is looking good can't wait to see it in action.

 

Sorry if I missed it. But was it decided where we are meeting for Saturday people?

 

We have some options, the Saturday attendees can meet us at camp or we could meet up somewhere like Tibble Fork Reservoir.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=40.482928,-111.645255&hl=en&t=h&z=15

Where would the Saturday attendees like to meet us? Also what are your thoughts for when you would like to meet?

 

Ideally, they would meet us at the camp site, as the trail I was thinking of exploring starts really close to there. I'm checking to see if anyone knows if its passable, so I guess we'll see.

 

Looking forward to the trail run. We were camping up there last weekend. Here's a short (choppy, sorry) video of the ride down and a few pictures.

Drive back down Sat morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07McB_8-E6Q

Fun little campsite:


Little landmark for anyone that hasn't gone up the canyon before: