UTAH (and Surrounding Areas) BS Thread

Was rattle snake pretty gnarly when it was a river? ^^^

and those are some sick pics!

 

It was a blast! You couldn't see the rock really at all just kinda went off the rapids.

 

I see looks like it would be pretty awesome! I need sliders then I'll feel a little better about runnin rattle snake!

 

looks like im gonna be putting hella miles on the truck come january. gotta drive back and fourth to school!.

 

Damni wish I had know about that trip. I woul have gone on that one

 

Hey all! Looking for a little input.

I've got a 2013 dclb and looking to do a 2"ish lift/level but don't want to pay the $1100 for the full OME kit (need new tires as well to replace the dunflops). Looking at possibly doing new OME nitros and 885s for the front then just doing an AAL in the back and using the stock rear shocks. Looks like cruiser outfitters in Sandy sells all the parts so don't have to worry about shipping costs.

I'm not very mechanical when it comes to cars apart from oil changes and other basic stuff. My dad has the skill/expertise though and I'm thinking if we borrow/rent a spring compressor it'd be a breeze to do ourselves (apart from getting an alignment).

Does this sound doable? Is there anything I'm forgetting that may make this dream impossible? Any advice from people with experience doing this themselves?

Thanks!

 

↑↑↑ sounds good to me! The only thing I wasnt sure on was using the stock rear shocks with add a leaf?? I bought longer rears when I did my for the flex. Maybe someone else will chime in and let us know for sure.

 

I hadn't thought of that. I wonder what the difference in length of travel the stock trd sport shocks have compared to the OME nitros?

Also, just found out my buddy has access to a garage with a lift so the labor just got a little less laborious.

More time to drink beer and less time spent working. I can't wait!

 

Patricia and I had hopes of camping up in Mary Ellen Gulch behind Snowbird this weekend. When the weather refused to cooperate we took advantage of a window of dry weather this afternoon to head up there on a recon mission instead.

My friend Bobby calls Mary Ellen Gulch "Futurebird" because of Snowbird's plans to put a lift in there. It's one drainage immediately to the west of Mineral Basin, and is accessed in summer via American Fork Canyon. AF Canyon is paved as far east as Tibble Fork Reservoir, and is a dirt Forest Service road (number 085) beyond there. Several miles up 085 the Mary Ellen Gulch Trail (FR-111) branches off and heads north.

FR-111 was at one time a road to access the mines in Mary Ellen Gulch, including the Yankee, Silver Bell and Globe Mines. Today it's a jeep/ATV trail that quite frankly is about as tough rock hopping as I really care to do in my truck. The Taco performed admirably, but there were a couple of tricky spots -- including a washout across the road, loose rock next to severe dropoffs, and bouldering up rock ledges that my skill level was barely up to snuff for.


Loose rubble on the Mary Ellen Gulch trail


This is a road?


Steeper than it looks.

We were rewarded, however, for reaching the end of the navigable road at 9,000 feet with the splendor of an alpine cirque in which to have lunch. Several folks who arrived at our lunch spot on ATVs -- the only people we'd see on the trail all afternoon -- commented on how tough it was even on their vehicles.


At our lunch stop, at timberline at 9,000 feet.


Upper Mary Ellen Gulch. The ridgeline at photo right center middleground is the backside of the Sunday Cliffs in Mineral Basin at Snowbird.


The Yankee Mines. The ridgeline in the background is the south side of 11,483-foot West Twin of American Fork Twin Peaks.


The Globe Mines


The Globe Mines

I would've loved to have acquiesced to Patricia's pleading to climb up to the mines, especially as I heard that there's an old grave marker for one of the miners next to one of the buildings still standing, but I wanted to be out of there before the weather turned.


Looking back down Mary Ellen Gulch as the weather says that it's time to leave.


Arriving back in American Fork Canyon


Lower Mineral Basin


Upper American Fork Canyon


Mary Ellen Gulch (left) and Mineral Basin


Mineral Basin from the Baker Fork Trail. The lifts on the ridgeline are Snowbird's (L to R) Little Cloud, Mineral Basin Express and the Aerial Tram.


American Fork Twin Peaks and Mary Ellen Gulch from the Baker Pass Trail

Sure enough, right after we ascended Baker Fork and topped out at 8,939-foot Pole Line Pass the skies unleashed. It was slow going on the slippery dirt roads all the way to Midway via Snake Creek behind Alta, and for the first time since I bought the truck in March I actually had the wipers on high.

 

that's really cool. thanks for posting the pictures. I may have to do that one.

 

This is always a nice and pretty trail. Wish I went to this (or anything else), instead of what I was doing. Regretfully, its pretty much the end of camping season now. Way too much flash rain.

I know people dont believe me until they try it, but next time, air down all your tires to about 15-18 psi (you can go lower than that pretty easy, but I find this is good for those starting out on airing down). It will be a completely different trail. A lot more grip, both the washboards and the rocks will just smooth out, and although many dont mention this, you will have a far less chance of causing damage to your tires and your truck. http://arbusa.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/the-lowdown-off-road-tire-pressures/

I dont want to sound like I'm harping on this, but please never go on off road trails with just one vehicle. Some of those trails wont see people for weeks and who knows what can happen. (Worst case: vehicle rolls due to driver error or nature (rock/tree/loose dirt) and all people in vehicle are too injured to walk down. Less worst case is something breaks on the vehicle and how you have to hike down.)

I know you can drive up to one of the mines fairly easy. The one up to the left after the leaving the big clearing. This is usually as far as I'll take people. There's lots of old mining items left laying around and lots of room to park/turn around. Earlier this year, it was getting pretty off camber in some places though, so with all the recent rain, it very well might not be passable any longer.

The only grave marker I know of (besides graveyard flats), is on top of Miller Hill. Slightly different trail. (Where Mineral Basin and Mary Ellen pretty much travel in the canyon of the mountains, Miller hill travels closer to the ridge line between the two. The main entrance is blocked off due to private property, but there is a back entrance past the kiosk at the start of Mineral Basin that is still usable. I haven't been up there yet, but I've heard that it really is overgrown to an ATV trail by this point.

 

Great beta, thank you.

 

OK... too much sitting around last night watching Real loose the soccer game and then "the football game" last night.
I think I am going to head up to Jacob City above Tooele (via Butterfield Canyon). Its a small "ghost town" that I was looking at last fall and never went to.

Wayyy short notice, but I plan to leave in about an hour if anyone is looking for something to do and wants a easy ride. Gonna take my son (12) , our R/C trucks and some food.

 

Kyle, did you ever make it up to Jacob City? Looking for stuff to do over the next few weekends before it gets too cold.

 

I didn't. They have closed down Butterfield canyon because the Kennecott mine rain runoff washed out the road. The county guy I saw there said that the county and the mine are arguing on who has to fix it. He had no idea when it would get resolved. I didn't really want to drive all the way around at that point so we just went over to a little hiking trail and drove the R/C cars.

I wanted to get out before it gets too cold too but this weekend is looking busy for me. I think its a reasonable dirt road so I am guessing it could be done even if there is a little snow on the ground. If you decide to do it, let me know. I may join you.

 

Hit Silver Lake Creek - Decided to go fishing and a little exploration before the cold hits.

 

How far up the road (after the lake) did you go? It looks like it heads all the way up the south side of Twin Peaks. I wonder what that road is like up higher. I bet the view is awesome.

 

It's actually from coming back down. The peak in the background is Box Elder (i think) and the water you are seeing is from the silver flat reservoir. The trail isn't half bad and takes you really close to the water pretty fun getting up there. You just have to take a left before the gated road. It is a curvy trail but it will take you right up there.

Twin peaks is probably closer to Mary Ellens Gulch which is actually in the previous pages of this thread. The view was awesome though. Definitely recommend it.

 

It's actually Timpy.

 

Taking a little bit closer look I think Marc is right! Probably a safe bet based on the snow it has already accumulated.

Edit: Marc is right.