But the good news is 5 Mile didn't have any snow out there except for a little bit on the very top portion of the hills. Rattlesnake and Constrictor were clear!!
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2007 Silver MT:
TRD Exhaust, 3" OME lift, 17 inch wheels, 33" Toyo AT Tires, E-Locker, Demello Tube Sliders, All-Pro Skid for IFS, Tranny, Transfer-Case, and Lower Link Arm Brackets.
Here is the kmz file for that trail up American Fork Canyon I was looking at. It starts at the top of Silver Flat Lake and gains over 3500 feet in elevation. I'm wondering how runnable it is and if anyone has done it before?
I put the kmz file in the zip folder because it doesn't let me attach .kmz files.
Kalen
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2007 Silver MT:
TRD Exhaust, 3" OME lift, 17 inch wheels, 33" Toyo AT Tires, E-Locker, Demello Tube Sliders, All-Pro Skid for IFS, Tranny, Transfer-Case, and Lower Link Arm Brackets.
I been up to Silver Lake a bunch of times last summer(my kids love that lake). The picture in my avatar was taken passing through the stream to the trail you are speaking of.
I do know that this trail is maintained by forest services and I believe eventually hits private land where it is gated and locked. If my memory serves me right at that point you can hike up to some old mines.
The problem last summer was that right at that first jog back to the right (the first one that makes a 15 degree angle) there was a huge rock in the trail. It was very narrow and would have required going over verses around. It still may have been passable with a stock rig but it was highly probable to cause damage. My spotter (read: my wife) did not want me to try it. I believe a lifted vehicle could have made it.
There are several points that I feel I should make being that I would be willing to try it again especially with an experienced group. The forest service told me that they try to remove any obstacles up there once the snow melts that they feel would result in they having to "rescue" people (they don't particularly like having to do that). This particular obstacle may have removed it or they may have built up the ground around it. It was fairly late in the season when I tried it last and there had been a lot of run-off. I don't think the rest of the trail would be that bad. Due to run-off it might be much tougher trail later in the season (depending on what we are looking for).
I guess what I am saying is that I am in but let's make sure we are well prepared and know what we are getting into. I will also add the caviat that I do not profess to being an experienced off-roader but I thought it still might be useful to express what I remember as I seem to be the only one familiar with the trail.
I'm plugging it into the topo map program now. It may be that the rock is yet another of the passive aggressive ways the Forest Service shuts down trails. It may also be that there are other ways in. I'll take a look. I've covered most of this terrain in one vehicle or another. Nothing like a good trip just to check it out . One factor that is insurmountable right now, there's still over a hundred inches of snow right there .
Hey, that's just across the ridge from Mineral Basin. I've got some great maps from Mt. Ops at Snowbird with all the old mine sites and tram lines. Dozens right there. It will be around the end of July I'll bet but I'm sure we can make it up there. That road was very washed out and narrow at one point, only enough room for an ATV. I have a pic of that spot somewhere. I'm pretty sure it was repaired two seasons ago. Definitely a fun place to scout anyways. We could do this and one or two others here if we start early.
OK, yet another post on that trail. Turns out to be Forest road 193. They have allowed some property owner to close it at about the 9600 foot level. Must be at least near the top:
The Pleasant Grove Ranger District on the Uinta National Forest has completed an environmental analysis to issue a Forest Road Easement for about 400 feet of Forest Road 193 to the Acme Company to access their property and to close a 4' by 12' iron-pipe gate across Forest Road 193 at about the 9,400-foot elevation point to limit motorized vehicle access from National Forest System lands on to private land. The Responsible Official, Pleasant Grove District Ranger Pamela J. Gardner, approved a Decision Memo for this project on August 18, 2004.
The purpose of the Forest Road Easement is to assist with regulation of unauthorized motorized access onto private land. The private property owners have requested Forest Service assistance in controlling this unauthorized motorized use coming from the National Forest onto their property
Not sure who the Acme Company is but they are no friend to the coyote, or us. Anyhow, it looks like that altitude is at the top of the road, and the gate may even be open. Who knows.
Some great posts there....I just love firing up my Google Earth and scouring immediate areas for possible trails, so thanks for all the info. Even though Dlister couldn't make it over that rock, I've got a 3 inch lift with 33's so that should give me at least another 4 inches over a stock rig. And if I outfit the rig with skids and sliders before then, well bring on that pesky rock.
So I took a look at about where the road crosses the 9600 foot level and the bad news is, you can't get anywhere near to the top of that trail, but good news is one could make it about 2/3 rds of the way up if the road is runnable. There also appears to be a couple of bypass roads in that same elevation range, so we may be able to bypass the gate. I suppose its a pity about the gate, but hell yes I'm always up for exploration.
There is another trail as you mentioned just east of there that I found on another website. So that would be at least two trails to explore. But alas you are correct, with all of the snow this year I wouldn't even think we could make it till July. But it doesn't mean I won't be up there in another month to see how far I can get...after all its a southern facing exposure, so the snow could be gone a little sooner!!
Have you driven to the front side of Timp before? There is a road that pops off of 92 before it goes up and over the back side of Timp...looks like it could also be a fun road to explore.
And of course there is always the loop, where you take I-15 down to American Fork Canyon, loop back around on the back roads to Midway and come back to SLC via Big Cottonwood Canyon road/Guardsman Pass.
I think I'll start a new thread and post some kmz files of trails that I've noticed to see if they are doable or not.
Kalen
__________________
2007 Silver MT:
TRD Exhaust, 3" OME lift, 17 inch wheels, 33" Toyo AT Tires, E-Locker, Demello Tube Sliders, All-Pro Skid for IFS, Tranny, Transfer-Case, and Lower Link Arm Brackets.
Location: Heber Valley, Utah....or fishing on a local stream or river.
Posts: 580
Re: Spring in Utah, First Run When?
Hello everyone, just a heads up if you guys/gals are free on Saturday it looks like UD4WDA is having a cleanup out at Little Moab, as of right now I have to work, but if I can get off work I would love to go help out.
. One factor that is insurmountable right now, there's still over a hundred inches of snow right there 
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