Wasatch Dirt Thread

**g_man80** · 08-13-2021, 09:35 AM

Thanks for the report! Hoping the good air holds out for some riding this weekend. Are you grinding up the road to Scott’s to ride crest as a loop? Shuttling isn’t my preference, but I also hate road riding mostly due to bad drivers.

**Dantheman** · 08-13-2021, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by g_man80

Thanks for the report! Hoping the good air holds out for some riding this weekend. Are you grinding up the road to Scott’s to ride crest as a loop? Shuttling isn’t my preference, but I also hate road riding mostly due to bad drivers.

If you want to avoid the road as much as possible, take Silver Fork Rd to Daktari (on Trailforks), then ride through Solitude to Entry 2 and cross the road onto Old Stage Rd. Ride Old Stage to the gate, go left and do some low-risk trespassing and you'll end up on the Crest Connector road just below Scott's.

If you want to get there quicker and easier while avoiding most of the road, just pedal the road to Old Stage. If you don't feel like trespassing stay straight at the gate and you'll end up on Guardsman's a little ways below the old Crest parking hairpin. The trespass route is quite nice, though.

**Boissal** · 08-13-2021, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

If you want to avoid the road as much as possible, take Silver Fork Rd to Daktari (on Trailforks), then ride through Solitude to Entry 2 and cross the road onto Old Stage Rd. Ride Old Stage to the gate, go left and do some low-risk trespassing and you'll end up on the Crest Connector road just below Scott's.

That's my go to Crest lap on the BCC side with the goal of avoiding pavement as much as possible. I park somewhere between MillD and Beartrap (depends on the hour and if I want to deal with pavement early or late in the ride) then spin the road to Moose Meadow lane, cross the river for a bit of bonus single track before Daktari, hit the lower Solitude stuff (lower QueenB to Serenity to Down n Out), cross the village and the BCC road, take Old Stage, make a left and trespass for a bit to the base of up Puke Hill, then onto Crest. On odd days I'll exit Bear Trap or Deso, on even days I'll add a few GWT miles and go back up to Dog Lake and out. About 1.8 miles of pavement, technically the first section of Old Stage is paved but I've never seen a car on it. You can trespass a bit more right off the start of Old Stage and cut additional pavement but it's not super fun.

Those loops are the best way to rack up post-work miles in BCC without suffering too much. When I ride on the other side of the drainage the mileage decreases by 50% but the vert, pain, and jank increase 200%

I ran into a couple of old timers at the base of Puke earlier in the season who told me that over the years they've encountered the owners of the mining claim and the gated road. They apparently yell at people on rare occasions, mostly to keep a record of "enforcement" of the no-trespassing signs. There are no signs aren't anywhere on the gates btw, only on the land around the road and those are very fresh.

**g_man80** · 08-13-2021, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I’ve heard of the owners voicing their disapproval, but not making a big deal of it. Those were some of the options I was familiar with, but wasn’t sure if there was new/better options.

**Dantheman** · 08-13-2021, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Boissal

There are no signs aren't anywhere on the gates btw, only on the land around the road and those are very fresh.

If signs appear on those gates I'll probably start skipping that section. In the meantime, if I encounter someone yelling at me I'll tell them I just moved here from California and need directions to Lake Catherine.

**Boissal** · 08-13-2021, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

If signs appear on those gates I'll probably start skipping that section. In the meantime, if I encounter someone yelling at me I'll tell them I just moved here from California and need directions to Lake Catherine.

Yup. I find reverting to being an angry Frenchman useful in these situations. Mais non monsieur, I am lost, trying to go back to ze Canyons but zere are no signs on your mountain, faites moi pas chier!

**Mudfoot** · 08-14-2021, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by g_man80

Thanks for the info. Yeah, I’ve heard of the owners voicing their disapproval, but not making a big deal of it. Those were some of the options I was familiar with, but wasn’t sure if there was new/better options.

I would guess they don't care about a few hikers and bikers using the old road, but the legal liability changes if they openly consent to it. As long as you are technically trespassing then they are not responsible if you get hurt.

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 01:17 PM

So I may be coming through SLC area later today. Any cool rides going on tomorrow I can tag along for? No crest, done that a few times. High elevation preferred. Not sure where I'll be staying yet. Might try to get an evening ride in tonight somewhere as well.

**Boissal** · 08-14-2021, 03:04 PM

Looks like PC might be out of the equation depending on where you're coming from, I-80 is closed in Parley's for a fire.
I'd love to ride but I'm still quite gimpy at the moment and am a bit hesitant to get into anything techy or long... which is what I'd want to drag you into if I rode with you

**Dshack89** · 08-14-2021, 03:26 PM

Can see the plume from my house in Sandy. Ugh.

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Boissal

I'd love to ride but I'm still quite gimpy at the moment and am a bit hesitant to get into anything techy or long... which is what I'd want to drag you into if I rode with you

Haha, I'd expect nothing less.

Noted on the fire. I'm coming from Driggs currently routing thru Logan, so I have options.

In absence of a ride maybe some reccos? I know you guys gave me some last year but haven't been able to find them searching on mobile. I think there was some good stuff on the west side not far from guardsman pass.

**Boissal** · 08-14-2021, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by evdog

Haha, I'd expect nothing less.

Noted on the fire. I'm coming from Driggs currently routing thru Logan, so I have options.

In absence of a ride maybe some reccos? I know you guys gave me some last year but haven't been able to find them searching on mobile. I think there was some good stuff on the west side not far from guardsman pass.

What kind of trouble are you looking to get into? Good mileage or prioritize vert and chunder?

**SJG** · 08-14-2021, 04:09 PM

I am guiding a ride Sunday am with some who have never done it from Albion up to Devil's Castle, then down to Snake Pit, across Snowbird, and to White Pine parking lot.

**muted reborn** · 08-14-2021, 04:52 PM

Guardsman is a shitshow of closed-down I80 traffic going through it. I wouldn't bike anywhere near it. Millcreek is being evacuated. LCC should be good tomorrow.

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 05:10 PM

How's the air quality looking? I'm getting close to Logan, it's not good here.

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by Boissal

What kind of trouble are you looking to get into? Good mileage or prioritize vert and chunder?

My other reply disappeared. Looking for quality high elev/Backcountry riding. Don't care so much about mileage or huge descent. Probably only have til mid afternoon to ride.

The area SJG mentioned is where I recall looking at before. What time are you riding? Got room for 1 more? I can self shuttle if need be or help get a driver back up top.

**snowaddict91** · 08-14-2021, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by evdog

My other reply disappeared. Looking for quality high elev/Backcountry riding. Don't care so much about mileage or huge descent. Probably only have til mid afternoon to ride.

The area SJG mentioned is where I recall looking at before. What time are you riding? Got room for 1 more? I can self shuttle if need be or help get a driver back up top.

You could do the ride SJG mentioned and then do Tanner's all the way to the bottom of LCC (not on any maps).

Smoke notwithstanding, you can put together some pretty big rides in American Fork canyon. Steep, brutal climbs, rewarding descents.

**Dantheman** · 08-14-2021, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by evdog

How's the air quality looking? I'm getting close to Logan, it's not good here.

Pretty good down here so far.

For a good high elevation adventurey ride that still isn't too long you could do the Days Fork loop.

I was leaning towards running tomorrow since my bike is still being rebuilt. I do have my hardtail but riding it on alpine trails sounds hurty.

**Dantheman** · 08-14-2021, 07:03 PM

Anyone own a DU bushing removal tool?

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 08:08 PM

The air cleared dramatically once I passed the I84 turnoff on I80. Ogden strikes again!

I'll head for LCC in the morning and see what I can get into. Snowaddict, I can't tell where Tanners is. Would be interested in trying it if you can pm directions. Otherwise might moto shuttle up to Albion and try something along the lines of SJGs route.

Fingers crossed air stays clear!

**evdog** · 08-14-2021, 08:23 PM

Passing view

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

**Dantheman** · 08-14-2021, 08:38 PM

There's a piece of trail that connects from Tanners campground to the top of the Quarry trail. Turn into the campground, turn right and it's not hard to find the entrance. There's also an alternate spicier entrance a little ways below the CG entrance next to the culvert.

Decided to ride my hardtail after all. Going to ride BMT at Snowbird, 8ish start. PM me your number if you're interested.

**snowaddict91** · 08-14-2021, 08:47 PM

Originally Posted by Dantheman

There's a piece of trail that connects from Tanners campground to the top of the Quarry trail. Turn into the campground, turn right and it's not hard to find the entrance. There's also an alternate spicier entrance a little ways below the CG entrance next to the culvert.

Decided to ride my hardtail after all. Going to ride BMT at Snowbird, 8ish start. PM me your number if you're interested.

For some reason I didn't have the idea until right before I moved to climb BMT, then ride all the way back to the valley. Sometime when I'm in town I've gotta make that happen.