Wasatch Dirt Thread

[MegaStoke]

Whoa thanks! I’ve been looking for something like that for a while now.

Looking like a no go on the Wasatch Plateau for next weekend, although I’ll have to see how it looks in another few days.

[BFD]

Anyone been down to the Wasatch Plateau recently? I’m thinking of trying to bikepack Skyline Drive from Fairview Lakes to I-70 next weekend but don’t want to get owned by snow.

The FS says there’s still snow on the road but have no idea if it’s just a few drifts, or miles of it.

I rode a loop with Josephite trail in Joe's Valley two weeks ago. Trail was clear at 9000. There was still a lot of snow up higher and the creeks were raging. I would think there is still going to be snow on the north sides in drifted areas. Never been on the road but a lot will depend on aspect. checked the route on google earth. the image was from 6/15/22. shows snow pretty well.

[BFD]

Check out Sentinel Playground
https://apps.sentinel-hub.com/sentin...howDates=false

thanks that is a great resource. never new it existed. Time to ride some higher stuff

[GoSlowGoFar]

Maybe 6 total after pushing the easy ones aside today. All of the rest but one could be taken care of with a folding saw. Only significant snow patch is through the last forested section before dropping to Desolation Lake.

Aside from one very aggro runner coming down off the crest it was great, and surprisingly not super busy.

Downed trees?

[Marshal Olson]

Maybe 6 total after pushing the easy ones aside today. All of the rest but one could be taken care of with a folding saw. Only significant snow patch is through the last forested section before dropping to Desolation Lake.

Aside from one very aggro runner coming down off the crest it was great, and surprisingly not super busy.

We moved a bunch of deadfall on Deso today too (mid morning), it now has 3 offs on the climb and 1 to 3 offs on the down (depends on bunny hopping steeze). only meaningful mud/snow is the moraine section near the lake.

[mar123]

for the most part>>>>> ...Thankfully we are not clearing Oregon and Washington sized blowdown tangles here...for springtime clearing in the Wasatch -Makita 10" with a couple 18v batteries (or similar...skip ryobi) will get a trail cleared no problem....occasionally we will have some "big" timber down that requires a 2-stroke but for the majority of trail clearing warriors out there an e saw will get the job done and is not a burden to ride with in the pack. Handsaws work in a pinch but if your plan is to go up and clear trail it will be way more effective and worth your time to bring a light e saw. my 2$.

[ghosthop]

A different kind of thing. Put gravel tires on the full squish bike. I will need to switch bar/seat post in the near future but it has been so good to go for a bike ride with kiddo.

What roads should we be looking at? Low traffic and minimal dust with shade, it’s all a big ask. Upper Millcreek opening to vehicles will be disappointing. Dirt/gravel is fine as long as it’s not too steep and wide enough, the foot rests he doesn’t use cause the bike to handle like a boat.

[Marshal Olson]

For those interested, Beartrap needs a good 4-5 hours with a chainsaw

[SJG]

We got Tanners running good.

[Dantheman]

Nice. I was really bummed to miss the dig day last week.

[Meconium]

Haven't seen a moose or coyote yet, plenty of dead dear this spring. Lower then normal rattlesnake also. Hardly any yellow jackets or boxelders. Scrub oak and rock maple branches are on steroids. Flies are abundant.

[raisingarizona13]

Yo! What's it like hanging out up at Solitude in the summer? I leave here tomorrow to go stay there and work for a bit.

[joetron]

A different kind of thing. Put gravel tires on the full squish bike. I will need to switch bar/seat post in the near future but it has been so good to go for a bike ride with kiddo.

What roads should we be looking at? Low traffic and minimal dust with shade, it’s all a big ask. Upper Millcreek opening to vehicles will be disappointing. Dirt/gravel is fine as long as it’s not too steep and wide enough, the foot rests he doesn’t use cause the bike to handle like a boat.

City Creek? Nice mellow road, goes for a ways, I seem to remember a fair amount of shade opportunities as long as you don’t go at noon


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[Phall]

Yo! What's it like hanging out up at Solitude in the summer? I leave here tomorrow to go stay there and work for a bit.

Limited amenities up BCC. Not sure what they have open food/bev wise in the summer but will be beautiful weather wise, awesome riding with the wasatch crest/beartrap/the stuff around Solitude, maybe you can find someone up there who knows the secret stuff I’ve heard whispers of at Brighton.




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[beaterdit]

Yo! What's it like hanging out up at Solitude in the summer? I leave here tomorrow to go stay there and work for a bit.

This'll be awesome for you. I assume you'll have a car? It's debatably the epicenter of the best riding the Wasatch. Honeycomb, Silver, Days, Catherine's area, Crest, Beartrap.

On the PC side, Empire and all the PCMR stuff, DV too. Off the map at PCMR is really going off these days. You'll have good access over Guardsman Pass.

The Brighton stuff is next level for us. I've only been once but can't wait to go again. Haven't been on the bike much this year but hit me up for sure.

[Dantheman]

Yo! What's it like hanging out up at Solitude in the summer? I leave here tomorrow to go stay there and work for a bit.

What beaterdit said. If you're willing to put up with some hard climbing upper BCC is stellar. Things are opening up a bit late though. Mill D and Beartrap are melted out and cleared, though lots of water in Beartrap. PC side is almost 100% though.

Upper Days, Silver, Honeycomb, and Brighton are probably still snowed in. Brighton trails are not hard to find. Just go up the mapped trails and look for skidders. Most are visible on the heat map, too.

I'd love to meet up, but I'm on the IR for a while.

[ghosthop]

City Creek? Nice mellow road, goes for a ways, I seem to remember a fair amount of shade opportunities as long as you don’t go at noon


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Thank you, we ride City Creek at least once a week. It's ideal for our situation but wanting to explore a bit more. We're going to poke around BCC this week.

RA, if you want to drink a beer by a lake I hike around Brighton with the kiddo pretty often. Sourdough pancakes at Silver Fork Lodge are rad.

[Meconium]

I biked a kid in trailer up the solitude paved access road and then turned left to the bottom of summit lift. It was brutal but not a huge time commitment. (Old 26er 3x with very low gearing) if you are still doing the pulling thing next spring, SR65 is sweet after the snow melts and before gate opens. You could try park city bike paths or rail trail on cloudy days.

[Meconium]

Lambs canyon?

[Benneke10]

Jeremy Ranch Road? Its a nice smooth dirt road with a gorgeous river running alongside it. There has always been very light vehicle traffic any time I've ridden it. No shade though.

[muted reborn]

Park City paved and gravel trails are pretty sweet. Tons of miles up there. Not much shade. Starting at Willow Park and going to PC is nice. Also the Rail trail paralleling 248 is chill.

[Marshal Olson]

It's debatably the epicenter of the best riding the Wasatch. Honeycomb, Silver, Days, Catherine's area, Crest, Beartrap.

It's not even debatable! haha. Plus you can access PCMR and Mid Mtn from guardsman really easily too.

@raisingarizona13 - feel free to pm me any time. I ride in BCC most days and happy to tour guide and/or just go for a shred.
@Beateredit - holler! let's ride man. been forever.

[tBatt]

Yo! What's it like hanging out up at Solitude in the summer? I leave here tomorrow to go stay there and work for a bit.

RA are you building trail for Solitude? Hoping to get my bike back in action for the first time this year, lets link up for a ride

[Canada1]

I biked a kid in trailer up the solitude paved access road and then turned left to the bottom of summit lift. It was brutal but not a huge time commitment. (Old 26er 3x with very low gearing) if you are still doing the pulling thing next spring, SR65 is sweet after the snow melts and before gate opens. You could try park city bike paths or rail trail on cloudy days.

Rail Trail has a spot where the creek washed out the trail, and a big board is working as a bridge. This is in the section by the gravel pit. You could easily slide a kid trailer over the board, or just avoid it by parking behind home depot and starting down towards Coalville from that promontory lot. I'd go Jeremy before rail trail if evening as Jeremy has some evening shadows and shade and doesn't have the right by the highway and interstate feel. I caveat all of this by admitting I haven't been on either trail (Road) in probably 10 days, and the washout may be fixed now.

[tBatt]

White bus canyons to PC, Purple bus PC to Montage. Rode the Road to Empire. 9k to Crest to Canyons.

Shoulda stayed on the double track through the Upper Empire Pass Viewpoint. Couple of trees down and a big snowfield to cross. More snow on 9k under the Empire Express section. The wind roll into the singletrack was steep. I tried to slide down it and ended up sliding thru mud and rock. twice. ouch.

McConkey's zone was generally dry with some trees cleared and some low hanging headache trees.

Lots of trees down and snow in the Shadow lake section. One last swamp/deadfall crossing out of the trees and then clear other than one flat spot north near S Monitors and the SE end of Sheepshit Ridge.

Headed back tomorrow for some lower elevation riding.