The Season Has Begun

Posted: June 3, 2023 | Author: Rubicon Ronin | Filed under: Access, Travel | Tags: snow, water |Leave a comment

We met at the entrance in the residential area at 9am, because we didn’t know how much snow was going to be on the paved road into the staging area. Turns out not much. On our way out, there were tow rigs with trailers parked in the staging area.

By next weekend there will be zero snow on the paved road in to staging.

The staging area is virtually clear. I restocked the TP in the toilets.

Literally, the first snow pile out of the staging area caught two of our drivers off guard and they had to be strapped off of it.

The first 100 yards has some very off camber sections. There were more of those further up the trail.

In the areas that were typically shade we had snow…

Where there had been sun, a lot of the snow had melted…

Being very early in the season, there was debris on the trail. We moved two or three and cut two or three more and were able to drive around others, while still staying on the trail.

It was slippery, but we pressed on, always sliding to the right.

There was one climb that was just too steep. One strap around a tree and we each took turns using our own winches to get up it. All four rigs were locked front and rear. Most on 35s, one on 37s.

It was great to finally get out on the trail.

Of course, you want to know how far we got. We started on the snow around 9:30, and turned around about noon, stopped there for lunch and then headed out. Two and a half hours in and half an hour out. On our way out, we came across a bunch of rigs and quads struggling up the very first snow climb. Hint: start as early as possible before the snow starts to melt and gets really slippery.

Looking backwards, this is as far as we got. I estimate water bar number 22. It’s before the climb that takes you to Lilly Lake.

I walked a little further up the trail and saw a log across the trail and decided we were done for the day. I did have a chainsaw with me, but we weren’t out to work that hard. The further log is off the trail, you turn left just before that. The closer one would have given us trouble.

On the way out, two side-by-sides went in. They claimed they had been a mile past Miller earlier in the week. I don’t know how they will navigate that log, but they said they had a saw.

Two more Jeeps passed us, so maybe someone will clear it.

The quads were not prepared to be out on the trail but they had strength in numbers, about ten of them!

There will be water on the trail for months. The rolling dips seem to be working pretty well.

Always be prepared. Thunder storms are predicted for later in the week. Be ready to spend the night if something goes wrong.

Enjoy!

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Rubicon Ronin

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