Last minute Beef Basin advice.

[Hayes]

If you've been into Beef Basin from the south, I'd appreciate your advice.

We're leaving for Moab later today (Tuesday), with the plan to head into Beef Basin from Blanding and over the Dark Canyon Plateau tomorrow.
The Abajos apparently got a pretty fierce downpour last night, and I understand the roads in the area are very clay-rich.

I don't want to risk sliding off a cliff or getting stuck--we're going solo--but I don't want to abort the route unnecessarily.

Should I attempt the southern approach, hoping things dry out sufficiently today?

Or should I abort and head in over Elephant Hill?

Thanks.

Ryan

 

[Nay]

You should do Elephant Hill just to scare your wife to death

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That Chinle mud down south is slicker than ice on buttered teflon. We aborted a trip into that area just because of that. It is so slick you will be sliding on flat road, and when you get out of your truck to see what's up, you can't even stand on it.

It should dry pretty fast, but alone, I would be extremely careful. If you approach over Elephant Hill, you will have to go up "Impossible" Hill, which dry would be no big thing, but wet, would be pretty slick, and it isn't even in the Chinle Mud territory.

 

[Hayes]

Elephant Hill--or at least half of it--is in the plan for sure. If we're able to get to Beef Basin from the south, we'll exit via Elephant Hill to get to the Lockhart Baisn road.

Andrew,
You can get in and out of Beef Basin via Bobby's Hole. Impossible Hill is not mandatory.

Not sure what we'll do.
I'd hate to drive all the way south past Needles and then have to backtrack because of mud.

...If only I was omniscient....

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Hayes-Correct if wrong, but the way out of Bobby's hole is Impossible Hill. I did not see another way last year. You can get to Beef Basin other ways, but from Elephant hill, I think Impossible hill is mandatory. I could be mistaken, but that's what I remember.