Snow wheeling on Saturday 12/16

[ttFJC]

A couple of us are talking about doing a snow wheeling drive on saturday and we thought we would put some feelers out there for anyone who wants to come/offer advice. Right now it would be ME, @JohnnyOshow22 is possibly comming and @Black798 is also possibly coming.

Possible locations:

1. East side of Flathead pass - not sure what this looks like right now but its open? I assume we wouldn't make it and turn around.

2. Bear Canyon- Not sure how much snow is up there- main road is open until 12/31

3. @Black798 mentioned some road in the tobacco roots that are always open?

Thoughts/Comments/Want to join?

Mainly i just want to have a campfire...so ill bring the chainsaw..


UPDATE: (so you dont have to read the whole thread)

We will be headed to the Tobacco Roots - North Meadows Creek Road - We will head up a road that sam suggested that is "past sure shot lakes that goes way up and overlooks twin lakes"

We will be leaving from MAMA MAC's in 4 corners @ 9AM on Sat. Leaving. ...show up a little early.

Attending:
@ttFJC
@Black798
@JohnnyOshow22
@secretasiansam


Maybe:

 

[Black798]

Ill for sure go if we get something together. I will have 1 or 2 others in my truck with me.

Here is the link to the fs use map for the tobacco roots. Not sure what is plowed and not. North meadow creek is open, I did that earlier in early November in the snow, was pretty fun.

 

[ttFJC]

not the road to twin lakes right? has to be a different one then the one we did last july. i cant imagine doing that in the snow.

 

[Black798]

I think its marked 965, Id have to check my gps track from that day but I think it went to twin lakes, it wasn't too bad, the snow probably made it easier since it filled in some of the real deep holes, there were sections that required a good amount of skinny pedal though. I can imagine the snowpack down there is much deeper than here so Id like something more open

 

[ttFJC]

did you make it to the end? i put dents and scratches on everything on that trip. And there was a pretty decent gatekeeper. I smashed my rear link mount on the frame pretty well on that first rock. i was at 33' no lift and was draggin' thought the rocks.. Tom hit in the same place and he has 3 inch lift..and how would you make it thought the swampy section?

 

[Black798]

I made it all the way to the lower lake. I didn't take more damage than some scratches on the front belly skid, 2 inch lift and 31s in the front and 3 inch in the back. Im not sure about the swampy section. If the weather had actually been cold recently I would bet driving over it would be fine but with the warmer temps That probably wouldnt work

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

I'm like a 90% sure I'm going. Locked front and rear, winch, vbar chains if needed for all 4 corners and a heavy ass land cruiser. I'm so ready to get out lol

 

[ttFJC]

I hit literally everything on that trail. Did you goto sureshot lake maybe? I dont remember seeing a cabin like on your flikr

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Ill for sure go if we get something together. I will have 1 or 2 others in my truck with me.

Here is the link to the fs use map for the tobacco roots. Not sure what is plowed and not. North meadow creek is open, I did that earlier in early November in the snow, was pretty fun.

No link?

 

[ttFJC]

North Meadow Creek Road and Twin Lakes Trail – July 2017 Link on post.

 

[secretasiansam]

There is a cabin on north meadow, it's the "no tell motel." The trail splits to go to cliff and mckelvy lakes. Also north meadow does close right after the bridge before you even get to the gnarly part. Snowmobiles only. I also don't believe there is any wheeling in bear canyon. The maintained road ends at two trail heads.

 

[Black798]

my bad forgot to put it in... https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5407737.pdf

I checked the gps track, it was for sure twin lakes that I did in the snow. The shot with the cabin was on independence pass. I didnt think either of those trails were bad but then again I didnt think wheeler lake was bad and its rated like a 7

Im for sure going. Open open, 80 feet worth of strap, 100ft winch, snatch block, all the odds and ends. I have chains somewhere but I dont think they fit the greatest and I have yet to really need them.

Lower twin lake
IMG_5792 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr
IMG_5789 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr

 

[Black798]

Bear canyon dead end where the old ski lift is, after that it goes to 50 inch track width only

 

[secretasiansam]

If I can talk my lady into it I might be down for the tobacco roots. We will break off to do some Nordic skiing though. And we were already planning on Norris hot springs, so the tobaccos would be good.

 

[ttFJC]

well it sounds like were leaning towards the north meadows road. Maybe i'm just a noob but i thought that the trail to twin lakes was pretty rough or maybe i suck at driving. hahah or maybe its because i didnt have my lift yet.

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

my bad forgot to put it in... https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5407737.pdf

I checked the gps track, it was for sure twin lakes that I did in the snow. The shot with the cabin was on independence pass. I didnt think either of those trails were bad but then again I didnt think wheeler lake was bad and its rated like a 7

Im for sure going. Open open, 80 feet worth of strap, 100ft winch, snatch block, all the odds and ends. I have chains somewhere but I dont think they fit the greatest and I have yet to really need them.

Lower twin lake
IMG_5792 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr
IMG_5789 by Phoenix Black, on Flickr

How far of a drive is it to there?

I too have a bunch of strap and recovery crap

 

[secretasiansam]

Plus I want to talk to jonnyoshow about the eighth in and black798 about moab for spring break.

 

[secretasiansam]

Hour drive to the tobaccos, the road to sureshot might be easier and still fun.

 

[Black798]

@JohnnyOshow22 If memory serves me it was like 30 miles down there and then I cant remember how long the trail was. Even if north meadow is closed or too much I believe there are a few other side roads that would have decent snowpack. Ill do some more research and make sure that area will be open.

@ttFJC it may be the manual v automatic. Having wheeled both the auto is head and shoulders easier without the help of a twin stick

 

[JohnnyOshow22]

Plus I want to talk to jonnyoshow about the eighth in and black798 about moab for spring break.

About the what lol