Quick trip report.
This was an impromptu run with just two other trucks from NM.
Troutrunner (Graham) and buddy Matt from Farmington.
David from Santa Fe
Onur and Luke from Corrales.
First off we met up in Farmington and headed up to Bluff, from there we dropped into Comb Ridge Rd and went north to Snow Flats Rd. Camped there the first night.
Next day off to Hall's Crossing (refuel and resupply) and then dropped into the HITR trail. Conditions were reasonable. Some snow, but not bad. The trail really hadn't been ridden on in awhile since our tracks were the only ones at the beginning 10 miles of the trail or so and then we were able to pick up some dirtbike tracks. Definitely no full size rigs had been there in awhile.
The snow made way finding a bit tough at the beginning of the trail where you negotiate some serious slabs to make your way down to the trail.
The trail itself was in decent condition. I tried a bit of "Alvaro"-ing and busted my PS rear shock. I left it in and then it blew out on the return and I had to take it out. Doing most of the HITR trail with 3 shocks was interesting to say the least.
For those of you who have done HITR, there is a 2 leveled steep shelf road that goes up to Gray Mesa. That shelft road is split into two sections with a nice alcove camping area. We had enough daylight to get to Gray Mesa and get to the final section of the trail, but the snow on the 2nd portion of the shelf climb was a bit too sketchy and the drop off to the PS of the rig is pretty steep. I gave it a try and even in a full locked situation, the whole front end of the my rig moved very close to the edge. At that point, we said let's call it a day and camped at the epic alcove camp spot.
SInce Graham and David had to be back today, we took the trail out on Sunday.
Temps were nice during the day, but the temps at night were brutal. Sleeping was tough, even with a couple of bags, pads, etc. But we had some nice fires and those kept us warm.
Luke was cooking up a storm for us with Del Monico steaks, bacon, sausage, and everyone contributed to the trail dinners and breakfasts.
All in all a very great trip into some of the most remote, epic-ly picturesque and challenging wheeling in Southern Utah.
We should do a club run sometime.....
Thanks to Graham/Matt/David/Luke for some epic trail running. And thanks to Luke for taking such incredible pics (since I was driving, Luke was taking pics).
Enjoy.
-onur
This was an impromptu run with just two other trucks from NM.
Troutrunner (Graham) and buddy Matt from Farmington.
David from Santa Fe
Onur and Luke from Corrales.
First off we met up in Farmington and headed up to Bluff, from there we dropped into Comb Ridge Rd and went north to Snow Flats Rd. Camped there the first night.
Next day off to Hall's Crossing (refuel and resupply) and then dropped into the HITR trail. Conditions were reasonable. Some snow, but not bad. The trail really hadn't been ridden on in awhile since our tracks were the only ones at the beginning 10 miles of the trail or so and then we were able to pick up some dirtbike tracks. Definitely no full size rigs had been there in awhile.
The snow made way finding a bit tough at the beginning of the trail where you negotiate some serious slabs to make your way down to the trail.
The trail itself was in decent condition. I tried a bit of "Alvaro"-ing and busted my PS rear shock. I left it in and then it blew out on the return and I had to take it out. Doing most of the HITR trail with 3 shocks was interesting to say the least.
For those of you who have done HITR, there is a 2 leveled steep shelf road that goes up to Gray Mesa. That shelft road is split into two sections with a nice alcove camping area. We had enough daylight to get to Gray Mesa and get to the final section of the trail, but the snow on the 2nd portion of the shelf climb was a bit too sketchy and the drop off to the PS of the rig is pretty steep. I gave it a try and even in a full locked situation, the whole front end of the my rig moved very close to the edge. At that point, we said let's call it a day and camped at the epic alcove camp spot.
SInce Graham and David had to be back today, we took the trail out on Sunday.
Temps were nice during the day, but the temps at night were brutal. Sleeping was tough, even with a couple of bags, pads, etc. But we had some nice fires and those kept us warm.
Luke was cooking up a storm for us with Del Monico steaks, bacon, sausage, and everyone contributed to the trail dinners and breakfasts.
All in all a very great trip into some of the most remote, epic-ly picturesque and challenging wheeling in Southern Utah.
We should do a club run sometime.....
Thanks to Graham/Matt/David/Luke for some epic trail running. And thanks to Luke for taking such incredible pics (since I was driving, Luke was taking pics).
Enjoy.
-onur
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