2013 Summer Quarterly Training Day Trip Report

[sixstringsteve]

We had another great Quarterly Training Day. Many thanks to the presenters, attendees, Jack-it, and Alljeep.com. What a great group of people.

Friday night we covered the following topics:

- Introductions
- How to prepare for a trip and what to bring
- Geology of AF Canyon and other parts of Utah (Davy @ Alljeep)
- Camping Gear 101 (Davy @ Alljeep)
- Tread Lightly/Trail Ettiquette
- Where to go wheeling in Utah

 

[sixstringsteve]

Maverick gave us a great hands-on demo of how to winch in certain situations.

 

[sixstringsteve]

It was really cool to see a moose pass through our campsite. I'm sure some of you have much better pictures of the moose.

From there we split up into 3 groups to put our new knowledge to the test: 1 to Forest Lake, and 2 different groups to Mineral Basin.

We were in the second Mineral Basin group. Nobody had run the trail but me. The trail seemed rockier and rougher to me this year.

Poe_student did amazing in his stock F250.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Once we made it past the rock garden we continued on.

Steve decided to try the harder stuff in his Isuzu.

We decided to put our recovery skills to the test rather than risking damage. With a quick pull on the strap it came right up.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Next up was Brett in his Blazer.

It looks so tiny in pictures.

After some good attempts, Brett, Hans, and I decided to head back down while the rest continued on.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Rock Taco and I decided to do some more exploring, and we went up to Miller Hill. I had always wanted to visit this area, but I never knew how to access it. This is my new favorite area up here.

From the top of Miller Hill we could see the Mineral Basin ski lift.

We could also see the trail to pittsburgh lake, but we couldn't see the lake. I think it's hidden by the trees.

I think the lake is somewhere in here:

We explored the area and found some mine entrances.

Then we headed back down, and headed home.

 

[tuner]

It was great seeing all the rigs up there. I have been on that trail many times and its always fun. I did forest lake and Mary Ellen gulch that morning before I found you guys on mineral basin. I drove the crap out of my 4runner Saturday! Here are some pictures.

 

[sixstringsteve]

is this your rig tuner?

 

[TJDukit]

Some pics from the Forest Lake group. There were only four of us and I was the only one who had been up there. Vinny in the Silver Xj was on his first wheeling trip ever and he is hooked. He managed to get through and only smash a hub cap.

 

[TJDukit]

Up top after the last mud hole I decided I need to paint my wheels black

























It was really cool to be a trail guide for some new people. I'm really glad I showed up because Kepler in the green JK was the only one that ran Forest Lake that didn't come with me that morning. Vinny turned out to be a natural and did amazingly well. Next time I take him out I will take him up Mineral Basin because I have that much confidence in his driving ability and his listening ability as well.

 

[tuner]

is this your rig tuner?

Yup that's me.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thank you for leading that group Brian, they were in good hands. The rig looks great with black wheels.

 

[TJDukit]

Thank you for leading that group Brian, they were in good hands. The rig looks great with black wheels.

No problem

So I'm hoping Mike the guy in the black JK will come over to RME soon. He is really into ForbiddenJeeps and it's a great site but they just don't have the Utah following like this place.

 

[sixstringsteve]

any pics from the first Mineral Basin group?

 

[193kyle]

Not much, but I snapped a few....

 

[blznnp]

How much further up did that trail go Steve after I headed back?

 

[skeptic]

Great trip all - thanks to Steve for putting it on. My first time all the way up Mineral Basin, I took my Cherokee part way in the past, but we were stopped by snow. I was sure I wouldn't make it through the big rock off camber section (I really don't like off camber stuff), but with trust in my spotter it was easier than I expected. It actually seemed worse on the way back down.

Since several people asked, I looked up the the wheelbase of my T - 134.2". Long enough to make some areas seem easier, but I used the sliders and under carriage protection quite a bit as well.

We were the last ones pulling out of camp, someone left a folding chair so we picked it up - not sure who's it is but I'm sure we can find a way to get it back to the owner. One of those small 3 legged ones. If you left one sitting by the community fire pit I have it.

 

[Kevin B.]

I'll have some video once my PC stops misbehaving. I did kick my wife out of the truck to snap photos a couple times though.

Maverick giving us a history lesson. It was great to follow him up the trail and hear his memories of what it used to be like.


The first ledge at the switchback




The offcamber washout

 

[ChestonScout]

looks like a good time!

 

[Poe_student]

A few more pics from the second mineral basin group