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6 October AF, 5 Mile or Skyline...show the new guy (me) around.

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Jagged73

New Member
6 October American Fork Canyon....show the new guy (me) around.

So the family and I are itching to get off the pavement and put the t/c in 4wd for a little bit. Since the family and I are new here I am looking to hook up with some people who dont mind a slow ride on the trail. Since I dont know much about any of the trails I will leave it up to general consensus as to destination but I have heard that American Fork, 5 Mile Pass and Skyline Drive would possibly all be family friendly. I am not looking for anything thats going to have us meeting up before the crack of dawn but would like to hit the trail before lunch and be off the trail before sunset. I dont have a winch so I am not up for anything terribly gnarly especially being that I'll have the wife and two young kids with me. Hitting the trail solo or heading out without someone to meet up with has always ended up badly for me.. I am up in NE Layton and really would love to get together with some people for a trail ride!!!!!!

Phil
 
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sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
welcome! Bummer you couldn't make it for the training day, we spent a good hour and a half talking about trails in Utah. What do you drive? I think you'd enjoy one of the following:

- pony express trail to simpson springs (or all the way to Wendover if you're feeling adventurous)
- Sklyline Drive
- Area up near Strawberry
- American fork canyon - pole line pass to mideway, or mary ellen gulch
- heber/midway have some great trails
- Uintas

We've got a trip two weeks later, feel free to peruse the maps and see if any of those routes look fun to you:
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.ph...y-Route-Oct-17th-21st-2012&highlight=upcoming
 
J

Jagged73

New Member
I would have loved to make it up for the training day but family commitments took precedence.

I drive a 2005 Rubicon. 2" BB, 1" BL and an underside thats just beat to heck. Since my house hold goods still have not arrived from Portugal I dont have my tool kit, strap, cb or anything i normally take off road but this next weekend is going to be the perfect time to hit the trails. I have heard about Mary Elllen Gulch and Skyline Drive and would be excited to do either one of those. I have not heard anything about those other trails. I am up for whatever you/anyone else is up for.
 
TROKITA

TROKITA

Active Member
Location
Orem, Ut
I would go :) if I can't find someone to cover my shift on Saturday :) I've been up AF a few times now. I've done merry Ellen, mineral basin, and part of forest lake. I've also been up at 5 mile. Around what time exactly are you planning on coming down ?
 
J

Jagged73

New Member
Kids are usually up by 0800 so we could be south of SLC between 0930 and 1000ish depending on the meeting point.
 
Poe_student

Poe_student

Member
Location
Lehi
I can go. It would be a great start to fall break. I know AF better than any where else but will, try to, go any where I can.
 
TROKITA

TROKITA

Active Member
Location
Orem, Ut
Rattle snake/5 mile is pretty cool short trail but interesting history up there it's easy and there's bypasses to avoid hard stuff :)
 
J

Jagged73

New Member
Poe_Student, American Fork it is. 1030ish at Tibble Fork Reservoir parking lot on AF Canyon Road? Head out from there at about 1045. I have a great view of the leaves changing from my living room but the view up in the mountains has got to be way better. You cant miss the family and I. Electric Lime Green TJ with hard doors and soft top and my beloved Utah plates. This will be far from my first time off road in my Jeep. Back when we were in VA I was usually the one leading the monthly trail rides instead of begging people to show me around.
 
jeep-N-montero

jeep-N-montero

Formerly black_ZJ
Location
Bountiful
If you head out this weekend keep in mind it is opening day for the general elk hunting season on Saturday, so be prepared for a lot of hunters in the area.
 
Manlaan

Manlaan

Member
Jagged73 said:
Poe_Student, American Fork it is. 1030ish at Tibble Fork Reservoir parking lot on AF Canyon Road? Head out from there at about 1045. I have a great view of the leaves changing from my living room but the view up in the mountains has got to be way better. You cant miss the family and I. Electric Lime Green TJ with hard doors and soft top and my beloved Utah plates. This will be far from my first time off road in my Jeep. Back when we were in VA I was usually the one leading the monthly trail rides instead of begging people to show me around.
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I've seen some videos of those back east offroaders, and its likely a completely different experience here. Generally, more of a slow and planned, instead of floor it until you bounce up. Of course, I'm sure not everyone is like those crazy buggy people, but generally, rocks are pretty sticky here.

AF sounds like a good choice. Lots of stuff to do up AF.

As always, Forest Lake is one of my first recommendations for someone new to the area. Although it keeps seeming to get easier as time goes by, I think it still gives a good first impression of what AF has to offer, easier than Mineral Basin, and more difficult then the other trails. With the rock garden the first thing you hit, it also allows for an easy change of mind if the trail is more than the driver is comfortable doing. Forest Lake is long enough to make you feel like you've done something, but also not so long that kids cant handle it.

Of course, Rattlesnake is about the same, but allowing you to bypass just about everything. Its more of a technical trail and pretty boring for those wanting to see leaves and views though. (I wouldn't take a date to RS, but would to AF.)
 
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J

Jagged73

New Member
Manlaan said:
I've seen some videos of those back east offroaders, and its likely a completely different experience here. Generally, more of a slow and planned, instead of floor it until you bounce up. Of course, I'm sure not everyone is like those crazy buggy people, but generally, rocks are pretty sticky here.

AF sounds like a good choice. Lots of stuff to do up AF.

As always, Forest Lake is one of my first recommendations for someone new to the area. Although it keeps seeming to get easier as time goes by, I think it still gives a good first impression of what AF has to offer, easier than Mineral Basin, and more difficult then the other trails. With the rock garden the first thing you hit, it also allows for an easy change of mind if the trail is more than the driver is comfortable doing. Forest Lake is long enough to make you feel like you've done something, but also not so long that kids cant handle it.

Of course, Rattlesnake is about the same, but allowing you to bypass just about everything. Its more of a technical trail and pretty boring for those wanting to see leaves and views though. (I wouldn't take a date to RS, but would to AF.)
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Trokita, hope you are able to get off work. black_ZJ, that's news to me. I am not a big hunter...so I dont know when what opens up anymore...unless you are talking Pheasant, so thanks for the info.

Manlann, dont let those youtube videos get you to thinking its all like that. Those guys are a very very small minority of the east coasters. With the two clubs I was a part of in DC/VA we were generally more about trail rides. Stuff you could do in 2 wheel drive without thinking. Most of the club members just wanted to get their jeeps a little muddy every couple months and take a leisurely drive thru the forest every once in a while. A few of us liked to challenge ourselves and our rigs even then very very few of us could afford much less want to go rock bouncing. I was one of the guys who enjoyed a slow trail ride in the forest but loved going to the more challenging stuff. I actually took my wife down to Crozet VA on our honeymoon for two days of camping and 4 wheeling. I think if we dont do Forest Lake on saturday then it'll definately be on the list for next time.
 
W

wjwithawj

Active Member
would love to come... put my long arms on recently and still havent had a chance to take it out.
i still need to get my sliders on, and check if i have work off... but it all goes well ill be there
 
J

Jagged73

New Member
We'll look forward to seeing you both out there.

Anyone else wants to come along they are welcome to join us.
 
K

Kinky Krawler

New Member
Location
Sandy
Which trail you running up Tibble? I have a 92 YJ 33's open diffs and a D35 still so I have to be nice! We were going to run 5 mile pass but could be persuaded to run up A.F.
 
TROKITA

TROKITA

Active Member
Location
Orem, Ut
Kinky Krawler said:
Which trail you running up Tibble? I have a 92 YJ 33's open diffs and a D35 still so I have to be nice! We were going to run 5 mile pass but could be persuaded to run up A.F.
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Any trail up AF you'll be good. Mineral basin is the hardest trail. But I'll doubt were doing that one you'll be good on anything else
 
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