American Fork? Mary Ellen Gulch?

[sawtooth4x4]

I'm going to go up this coming weekend.

Thinking about going up Mary Ellen Gultch and maybe Mineral Basin.

Anyone have some good trail reports with pictures? I'd like to see what lies in store. I've heard there are cabins and mines up there.

I think my Rover is set up well enough now that the trails shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks

 

[cruiseroutfit]

http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?49575-American-Fork-Canyon-UT-Mary-Ellen-Gulch

 

[jeeper]

That 'impassable slide' is now semi-passable.. but has also been the cause of rescue operations in the recent past. It's near the end, and is best to walk in at that point. IMO

 

[Badger]

Jeeper you clearly haven't been up there at all have you? The area he is talking about has been cleared and you can drive all the way to the Globe mine without issue. It will be a bumpy ride up MEG that's for sure but you should have no issues as long as you take your time. As for Mineral I haven't driven it this year so I don't know the condition of it.

 

[Kevin B.]

The area Jeeper is talking about has not been "cleared". That's the spot that prompted the giant rescue operation last year, and that's the spot that's in Modstock's avatar. ATVs are getting through it, and maybe some UTVs, but the slide of loose shale is still there and anybody trying to traverse it with a full size truck risks having the shoulder give out and pitching the truck down the slope.

Sawtooth, Mary Ellen is mostly a bumpy dirt road with one spot just above the meadow that'll force you to pick a line. Mineral Basin is more technical, but I don't think your Rover will have any trouble on either trail.

 

[Coreshot]

I've been up MEG several times this year in the Wildcat. There are no areas where a full sized rig cant get by. In fact, there have been several older pickups near the top with guys panning for gold way up near the cabin. The only semi sketchy spot is where a trail from the lower canyon comes up to the MEG road and creates a small bottleneck, but I wouldn't think twice about it even in a full size truck. It is a bumpy road, nothing really challenging, just slow going.

Snowbird has extended the road above the Globe Mine for one more large switchback and it goes over the ridge into Mineral Basin and links up with the cat tracks in MB. Rumor has it that they are going to open the terrain in the upper bowl of MEG to lift serviced skiing.They haven't done any other improvements in that direction other than the road. Nice views into Mineral from the ridge though.

Been up Mineral Basin several times this year also, still an entertaining trail with some pretty challenging spots.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Fwiw the sluffed off part of the trail is much higher than the cabin (Globe Mine), it is on the last part of the trail before the Silver Bell mine at the head of the canyon. I've not personally been up this year so I can't speak of the condition but I can't imagine it being easily passible?

Corey, so is it now possible to link Mary Ellen Gulch and Mineral Basin via the cat track and road?

 

[sawtooth4x4]

Well, I'll have my wife and 4 kids. So if it gets to sketchy, I'll turn back. I'd like to make it to Globe mine, but if it isn't safe when I get there, I have no issues just walking the rest of the way. I don't know if the 1 month old will like it, but we have to break her in sooner then later.

Thanks

I tried going up last weekend, but the rover sprung a small radiator leak, and if you know about rover engines and over heating, you'll know why I went home. I actually fixed it on the trail, but I didn't want to risk it. Why the hell can't they make good old fashioned Copper radiators? I really hate the plastic tanks.

 

[Badger]

So it's Silver Bell at the top? You can drive right up to it. I have been up there twice in the last two weeks. Last I checked that's as far as you can legally drive

 

[jeeper]

Jeeper you clearly haven't been up there at all have you? you can drive all the way to the Globe mine without issue.

Clearly.. Except all the times I have been

The area Jeeper is talking about has not been "cleared". That's the spot that prompted the giant rescue operation last year

Oh Yeah.. I was there then, too.

Fwiw the sluffed off part of the trail is much higher than the cabin (Globe Mine

Any one familiar with the area would know this , Clearly.

 

[Badger]

Hey at least I have been up there to give a current report and not giving info from last year

 

[Coreshot]

Corey, so is it now possible to link Mary Ellen Gulch and Mineral Basin via the cat track and road?

Yes, other than the fact that Snowbird has No Motor Vehicles signs posted on the Mineral Basin side. You would have to take the Cattrack up to the tram and back down to the base of the Mineral Basin Lift. They must've repaired the slide when they were building the new switchback. I had no idea where the slide even was.

 

[Coreshot]

So it's Silver Bell at the top? You can drive right up to it. I have been up there twice in the last two weeks. Last I checked that's as far as you can legally drive

Its been a month or so since I went and there was nothing deterring you from continuing on up from the top mine. Is there a sign there now?

 

[jeeper]

Badger is correct. The slide has been cleared. There is a Road that hairpins just after where the slide was and continues up. I did not go past the mine, so don't have info on how far the road goes.

 

[jeeper]

Hmmm. Photo is upside down..

 

[Kevin B.]

Very cool. Definitely safer than it was, though I still wouldn't want to get a tire too close to that shoulder.