anyone available to run Forest Lake on Tues 8/9? Or Wed 8/10?

[TurboMinivan]

I was tentatively planning to hit Forest Lake with a friend tomorrow afternoon. We were going to meet up around 5:30 and head into the canyon. Well, I just found out that he had to cancel on me... but now I'm itching to get up to the lake since I haven't been there yet this season.

Anybody else available to go? If Tuesday won't work, how about Wednesday at the same time? Anyone? Anyone?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I drove my dirt bike down Forest Lake on Thursday. It's sure gotten bigger. It looks like it'll be a challenge for a few vehicles now! Have a blast.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I was tentatively planning to hit Forest Lake with a friend tomorrow afternoon. We were going to meet up around 5:30 and head into the canyon. Well, I just found out that he had to cancel on me... but now I'm itching to get up to the lake since I haven't been there yet this season.

Anybody else available to go? If Tuesday won't work, how about Wednesday at the same time? Anyone? Anyone?

How built is your rig and how long have you been driving it?

 

[chans]

We are heading up there tomorrow but earlier like before noon. Not sure on the exact time yet. Steve is it harder then Mineral Basin now like a few years back?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Forest lake isn't any harder than it used to be, it just has a lot more obstacles than it used to.

In the past, once you were a quarter mile past the river crossing, all the challenges were over. Not the case anymore. That's still the toughest spot, but there are more spots up ahead where you'll actually need 4wd, and there are a few rocks up towards the lake that can make it more of a challenge if you wish.

Current conditions, I think Mineral Basin is still a tougher trail than Forest Lake.

 

[TurboMinivan]

How built is your rig and how long have you been driving it?

Budget Boosted TJ on 31" MT/Rs plus a good amount of body armor. I managed Forest Lake with this setup last year (albeit a different TJ) and only rubbed a few times. I'm sure I'll make it, and I even try many of the out-of-the-way obstacles.

 

[zuksgonewild]

Heads up you may want to check with the rangers, we were up there on 7/24 and Forest Lake was still closed, Ranger wouldnt tell me when it would be open, To many drunk asses up there.
P.s I hate those damn side by sides

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Heads up you may want to check with the rangers, we were up there on 7/24 and Forest Lake was still closed, Ranger wouldnt tell me when it would be open, To many drunk asses up there.
P.s I hate those damn side by sides

There are recent threads stating it is indeed open.

 

[Destroyer]

Heads up you may want to check with the rangers, we were up there on 7/24 and Forest Lake was still closed, Ranger wouldnt tell me when it would be open, To many drunk asses up there.
P.s I hate those damn side by sides

I thought a Samurai was a side by side.

 

[Manlaan]

Heads up you may want to check with the rangers, we were up there on 7/24 and Forest Lake was still closed, Ranger wouldnt tell me when it would be open, To many drunk asses up there.
P.s I hate those damn side by sides

I verified with the rangers at the station when I went up last weekend. It is indeed open.

You will use your armor a bit on 31's, as I run the same and hit sliders a few times, but really not much, but then again, I could say the same thing for Mineral Basin as well. It all comes down to the lines you take I suppose.

The 31's are a bit scary going through the mud pit in the middle of the trail (you'll know it when you see it. It was starting to get bad last year and is worse this year), as it dips you in pretty deep, but my diff didn't actually touch, so it looks a lot worse than it is. Just pretty high walls on both sides.

 

[sixstringsteve]

it's still pretty slippery up there. Lots of standing water and mud towards the top. Take pictures and report anyone driving into the lake.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

it's still pretty slippery up there. Lots of standing water and mud towards the top. Take pictures and report anyone driving into the lake.

Hopefully he doesn't have to worry about people driving in the lake, as most of the idiots/white trash/rednecks that do those types of things will be hard at work somewhere else.

 

[sixstringsteve]

There was a video a few years ago of some idiot driving his FJ right through the middle of Forest lake like it was just a mud puddle. Unfortunately I see more idiots/white trash/rednecks up AF canyon than most places. If you see anything illegal, take a picture of it. It's our only chance of keeping that place open to 4x4s.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Here's a similar video. People just don't understand. Whether it's the lake proper or not, they should not have been in that situation, and they were hardly "treading lightly." If you're in the middle of the desert, no big deal. But when you're in a national park, you gotta respect it more than that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a-erwTrNRg

[YOUTUBE-HD]6a-erwTrNRg[/YOUTUBE-HD]


Sad how nobody on their trip report thread seemed to have a problem with it:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/so...eet-greet-trail-run-pictures.html#post2090271

What really makes me sad is the picture they took next to the "no motorized vehicles" sign. And even more sad is that some of those people are RME members.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...What really makes me sad is the picture they took next to the "no motorized vehicles" sign. And even more sad is that some of those people are RME members.

And taking back Utah is the solution lol

Anyone a member over there? Give them a friendly reminder that these actions are noticed and are not appreciated.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I thought of registering just to say something, but I'm sure it'd come off the wrong way ad they'd just dismiss it. It looked like a perfectly legal and fun trip 'till they started playing in the mud up there. I'd say it's a lack of education, but that picture shows they just don't care. Who needs SUWA to close our trails when people are doing that?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

SUWA could care less about Forest Lake, Trout Unlimited already wants it closed

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I thought of registering just to say something, but I'm sure it'd come off the wrong way ad they'd just dismiss it. It looked like a perfectly legal and fun trip 'till they started playing in the mud up there. I'd say it's a lack of education, but that picture shows they just don't care. Who needs SUWA to close our trails when people are doing that? And it was only a few months ago, when Forest Lake was obviously closed.

I hope they had a nice, long date with a water hose and a brush afterwards and their u-joints exploded on them. I absolutely hate mud myself, ever since about a month after I bought my Jeep in 1999 I thought it was fun until I had to clean all that crap out from every joint and crevice. Even then I never went off the trail, but I also grew up in an outdoorsy family and was aware at a young age.

SUWA could care less about Forest Lake, Trout Unlimited already wants it closed

Are there any decent fish in the lake?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...Are there any decent fish in the lake?

Zero fish... salamanders. However its not the lake but the water crossing and the high amounts of silt filled water that make their way into the North Fork and eventually Tibble Fork. TU worked with the FS and Snowbird to reclaim mine tailings in the canyon to preserve fish habitat.

 

[sixstringsteve]

edit. Even though the vids were from a few months ago, the thread is from August of 2010, so Forest Lake was officially open.