Anyone wheel up Neffs Canyon

[cruiseroutfit]

Looking at old USGS maps, they show a "Jeep Trail" that went up Neffs canyon to Neffs Spring...

For those that have no idea where this is... Neffs canyon is on the North face of Mt Olympus, about 4500...

Anyone go up this? Hike it? Remember when it was open? When it was closed?

Just doing some researching...

 

[Milner]

Oh the mamories...Oh I mean memories.....That is also where "sidewalks" used to be. (paths through the trees, with statues all over). Spent many Highschool nights there. (all fenced off last I heard)

Used to hike up there all the canyon. Pretty cool. Mnt Biked it a few times too. Been a few years since I have been up there though. IIRC it was gated, but definately WAS a road. Spring was cool.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Did you ever drive it? Or just hike it?

Anyone else?

 

[Milner]

Just hike/bike the gate has been locked as long as I can remember.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by rckcrlr
Just hike/bike the gate has been locked as long as I can remember.

Thanks dude, sounds like I need to go for a hike...

Is there any cool landmarks/strucures/places of interest to keep my eyes out for along the trail?

You ever hike over to Mt. Olympus spring?

 

[Coreshot]

I have an old copy of Wasatch Trails (copyright 1973) and it says that vehicles were prohibited at that time. It also says that the "jeep road" only continues up the canyon for 1.8 miles before it becomes a single track.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by Coreshot
I have an old copy of Wasatch Trails (copyright 1973) and it says that vehicles were prohibited at that time. It also says that the "jeep road" only continues up the canyon for 1.8 miles before it becomes a single track.

Hahaha... goes to show how badlythe USGS needs to update their maps...


Thanks for the info...

BTW.. who is the author of Wasatch Trails? I want to get a copy of that... is it a hiking book?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by cruiseroutfit
...BTW.. who is the author of Wasatch Trails? I want to get a copy of that... is it a hiking book?

I think I fould it on half.com.. ordered it for $4.50.. can't beat that...

But, is is a 4x4 book or a hiking guide?

 

[Coreshot]

It's a hiking guide that I bought when I was 12-13. It says that it was published by the Wasatch Mountain Club. Pretty Hoky, and very outdated, but hey, it's the 70s

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by Coreshot
It's a hiking guide that I bought when I was 12-13. It says that it was published by the Wasatch Mountain Club. Pretty Hoky, and very outdated, but hey, it's the 70s

Cool, I like old hoky books ...

 

[JeepTJ38]

Kurt you have WAY too much time on your hands.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Originally posted by JeepTJ38
Kurt you have WAY too much time on your hands.

Hahaha... thats the joy of a laptop and free wireless internet at the school, sit in class shopping/working while your teacher runs on and on...

Plus I work (yes actually sell parts) via email internet for at least an hour or so a day, so in between calls and emails... I research my favorite topics... Old Trails, Mining, Hiking, Land Use issues, etc...

 

[cruiseroutfit]

A guy stopped by to by some misc. ARB parts today for his Jeep... got chatting with him about some old roads in SL County... Neffs Canyon came up and he mentioned that there is a REALLY deep cave up there...

A search on the internet revealed this...

Neff Canyon Cave, Utah is believed to be the deepest cave in the United States. Its bottom is 1186 feet below the entrance. The cave is in steeply dipping Cambrian limestone which it follows down dip for a length of 1700 feet. Dr. Halliday is the Director of the Western Speleological Survey and has been instrumental in developing speleology in the western U.S. Dale J. Green is the Director of the Utah Speleological Survey, Chairman of the Salt Lake Grotto of the Society, and a Director of the National Speleological Society.

Ummmmm, can you say coooool. This guy mentioned that you had to have a permit, he also said that there have been people that have gone down.. but have never come back up....

 

[1\4elliptic toy]

A guy stopped by to by some misc. ARB parts today for his Jeep... got chatting with him about some old roads in SL County... Neffs Canyon came up and he mentioned that there is a REALLY deep cave up there...

A search on the internet revealed this...

Neff Canyon Cave, Utah is believed to be the deepest cave in the United States. Its bottom is 1186 feet below the entrance. The cave is in steeply dipping Cambrian limestone which it follows down dip for a length of 1700 feet. Dr. Halliday is the Director of the Western Speleological Survey and has been instrumental in developing speleology in the western U.S. Dale J. Green is the Director of the Utah Speleological Survey, Chairman of the Salt Lake Grotto of the Society, and a Director of the National Speleological Society.

Ummmmm, can you say coooool. This guy mentioned that you had to have a permit, he also said that there have been people that have gone down.. but have never come back up....

Yes It is cool...7(?) rappels if I remember correctly

 

[shmoesmith]

A guy stopped by to by some misc. ARB parts today for his Jeep... got chatting with him about some old roads in SL County... Neffs Canyon came up and he mentioned that there is a REALLY deep cave up there...

A search on the internet revealed this...

Neff Canyon Cave, Utah is believed to be the deepest cave in the United States. Its bottom is 1186 feet below the entrance. The cave is in steeply dipping Cambrian limestone which it follows down dip for a length of 1700 feet. Dr. Halliday is the Director of the Western Speleological Survey and has been instrumental in developing speleology in the western U.S. Dale J. Green is the Director of the Utah Speleological Survey, Chairman of the Salt Lake Grotto of the Society, and a Director of the National Speleological Society.

Ummmmm, can you say coooool. This guy mentioned that you had to have a permit, he also said that there have been people that have gone down.. but have never come back up....

I'm actually the Vice-Chairman at this time, the Chairman is no longer active, and Dale Green is still VERY active in the speleological society. Dale is the Keyholder for the gate and you have to go through him....the cave is EXTREMLY extensive and more than one person has died in it from sheer exhaustion and hypothermia. The gave is very throughly gated and a permit and key is needed for entry. Extensive amounts of specialized equipment for freehangs and climbing and other skills are needed to safely navigate the cave. Most people that are in excelent shape can manage it with several thousand feet of rope(big $$)and can do it in about 13hours....Not recomended unless you are highly trained, and even then it will be very difficult to get the key from dale because he will require that someone in the national speleological society can vouch for you that you are compenent in vertical cave technique and self resuce, and are cave conservaton minded and have all teh skills and equipment to do the cave....anyway, if you want any more info on caving in Utah, you are welcome to contact me. We hold monthly meetings for people in the national speleological socicety at the SLC library on the 1st tuesday of every month.

 

[Paul R]

Neff's is practically in my backyard and i hike it all the time, yet i never knew there was a cave up there that is awesome!!

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Neff's is practically in my backyard and i hike it all the time, yet i never knew there was a cave up there that is awesome!!

I've got the GPS coords programmed into my Garmin... we should hike up to the cave entrance to check it out...

 

[SammiGrrl]

Originally Posted by caverspencer
Access is still granted for those "qualified" meaning they know cave ethics and how to protect and preserve both the caves delicate environment and their own safety. "We" meaning the people how have taken the proper steps to gain access to those caves, are indeed very lucky they have been gated and protected from any moron who finds them...

Let em' fall in the hole, we need less morons, "Hey Cletus come take a gander at this here hole"

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Quote:
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Originally Posted by utahxjer

Quote:
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Originally Posted by caverspencer
Access is still granted for those "qualified" meaning they know cave ethics and how to protect and preserve both the caves delicate environment and their own safety. "We" meaning the people how have taken the proper steps to gain access to those caves, are indeed very lucky they have been gated and protected from any moron who finds them...
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Let em' fall in the hole, we need less morons, "Hey Cletus come take a gander at this here hole"

Ummm, something your trying to tell us???

 

[shmoesmith]

Ummm, something your trying to tell us???

I think she is saying that it is a very dangerous cave, and that it would be stupid and redneck like to try and bust the gate open and get into the cave. I dont think there is an issue with just going up there and looking at, but due to the gate, there really isnt anything to see. Really, this is no nutty putty we are talking about here, this sucker is seriously dangerous, and even experienced cavers have died in it. You have an open invite to come to any grotto meetings or PM me to go caving and we can get you trained on the proper techniques for neffs and once you know what you are doing and want to buy some rope, I'm sure I can get the key/permit from dale. Until then, for your own saftey(not to mention that its illegal to enter without going through the proper channels)please dont try to get into that cave. If you really want to try it some time, like I said, get ahold of me, we will get you trained and once you are prepared, we can do it.
-Doug