WHITE MAN’S GUILT–LIME CREEK 5/22/11

 

RIDERS – DAVID , JOHN

LOOP- 67 MILES

DAVID AND I DECIDED WE WANTED TO DO SOME SCOUTING AT LIME CREEK. THE SUNDAY WEATHER FORECAST WAS FOR THUNDER STORMS, BUT AFTER CHECKING RADAR AND THE PINE TURNOFF WEBCAM WE DECIDED IT WAS A GO.

AS WE DROVE DOWN I84 THE CLOUDS LOOKED THREATING , BUT WHEN HWY20 CLIMBED THRU THE HILLS IT LOOKED MORE PROMISING.

THE ROAD FROM THE CORRALS TO THE TRAIL HEADS IS WASHED OUT.

HUNTER CREEK RECON

HIT HUNTER CREEK 1ST.  AFTER INSPECTING THE CROSSING WE RODE THE SIDE TRAIL TO GET SOME SINGLE TRACK UNDER OUR BELT.

LIME CREEK WAS DEEP AND RIPPING, COULDN’T SEE ANY TRACKS IN OR OUT.  WE DIDN’T WANT TO BE THE FIRST.

HOLE IN THE WALL

LOOKED LIKE WE PUT THE 1ST TRACKS ON HOLE IN THE WALL. OF COURSE THE CROSSING WAS TOO DEEP FOR US.

WE DECIDED TO MAKE OUR WAY TOWARD EAR CREEK MAYBE FINDING SOME ATV TRAILS ALONG THE WAY. HAD TO SIDE HILL AROUND SEVERAL SNOW DRIFTS. EAR CREEK SEEMED FARTHER AWAY THAN WE EXPECTED. WE TURNED AROUND WHEN IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST AROUND THE CORNER. STILL TONS OF SNOW ON IRON MOUNTAIN.

LUNCH STOP ON WAY BACK FROM EAR CREEK. WE RODE THE SNOWMOBILE TRAILS BACK TOWARD THE TRUCK.

FINALLY RODE SHEEP DRIVE ON THE WAY BACK. SAW TRACKS HEADING UP SLICK EAR. WE MADE ABOUT 5 MILES UP TRAIL UNTIL WE FINALLY HIT MORE SNOW THAN WE WANTED TO TACKLE. ON THE WAY BACK OUT WE SPOTTED A TRAIL DOWN TO LIME CREEK WE HAVE NEVER NOTICED BEFORE. NEXT OUTING WE WILL HAVE TO RIDE IT.

I THINK IT WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER 4-6 WEEKS BEFORE THE SNOW MELTS AND OPEN UP SOME HIGHER TRAILS.