MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 7, 2014 11:07:04 GMT -5
As I noted elsewhere on the boards I was so totally disappointed in my inability to complete our last foray in this wild place. I really want to show this hike not just to as many hikers as I can before I hang up my boots but to guys like Woolybully and Tony, the Hiking Upward guy - sort of a legacy thing - so that they can lead folks from the east coast to its awesomeness. My backpacking abilities continue to deteriorate. I hope to right that situation by next year but if I'm at least able to do the day hike I'm putting together alternative plans. Even though I've done this hike several times I have 2 questions:
1) Approximately when does the FR 70 gate open in the fall? I'm thinking of making the Pipeline the trailhead. We would have to use stout vehicles to make the ride in.
2) I seem to recollect a very small campsite on the Roaring Plains Tr close to the headwaters of the South Prong just short of the Pipeline. This hike usually draws a big crowd from around these parts. Is there a larger campsite on water that I may have walked by? On past hikes I was usually "smelling the barn" by this point and had blinders on. Couldn't see nothing but trail.
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rpcv
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Post by rpcv on Oct 7, 2014 11:15:40 GMT -5
The gate was open this weekend when we were up there. I don't think, unless conditions change dramatically, that you would need a high clearance vehicle for the road to the pipeline. It was in pretty good shape.
As to the second question, we were "smelling the barn" at that point, too, so I'm of no help.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 7, 2014 13:05:28 GMT -5
I fell into the smelling the barn category and don't remember if there were any camps close to the pipeline.
As far as I can remember, the road was in pretty decent shape last year when we were there, but I was walking and not driving. It changes your perspective a bit.
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Post by arfcomhkr on Oct 7, 2014 15:19:45 GMT -5
BTW, according to this www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5090726.pdf it opens 9/1 Next fall is a long way off, but you might be able to talk me into driving over from my place in Upper Tract and hauling you in and out with my truck. I'd probably spend the night back there and wait for you if you were going to do an overnighter.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 7, 2014 20:07:54 GMT -5
MR,
The FS should post next years MVUM's (see my other post) early in the year but sometime in Sept or at the very latest the first of October FS70 should open, though for the last several years it's been in Sept. By no means at this point would you need an off road vehicle - a Subaru would make it. One year we took my buddies Saturn sedan in. As for the campsites by the pipeline there are at least two right near the pipeline. Within steps of starting the Roaring Plains trail there is a spot on both sides of the trail. The one on the west side abuts right up to the South Prong and neither are more than 2 minutes from good water. I believe I recall another site just a couple minutes on down the trail. Parking at the pipeline is the best way to day trip the Canyons Rim. If you want to camp overnight just hit one of the spots I mentioned or a spot at the top of the pipeline.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 8, 2014 7:26:33 GMT -5
MR, The FS should post next years MVUM's (see my other post) early in the year but sometime in Sept or at the very latest the first of October FS70 should open, though for the last several years it's been in Sept. By no means at this point would you need an off road vehicle - a Subaru would make it. One year we took my buddies Saturn sedan in. As for the campsites by the pipeline there are at least two right near the pipeline. Within steps of starting the Roaring Plains trail there is a spot on both sides of the trail. The one on the west side abuts right up to the South Prong and neither are more than 2 minutes from good water. I believe I recall another site just a couple minutes on down the trail. Parking at the pipeline is the best way to day trip the Canyons Rim. If you want to camp overnight just hit one of the spots I mentioned or a spot at the top of the pipeline. That's what I wanted to hear. I guess the worse that can happen is we'd have to use two or more sites. Often there are between 8 and 10 of us.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 8, 2014 7:56:45 GMT -5
MR,
Glad to oblige. Of course you know the max group size in Wilderness areas is 10 but I've seldom seen groups that big - oh, maybe down at Judy Springs but that isn't official wilderness. Hope you get out there.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 8, 2014 8:03:14 GMT -5
MR,
Another thought - if the campsite at the beginning of RP trail are taken there are some spots along the road near the parking area - some are back in the brush a little - just look around and you'll find them.
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MRHyker
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Post by MRHyker on Oct 8, 2014 10:38:25 GMT -5
I remember one grassy spot surrounded by rhodos nearly right across from the Boar's Nest Trailhead. I was investigating a possible trail that leads to Seneca Meadows that shows up on old maps. My dog and I could see the trail at our feet but the rhodos were impenetrable. I think the campsite had a bit of a tilt to it.
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vdeal
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Post by vdeal on Oct 8, 2014 10:49:18 GMT -5
I think I camped in that spot once. Yeah, the old trail is obvious on Google Earth further up the ridge but I think maybe the rhodos have grown up around it since. Doesn't really take much longer on the pipeline.
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