SW Idaho Wheeling (pic heavy)

[gorillamel]

^Hahaha!

More fun in the mountains. This time in the Boise foothills with my off road club.

This pic was taken by a member, Mark. Amazing photographer.

Same spot during day.

Overlook from spot. (Day)

(Dusk)

Snow was fairly deep.

Sunset.

Videos:
Going up 1st part of mtn
[video=youtube_share;ngN4GHjANAE]http://youtu.be/ngN4GHjANAE[/video]

Going down 2nd part of mtn
[video=youtube_share;OfXuJE3XRvM]http://youtu.be/OfXuJE3XRvM[/video]

Going down 1st part of mtn at night
[video=youtube_share;w-MVHZ9CzLE]http://youtu.be/w-MVHZ9CzLE[/video]

 

[NismoFire]

Last two videos no worky.

 

[gorillamel]

^Fixed! Sorry about that, I mixed up IMG and video tags, derr.

More pics from my club member, Mark (Rezansoff) of the same run. Such a great photographer.

Aaaaand a few shots of me messing around at Celebration Park, next to the Snake River on the border with Canyon and Owyhee counties.

The hill I was parked on was hellaciously steep. Perhaps this pic can give you an idea of how steep it was by me trying to walk upright.

And finally, thanks to my friend A.J. for taking almost all these shots (me editing this one). Ta da!

 

[midget]

Thank you for beating that X like a redheaded step child..... At least Im not the only one with body damage lol.

 

[gorillamel]

hahaha thanks! Oh heck yeah I beat up my X. That is what I got/modified it for. Those that claim to wheel hard, but worry about paint, scratches, dents, etc i find funny. I have a POS daily driver so that the X is solely for fun.

 

[gorillamel]

Have not done much adventuring for the past few months. Life and injuries prevented me from doing so.

This past weekend, I joined some fellow Expedition Portal members on an Overland Idaho adventure up to Lolo Motorway/FS 500 from Kamiah, ID over to Powell, MT and then down to Conner, MT and across the Magruder Corridor/FS 468 to Elk City, ID and back to Boise, ID. Here is the route on google maps: http://goo.gl/maps/zacq4

All the photos and short videos are here: http://smg.photobucket.com/user/gorillamel/library/Overland%20Idaho%20Lolo-Magruder%202013

The participants & map & beginning:

Trail:

Scenic view @dusk:

1st camp @Rocky Ridge Lake:

Time to run the trail:

Abandoned skidoo snowmobile:

Video of parts of Lolo
[video=youtube_share;u2DM2ilMhtQ]http://youtu.be/u2DM2ilMhtQ[/video]

 

[gorillamel]

This is probably one of the best guides about the Magruder Corridor: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/magruder-corridor-guide

Basic description of the trail:
"The Magruder Road Corridor extends 95 miles through a vast undeveloped area, offering solitude and pristine beauty, as well as expansive views of the Bitterroot and Clearwater Mountains.
The Magruder Road (Forest Road #468) is a single-lane mostly unimproved road which is rocky, steep and winding, with few turnouts for passing oncoming vehicles. The road is not recommended for low-clearance vehicles, motor homes, or vehicles towing trailers. The video in POI #35 (Hell's Half Acre Lookout Road #224) shows typical road conditions that you may expect. The road traverses a vast, remote, and rugged area. Travelers should take adequate provisions and make sure their vehicles are in good condition. Don't run out of gas!"

Magruder Pics
The beginning and camp:

Scenic views:

This photo's caption:
To all the men that ever rejected or dumped me- you clearly were not ready for this level of awesome. See what you missed out on?

Overall, this trail had WAY too much hype. It was utterly beautiful and breathtaking. But it was nowhere near as hard as all the stories made it seem. I was very disappointed with it. The middle 14mi of it was a shelf road with fallen trees and lots of rocks. THAT part was great fun. But the rest of the 80+mi were very easy. So much so that people pulling trailers could make those parts. Lolo was harder and almost all 90mi of it were that level of hard.

Some videos:
[video=youtube_share;95XgzURe2XM]http://youtu.be/95XgzURe2XM[/video]

[video=youtube_share;hkPIRKtlKl4]http://youtu.be/hkPIRKtlKl4[/video]

[video=youtube_share;6msJgS9SRHo]http://youtu.be/6msJgS9SRHo[/video]

 

[MadMike]

Beautiful looking pics, sorry to hear it wasn't quite all it cracked up to be, but at least you were able to get out there for a while.

Sent from my HTC Rezound

 

[gorillamel]

Overall, I had a great time. The middle section of the road was loads of fun and the scenery awesome.

I did a more detailed write up on Expedition Portal here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/113524-Exploring-Central-Idaho-s-Mountains

 

[gorillamel]

Went to Hooker Canyon with my off road group this weekend. It is a very short, but fairly difficult rock run down into a canyon and then back out. I brought my SPOT GPS and took coordinates along the way. Here is my shared SPOT page so you can see exactly where the canyon is located: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0WdP84cMG3iVCQ7PSvFD7UKo7bqBJEhqb

GPS coordinates of the day:
42.75670 -115.75052
42.75608 -115.74562
42.75966 -115.74075
42.75903 -115.74222
42.79129 -115.72075

These photos may initially be out of order (I apologise).

Poo on you Flickr. Guess I'll just post photobucket pics instead. Evil Flickr photos I cannot post are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98876842@N03/

The line-up air-down spot

Entrance & first obstacle: The Waterfall

I guess my rear tire was a few feet in the air in this shot.

My "oops" moment: got stuck hung up on a small rock on my rad skid and soft dirt. Had to be winched out. Yep. Classy.

 

[gorillamel]

Taco Time (the one on the rt is stuck on the obstacle)

This Taco is going down the extra credit obstacle.

The end of the trail: blocked to protect the Bruneau snails for the past ten years.

Team IFS- finally unstuck! And winching damage.

Exit: the Waterfall

 

[gorillamel]

Woohoo, finally got to post photo links that actually work!

 

[MadMike]

Dang, that's some crazy looking rockin & rollin. Good job making it through there.

 

[gorillamel]

Haha thanks! It was hella hard, that's for sure! Even the bypasses were freaking hard!

 

[CaptainMorgan_SOS]

All of this looks awesome! Hopefully when I move to NM I'll get to get in on something like this out there.

 

[gorillamel]

Thanks! There are a few members on XN that live in NM. I'm sure they could point you in the right direction to go exploring trails and adventuring.

 

[gorillamel]

Went out with my 4-wheeler friends/coworkers this past weekend. I have always wanted to see Leslie Gulch (info: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/succor-creek-and-leslie-gulch) and these particular friends have the most vast knowledge of trails in SW Idaho that I have ever met. They decided to let me tag along (after I rescued their friend stuck in the Owyhees near Silver City last week).

Leslie Gulch:

Arch rock (in middle of pic, hole in middle of rock)

Videos: [video=youtube_share;f4n64M7GyUU]http://youtu.be/f4n64M7GyUU[/video]
[video=youtube_share;D6M_NX2qR0Q]http://youtu.be/D6M_NX2qR0Q[/video]

We are currently in a drought and thus the Owyhee Reservoir was exceedingly low (I could basically drive across it if I wanted, but too silty...and not following tread lightly).

Side trail between Leslie Gulch Rd and 3 Fingers Gulch Rd

Videos of trail:
[video=youtube_share;1UPUliYveKA]http://youtu.be/1UPUliYveKA[/video]

Scenery along the way:

Scenic overlook facing NE-ish toward Marsing, ID:

GPS coordinates of the day:

• Parking lot: 43.50005 -116.94054
• trail going toward OR: 43.43776 -117.02913
• near end of trail onto developed trail: 43.37679 -117.06436
• Entrance area to Leslie Gulch Rd: 43.30831 -117.22899
• park near Owyhee Reservoir: 43.32153 -117.31883
• side trail from Leslie Gulch Rd to 3 Fingers Gulch Rd: 43.32153 -117.31883
• end of side trail: 43.41190 -117.17950
• alternative route back: 43.38684 -117.12299
• almost back: 43.44149 -116.98280

 

[gorillamel]

Went camping for the past few days here: Latitude:45.12901 Longitude:-116.41971 At a hunting camp with some friends in Payette National Forest.

Got bored and went wheeling along FRd158 i.e. Choke Cherry Trail:

The X in its natural habitat:

Dead-ended here: Latitude:45.17540 Longitude:-116.40395

 

[TKDx00]

All that and grapes too... nice.

 

[gorillamel]

Even though all mods are on hold, I am not neglecting quality Xterra time.

Today my off road group hosted an event at Mores Creek/Robie Creek to play in an area that is typically under water for the majority of the year. In fall, the reservoir is drained, and vehicles are permitted to drive in the drainage area (yes, this is considered Tread Lightly by Idaho and Fed gov't standards since technically the Army of Engineers runs the area).

Of course, the big pig got stuck since it is so dang heavy with all the armor on it (sometimes I wish it was a V8). Anyway, here are some pics and videos (I did not have a camera for the event, so all photos are from friends).
All of us lined up for the group shot (c/o of M Rezansoff)

Me pre-stuck (c/o G Simms)

And, my GoPro showing how stuck I truly was:
[video=youtube_share;Nl5_OXHiQso]http://youtu.be/Nl5_OXHiQso[/video]

Theres a better video my friend uploaded on FB, but I have no idea how to download or link FB videos. Sorry.

 

[chrishaynesusa]

 

[gorillamel]

Thanks, Chris! I always enjoy your painting/cartoon/drawing pics.

 

[MadMike]

Looks like fun Mel .

 

[gorillamel]

Thanks!
One of the club members, Mark takes wonderful photos. Here are more of his: (if the photos do not work, please let me know)

Group shot (with all of us outside our rigs):

Awesome Infiniti:

the triple pull:

 

[mudchet]

Wow. Great pictures. Love the group shot.

 

[gorillamel]

Went on a short getaway after Christmas to get away from civilization and all that pertains to it. Took my friend along Hwy 21 to Stanley, ID and then went north on Hwy 75 to Clayton, ID to stay at a wonderful family run ranch/B&B.

We stopped at the Grand Jean scenic viewpoint ( Latitude:44.17332, Longitude:-115.25006)

There's not much snow up in the mountains around Stanley (not as much as there usually is), but enough to prevent me from going on any trails (44.21977 latitude, -114.96114 longitude):

We wanted to go to Mormon Bend hot spring, but the Salmon River was too cold and swift to cross to it:

So we went to Elkhorn hot spring instead (closer to Lower Stanley, ID, 44.24500 latitude, -114.88594 longitude):

A bald eagle flew over us while soaking. It was a very quiet and serene place to be. Water temp was perfect.

We stayed at the May Family Ranch B&B in Clayton, ID (500 Squaw Creek Rd. (P.O. Box 192), Clayton, Idaho 83227):

We found a bald eagle nest with a mated pair in the horse pasture next to the B&B. Then we walked down the road some and came across ~60 head of elk. We heard some coyotes and saw fresh scat. We were quite disappointed not to see any wolf sign since a pack lives nearby and frequents the area. Oh well. Still a perfect place to visit on a sunny winter morning.

Sunbeam hot spring on Hwy 75 on the way back home:

View of Sawtooth and White Cloud Mountains from Hwy 75 near Lower Stanley, ID:

This is my favourite state road sign: "Idaho is too great to litter."

 

[gorillamel]

More views in Stanley:

I played around with photobucket and edited this photo:

 

[J Everett]

Wow...

 

[Macland]

I agree with him, wow. Beautiful.

 

[gorillamel]

I edited two more photos as well:

 

[LostandfoundX]

That area is awesome! Great Pictures!!

 

[gorillamel]

Thanks! Wish I lived closer (I'm in Boise area) than 3h away. But every time I go out there, it just takes my breath away with its beauty.

 

[gorillamel]

Ooooo I wanna take this trail: Hole in the Rock 4x4 trail in UT: http://www.expeditionutah.com/featured-trails/hole-in-the-rock-4x4-trail/

 

[NMTerras]

^^^awesome

 

[CaptainMorgan_SOS]

You aren't kidding! That looks like a blast!

 

[MadMike]

Dang this trail looks fun.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[gorillamel]

I thin we should have meet and greet here! Sometime before or after GONE.