6/4 Pickle Gulch to Shafthouse

[FINOCJ]

Sign-up and details on calendar here: https://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums...0&day=2020-6-4
Thurs 6/4
10am
Pickle Gulch Trailhead (east end): https://www.google.com/maps/place/39...611!4d-105.528

Will do a bit of research to find a good route from top of Pickle over to Shafthouse....feel free to add in info if you like. thanks!

[Tom]

Looking forward to it. Thanks James.

[Tom]

Looks like I am going to be doing pickle gulch twice this week. My nephew wants to get out on Sat so we are running it again that day. Thinking it will be less busy than yankee. If anyone is interested in joining I will consider posting a Sat run.

[FINOCJ]

This isn't the perfect map location, but at my mark on the MVUM, there is a short spur to the north that takes you out to the shafthouse....at least gives you an idea of where it is.


I would probably suggest a bit of a looping kind of route....start at Pickle gulch going up 718.1, take left on to 707.1 towards the silver creek mine, take right up the steep talus slope 713.1B (usually the hardest part), take left on 714.1F (the map only shows the left turn, but that road continues north back to the silver creek mine but isn't allowed as it goes through private property). I've never been out to the end of 713.1 (Michigan Hill - got lost out there with Louis a year or so ago), but either way, you want to end up at the high point 3 way intersection with 716.1. Either 716.1 or 713.1 will get you to 412.1 and towards the shafthouse. 716.1 is pretty boring, flat, bumpy along the west side of Dakota Hill and I think 713.1 on the east side is prettier. After going out to the shaft house, you can either continue out the north side towards Moon gulch or turnaround and head out via Gamble Gulch or return to Pickle via 717.1. There are some other actual 'roads' (not OHV trails) that are not on the maps as they are in private property that provide easy access out (e.g. 714.1 goes out to the east at the first major 4-way at the top of Pickle gulch proper).

[open_circuit]

I've run Moon and Gamble Gulch before. I remember Moon Gulch being the more interesting of the two, with lots of narrow tree sections. I don't particularly care which route we take out.

[FINOCJ]

I am fine going out moon gulch....
I think this might be the shafthouse....https://www.google.com/maps/place/39....5384609?hl=en

[Tom]

I am good with wherever you lead us. I have wandered around up there 3-4 times but never really paid too much attention to which trails we were on.

[Java]

If you have the Funtreks Northern Colorado book it's in there, on the Moon and Gamble Gulch page.

[Java]

I ******* hate moon gulch. I slid off the trail there and ended up between two trees, still have some body damage from it. Lost my OEM soft top that day too. I'll do the Shaft House and then go back the same way to Apex.

This guy doesn't like it either:

"Moon Gulch was awful. Not a single obstacle and you're leaned tippy-style to the passenger side (and down the mountain) 90% of the time. I literally threw my back out being cockeyed for so long. If i had to do it again I'd air down both drivers side tires first. Probably not too good for the differentials so just skip this trail actually. " He goes to the Shaft House @ 5:34

[open_circuit]

When I ran moon gulch (two summers ago with taco chris?), I entered the trail system on it rather than exited. I recall it being narrow, but not tippy.

[Java]

I'm the LJ in the description

"First video since I had our camera repaired. Moon Gulch is a simple scenic trail, it gets very narrow on at least one of the spurs ( it took a winch, high lift and snatch block to recover an LJ with us) No video of the recovery"

[FINOCJ]

Looking forward to it...see you all tomorrow at PG trailhead.

[Java]

Just finished putting in the new steering and aligning it (possibly). Put my CB too. Just need gas in the AM and I'm set.

[Tom]

Heading out shortly. Road construction with single lanes on my route. Couple of places. Caused 15 min delay last time a few weeks ago.

[FINOCJ]

Broke the clutch cable so not gonna make it.

[FINOCJ]

Hopefully you all see this and don't wait for me....broke the clutch cable, so it should be a pretty easy repair, but have to order a replacement. This was one was pretty new from about 5 years ago - cheap omix parts. See if I can find a higher quality or custom made one if needed, and maybe get a spare for the parts bag.

[Jim]

FINOCJ previously posted:

[FINOCJ]

got it home...wasn't too far from home - maybe 10 miles - and my wife was able to bring the truck and tow bar, but yup, quite the unpleasant place to be stuck in the middle of the 'central valley' along I-25 and next to the rail yards in the middle of Denver just as morning rush hour was ending. It broke the clutch cable at the cable stop on the pedal end - the adjuster nut on the fork end seemed just fine. Easy fix, but have to get the part....This one was new 5-6 years ago or so (whenever I rebuilt the T14) - cheap Omix/Crown stuff (or maybe i had it adjusted a bit too tight?) - gonna see if I can find a better quality one (inline tube is highly recommended among the ecj5.com form), and maybe get a spare for the parts bag as well. When I get it off, I'll get a better look, but from my initial by the side of the hwy inspection it looks like it might not have actually broke the cable, but maybe just pulled it out off the stop end - maybe its repairable...not sure if those stop ends are 'compression-squeezed' or brazed/welded in some manner? Wife is happy as now I have time for some yard and house chores instead of going wheeling...

[FINOCJ]

here is my only trail run pic for the day: on the side of I-25

[Jim]

`least it's on dirt!