Weather appears to be holding for at least Friday night at the Wedge. Can anyone tell me what the roads are likely to be like after this couple of days of rain? I've got 2-wheel drive, so I don't want to get stuck somewhere, if that's a likelihood. Thanks, Michael
Michael- When the roads to the wedge are wet, the do become pretty slimy. However, they are well graded, and if you keep your speed reasonable you'll probably be okay. I'm not sure which way you plan to go in, my guess is from Castledale; the initial drop from the paved road is a little steep, but after that, it's level. Joe Borgione Michael Carnes <moogiebird@earthlink.net> wrote: Weather appears to be holding for at least Friday night at the Wedge. Can anyone tell me what the roads are likely to be like after this couple of days of rain? I've got 2-wheel drive, so I don't want to get stuck somewhere, if that's a likelihood. Thanks, Michael _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2'
The Cleveland approach is drier than coming from Castledale and my comments are with respect to that way. Don Colton -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Joe Borgione Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 7:34 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads Michael- When the roads to the wedge are wet, the do become pretty slimy. However, they are well graded, and if you keep your speed reasonable you'll probably be okay. I'm not sure which way you plan to go in, my guess is from Castledale; the initial drop from the paved road is a little steep, but after that, it's level. Joe Borgione Michael Carnes <moogiebird@earthlink.net> wrote: Weather appears to be holding for at least Friday night at the Wedge. Can anyone tell me what the roads are likely to be like after this couple of days of rain? I've got 2-wheel drive, so I don't want to get stuck somewhere, if that's a likelihood. Thanks, Michael _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - Buy advance tickets for 'Shrek 2' _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Don, I've always gone by way of Castle Day but that doesn't make it the better approach. What's the benefit of the Cleveland route? Thanks, Joe
City slickers! Sorry, I will have my kids and grandkids at Mill site state park just west of Ferron, if any of you wanted to come down there and show us the skies a bet we could find you a cookie or chip. Wayne -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+waynereese=qwest.net@mailman.xmission.com ] On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:43 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads Whoops, that's Castle DALE, not Day .... _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
Hi Wayne, Have a good time with the kids at Millsite. My mother is from Ferron but I've never been to the park. I'll be at the Wedge with Kim Hyatt and all. Clear skies! Dave Bennett On Thursday, May 13, 2004, at 07:58 PM, Wayne Reese wrote:
City slickers! Sorry, I will have my kids and grandkids at Mill site state park just west of Ferron, if any of you wanted to come down there and show us the skies a bet we could find you a cookie or chip. Wayne
The road is essentially flat the whole way. There is no significant climb up and down. The Castledale route (which I have only taken once) has some spots that could be a little tricky if wet. Clear Skies Don -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:40 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads Don, I've always gone by way of Castle Day but that doesn't make it the better approach. What's the benefit of the Cleveland route? Thanks, Joe _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
You don't have the "dip" I mentioned on the Castledale route. But the dip is fine if you go about 20 mph as soon as you see the sign. Don -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Don J. Colton Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 3:02 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads The road is essentially flat the whole way. There is no significant climb up and down. The Castledale route (which I have only taken once) has some spots that could be a little tricky if wet. Clear Skies Don -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Joe Bauman Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:40 PM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: RE: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads Don, I've always gone by way of Castle Day but that doesn't make it the better approach. What's the benefit of the Cleveland route? Thanks, Joe _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
When I started going there in the '70s, the road to the Wedge was a real adventure even in a Jeep. There was a narrow arroyo, there were places where you could get bogged down in deep sand. If it rained you were in trouble. But probably in a move to head off any possible "roadless" designation that could have protected the area from ORV abuse, Emery County did a major grading and bridge-building job on the route, even putting up reflectors where you come down off high country near the highway. So I don't imagine you'd have much trouble getting back if it does rain, but drive carefully in case the surface is slick. Take along your cell phone in the unlikely event that you need to call a tow truck. ALSO, abide by the BLM rules about where you can and can't camp. The reason is that a fellow I know discovered a new type of cactus at the Wedge. It only emerges from the ground in the spring, and BLM has closed certain areas to protect this vulnerable and rare species. -- Joe
Hi Michael Roads should be good. They dry out in a hurry. From my experience the best time to go is after a rain since it greatly cuts down on the dust. Two cautions: (1) Don't go over 35 mph on the gravel roads even though you might think you can go 50 mph. At speeds over 35 mph the small rocks can hurt tires. Also don't ignore the "dip" sign; slow down to 20 mph before the dip (a few miles before the buckhorn well). (2) When you turn right at the T at the overlook (just past the pit toilet) go very slow for the last 1/4 mile or so. The wedge area is so dry that I drove out just after it rained all night (a couple of years ago) and saw no evidence of road problems. Clear Skies Don Colton 801-566-3000 -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces+djcolton=piol.com@mailman.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Michael Carnes Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 7:13 AM To: Utah Utah Astronomy List Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Wedge roads Weather appears to be holding for at least Friday night at the Wedge. Can anyone tell me what the roads are likely to be like after this couple of days of rain? I've got 2-wheel drive, so I don't want to get stuck somewhere, if that's a likelihood. Thanks, Michael _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.utahastronomy.com
participants (6)
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David L Bennett -
Don J. Colton -
Joe Bauman -
Joe Borgione -
Michael Carnes -
Wayne Reese