Jim
June 5th, 2022, 11:59 PM
We met at the Pickle Gulch campground parking lot, shook hands, aired down and adjusted radios. 1:30p we were moving. The trail near the trailhead was congested with pickups turning around - with attached trailers with side-by-side's. We made it past them easy enough and headed up. All of us made it up through the difficult section w/o significant issue.
Out to the 4-way intersection we had a group of 15 or 20+ jeeps heading towards us - we were able to slip off at a left turn and avoid that large group. The mine tailings pile we used to drive up/down - it has been "reclaimed" - significantly bladed / graded / it looks like a mountainside now. No playing there - we kept rolling.
Spits of rain here and there. Up to the saddle, the end of Pickle Gulch (in my book) we stopped for a bit. One guy who passed us earlier was coming back. He parked near us and opened the hood - he was having fuel delivery issues (aftermarket v-8 with throttle body fuel injection). The fuel pressure gauge in the engine bay was showing 3psi. We said he could tag along with us and we'd make sure he made it out but he was confident it would make it. From the stop the group decided what to do next. A couple were looking to hit Apex road back to 119. Others were looking to take the north exit to Tolland. I said I had time and Russell said he was looking to keep wheeling. We had a plan to do the Yankee Hill exit - but I missed the turn and we ended up at the intersection - north to Tolland or south towards Kingston Peak.
The trail to the south was decently snow covered. Russell wanted to give it a try. He tried. Snow rejected. 1-hour winch-out. A good day. I headed north to Tolland and Russell planned to run back out Pickle Gulch.
On my way north towards Tolland I came across a group of two debating to cross two large, full-trail-width, snow piles. I said I could pull'm out if they got stuck so they gave it a go - crossing w/o issue. I crossed and a third guy, rolling solo in a black pickup, wanted to try crossing (to where I just came from). I said I'd stick around while he tried. Rejected. He was heading north as was I. He mentioned a deep water crossing on a nearby trail and I said - let's take a look. He saw me cross and gave it a crack. Shortly after the water crossing he got stuck (a 10 minute pull back). He jumped in with me and we made it through the snow drift he got stuck - I made it through (both lockers on) but did get decently sideways on the trail. The down slope wasn't dangerous but we didn't want to slide there. Unfortunately, after two quick turns in the trail we came to a much larger snowdrift and I said - nope. Turning around we now needed to get back through the remaining drift. I tried to slowly push in to pack down the heavy snow - no progress. Momentum will be the answer.
He started recording video (maybe I'll see a copy). I engaged both differential locks - chose a good gear and got the momentum rolling. A bit of snow flying - the momentum was just right. Straight through the pile with no down-slope slide.
From there we parted ways and I stopped at the lemonade stand in Tolland (recommended).
Highlight photos posted below with a full set (not too many) at this link:
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/ (https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/index.html)
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9000.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/map_2.gif
The reclaimed tailings pile - one of the old trail paths - nowhere to be seen.
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_8987.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_8992.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9006.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9009.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9011.jpg
Heading north towards Tolland
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9018.jpg
Air-up scenery...
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9031.jpg
.
Out to the 4-way intersection we had a group of 15 or 20+ jeeps heading towards us - we were able to slip off at a left turn and avoid that large group. The mine tailings pile we used to drive up/down - it has been "reclaimed" - significantly bladed / graded / it looks like a mountainside now. No playing there - we kept rolling.
Spits of rain here and there. Up to the saddle, the end of Pickle Gulch (in my book) we stopped for a bit. One guy who passed us earlier was coming back. He parked near us and opened the hood - he was having fuel delivery issues (aftermarket v-8 with throttle body fuel injection). The fuel pressure gauge in the engine bay was showing 3psi. We said he could tag along with us and we'd make sure he made it out but he was confident it would make it. From the stop the group decided what to do next. A couple were looking to hit Apex road back to 119. Others were looking to take the north exit to Tolland. I said I had time and Russell said he was looking to keep wheeling. We had a plan to do the Yankee Hill exit - but I missed the turn and we ended up at the intersection - north to Tolland or south towards Kingston Peak.
The trail to the south was decently snow covered. Russell wanted to give it a try. He tried. Snow rejected. 1-hour winch-out. A good day. I headed north to Tolland and Russell planned to run back out Pickle Gulch.
On my way north towards Tolland I came across a group of two debating to cross two large, full-trail-width, snow piles. I said I could pull'm out if they got stuck so they gave it a go - crossing w/o issue. I crossed and a third guy, rolling solo in a black pickup, wanted to try crossing (to where I just came from). I said I'd stick around while he tried. Rejected. He was heading north as was I. He mentioned a deep water crossing on a nearby trail and I said - let's take a look. He saw me cross and gave it a crack. Shortly after the water crossing he got stuck (a 10 minute pull back). He jumped in with me and we made it through the snow drift he got stuck - I made it through (both lockers on) but did get decently sideways on the trail. The down slope wasn't dangerous but we didn't want to slide there. Unfortunately, after two quick turns in the trail we came to a much larger snowdrift and I said - nope. Turning around we now needed to get back through the remaining drift. I tried to slowly push in to pack down the heavy snow - no progress. Momentum will be the answer.
He started recording video (maybe I'll see a copy). I engaged both differential locks - chose a good gear and got the momentum rolling. A bit of snow flying - the momentum was just right. Straight through the pile with no down-slope slide.
From there we parted ways and I stopped at the lemonade stand in Tolland (recommended).
Highlight photos posted below with a full set (not too many) at this link:
www.JimWilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/ (https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/index.html)
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9000.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/map_2.gif
The reclaimed tailings pile - one of the old trail paths - nowhere to be seen.
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_8987.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_8992.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9006.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9009.jpg
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9011.jpg
Heading north towards Tolland
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9018.jpg
Air-up scenery...
https://www.jimwilliamson.net/automobile/2022-06-04--trail--pickle-gulch--snow-blockages/img_9031.jpg
.