Rocky Gap road conditions to Icecube trailhead?

Anyone been up the Rocky Gap road recently to the Icecube Canyon trailhead? Just wondering about the current road conditions . . .

Ted

--- In Yahoo Canyons Group, "Ted Gartner" <gartneraz@...> wrote: > Anyone been up the Rocky Gap road recently to the Icecube Canyon trailhead? Just wondering about the current road conditions . . .

Talked to a guy who went up that way a few weeks ago. Said the road was in bad shape, and, definately 4wd.

Woulda been around 19 March.

-Brian in SLC

Somebody (BLM?) has placed some large boulders across the road just pass the LaMadre springs trailhead. It is possible to get around them with a high clearance 4WD vehicle. Not sure if your Nissan could do it. We managed to get around them with a jeep and it was a bit tricky.

The rest of the road is pretty bad shape, even worse than when we went two years ago. The heavy rains this spring have washed it out even more.

Disclaimer: This was as of two weeks ago when we went to climb the NE ridge of bridge mountain.

Steve

PS: Ted, give me a call when you're up here next weekend. Might be able to get out.



________________________________ From: Ted Gartner gartneraz@cox.net> To: Yahoo Canyons Group Sent: Monday, April 6, 2009 10:15:55 AM Subject: [from Canyons Group] Rocky Gap road conditions to Icecube trailhead?

Anyone been up the Rocky Gap road recently to the Icecube Canyon trailhead? Just wondering about the current road conditions . . .

Ted

Perhaps it is just me, but when someone, say the BLM places boulders across a road to stop vehicular access, it seems to me that even if you CAN get around it in a 4WD, you shouldn't.

At that point, other methods of access involving horses, bikes, or walking should be used.

Was the road signed as closed? If it was the BLM they should have done so to be effective. They use such barriers to have lower impact on the area, but have often needed to upgrade to heftier barriers when such measures don't work. If it was signed or not marked on the regional map (USFS calls them travel maps, not sure about BLM) as a legal road then driving around them is blatantly illegal. If not, was it rockfall? Someone might want to call the BLM and be proactive in this one.

Phillip

--- In Yahoo Canyons Group, Steve Mallory <semallory2000@...> wrote:
Somebody (BLM?) has placed some large boulders across the road just pass the LaMadre springs trailhead. It is possible to get around them with a high clearance 4WD vehicle. Not sure if your Nissan could do it. We managed to get around them with a jeep and it was a bit tricky.
The rest of the road is pretty bad shape, even worse than when we went two years ago. The heavy rains this spring have washed it out even more.
Disclaimer: This was as of two weeks ago when we went to climb the NE ridge of bridge mountain.
Steve
PS: Ted, give me a call when you're up here next weekend. Might be able to get out.

> ________________________________ > From: Ted Gartner <gartneraz@...
To: Yahoo Canyons Group
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2009 10:15:55 AM > Subject: [from Canyons Group] Rocky Gap road conditions to Icecube trailhead?
> Anyone been up the Rocky Gap road recently to the Icecube Canyon trailhead? Just wondering about the current road conditions . . .
Ted



>

My wife and I hiked to the top of White Rock on Sunday and while we were at the peak, watched lots of 4 wheel drive vehicles drive up and down Rocky Gap Road. We did not see any obstacles near the confluence of the road that goes to La Madre Springs.

Gotta ask, though, why does anyone drive up that road to do Icecube Canyon?! Park at the Willow Springs picnic area, then hike up to the drop in point via North Peak, and you'll get to see more scenery while spending about the same total time on the outing. Or, if you want a shorter day, park at the Icebox Canyon trailhead, climb to Icebox Peak via the cleft just east of Icebox Falls, and then return via Icebox Canyon. Or, if you want a more challenging day, park in the Hidden Falls parking area and hike to North Peak and the drop in point via Hidden Canyon. (Now THAT's an adventure!)

I've been up and down Rocky Gap Road numerous times with different vehicles and I've always found it way more trouble driving up and down it than hiking in using the many scenic approaches. Also, I've spent hours trying to fill in holes on the road only to have the local OHV club come up behind me and pull out the rocks to keep the road rough and challenging.

IMHO, you'll have a much better experience for treating Icecube for what it is: a classic in both aesthetics and physical challenge. There's nothing like looking up at the dome of Bridge Mountain in the setting sun as you hike back to your car at Willow Springs knowing that not only did you do the canyon, you hiked your (able) butt up there and back. It sure beats changing a flat tire in the dark or watching the last drops of oil leave your oil pan after what was otherwise a spectacular outing.

Last week I went up the road to the Hidden Falls trailhead and there were no boulders. The road did not seem to be any worse then usual. As a side note, I enjoyed Hidden Falls Canyon as there was a nice trickle of water the enter length. I wouldn't mind joining a party headed to Icecube or Icebox within the next few week... I'll drive the road in my vehicle.

Jared out of Las Vegas

Jared,  I would also be interested in Icebox Canyon in the weeks to come. I have not been through any of the red rock canyons, but highly motivated to do so. And it is close to home. Maybe we could talk Ron into showing us the route. Hint.. Hint   Jody Jones

--- On Tue, 4/7/09, redmarker25 jaredbunch2@hotmail.com> wrote:

From: redmarker25 jaredbunch2@hotmail.com> Subject: [from Canyons Group] Re: Rocky Gap road conditions to Icecube trailhead? To: Yahoo Canyons Group Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 3:55 AM





Last week I went up the road to the Hidden Falls trailhead and there were no boulders. The road did not seem to be any worse then usual. As a side note, I enjoyed Hidden Falls Canyon as there was a nice trickle of water the enter length. I wouldn't mind joining a party headed to Icecube or Icebox within the next few week... I'll drive the road in my vehicle.

Jared out of Las Vegas