Ed'n Lauky
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- Joined
- Feb 15, 2007
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We did this hike from South to North, Dugway to West Side Rd.
ATTENTION: If you're like me and you have never done this hike before and you are working from an older trail guide pay attention. I set my GPS for Hammond Lane just like the book said, saw a parking sign, drove to the end of the lane, parked the car, geared up and headed off. After ten or fifteen minutes it was obvious something was wrong. There were logging roads going everywhere and no sign of a trail. We walked back to the car, drove back down to Dugway and then saw the sign indicating the new trailhead a half mile on down the road. Oh well, what's a little lost time.
The new trailhead adds .4 of a mile to the hike. The trail from the trailhead is in great condition and very easy follow. Once you get up onto the open areas of South Moat and in all succeeding open areas the trail must be followed with care as it is not well marked. For that reason I would say that this is not really a beginner trail.
The trails were clear all the way to the top of South Moat. In the cols between the moats there were some blowdowns but nothing that really impeded progress. On the way down the north side of North Moat there was at least one trail blocking blowdown.
The snow started just as we were leaving so the first part of the hike was relatively free of snow. As we got higher the new snow added to some residual snow made the trail a bit slippery. I used my Yaxtrax all the way to the top of North Moat. Going down the north side there were vast stretches of ice covered with snow. I had to switch to my Hillsounds. Below 1500' I took the traction off and bare booted the rest of the way.
We met one nice couple on top of North Moat and a number of folks in the vicinity of Dianna's Baths. There are a few climbing ledges on the south side of North Moat, otherwise except for the ice and the lack of trail marking it was a fairly easy trail.
Miles: 9.7
Elevation gain 3200
[email protected]
ATTENTION: If you're like me and you have never done this hike before and you are working from an older trail guide pay attention. I set my GPS for Hammond Lane just like the book said, saw a parking sign, drove to the end of the lane, parked the car, geared up and headed off. After ten or fifteen minutes it was obvious something was wrong. There were logging roads going everywhere and no sign of a trail. We walked back to the car, drove back down to Dugway and then saw the sign indicating the new trailhead a half mile on down the road. Oh well, what's a little lost time.
The new trailhead adds .4 of a mile to the hike. The trail from the trailhead is in great condition and very easy follow. Once you get up onto the open areas of South Moat and in all succeeding open areas the trail must be followed with care as it is not well marked. For that reason I would say that this is not really a beginner trail.
The trails were clear all the way to the top of South Moat. In the cols between the moats there were some blowdowns but nothing that really impeded progress. On the way down the north side of North Moat there was at least one trail blocking blowdown.
The snow started just as we were leaving so the first part of the hike was relatively free of snow. As we got higher the new snow added to some residual snow made the trail a bit slippery. I used my Yaxtrax all the way to the top of North Moat. Going down the north side there were vast stretches of ice covered with snow. I had to switch to my Hillsounds. Below 1500' I took the traction off and bare booted the rest of the way.
We met one nice couple on top of North Moat and a number of folks in the vicinity of Dianna's Baths. There are a few climbing ledges on the south side of North Moat, otherwise except for the ice and the lack of trail marking it was a fairly easy trail.
Miles: 9.7
Elevation gain 3200
[email protected]
