Anyone been to Monte Cristo area (Utah) yet? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

rgoers · 01-25-2012, 02:51 PM

Planning on heading up there Friday... has anyone been there this past week?

Wondering what the conditions are like past the view of the web cam...

http://commuterlink.utah.gov/1_devic...R-39mile36.jpg

The SnoTel website says 55"...

TeeTime · 01-31-2012, 03:12 PM

I can't speak for Monte, but Tony's Grove, Franklin, and Beaver have been very good. Still probably needs another foot or two to make it excellent and not an ounce of worry for a fence post. If you find the hills that face east and north there is a ton of snow.

rgoers · 01-31-2012, 10:23 PM

I did end up going to Monte last Friday. Conditions were actually pretty decent. There were areas where the tops of T-posts were still visible though, so you had to be careful.

See: http://www.snowmobileforum.com/snowm...h-01-27-a.html

TeeTime - I'm still learning my way around UT. How do you access Tony's Grove? Is there a drop area?

TeeTime · 02-01-2012, 08:09 AM

The road that goes up to Tony's has an area where you can park and ride up. I will say this though, Tonys is some of the most extreme riding I have ever been on, lots of steep stuff and rocks, this is compared to Fish lake, Fairview, Heber and Beaver. If your new I would hit Frnaklin or Beaver befor Tonys. There are some great rides there.

rgoers · 02-01-2012, 12:16 PM

Okay. Thanks. I appreciate the advice.

djp622 · 02-07-2012, 06:29 AM

saw this thread, wondering if I would still have a good time heading up to monto cristo this weekend??? its been a while since are last storm and i kno a couple days here and there of warmer temps? do you think there still grooming? are the trails shot?

rgoers · 02-07-2012, 04:31 PM

I'm going this Friday. The higher elevations still have more than 4 feet of snow. The temps have only made it above 32F once in the past 2 weeks.

If I get a chance, I'll report back here on how things look up there on Friday.

rgoers · 02-11-2012, 03:24 PM

Just a follow-up, in case anyone is looking for first-hand info...

Went up Friday. 39 was groomed well. There were a couple bare areas that the groomer re-routed the trail around. Still LOTS of snow up there, and really good riding conditions. We clicked off about 90+ miles. Went up 39, and a portion of Curtis Creek trail. We were it for tracks, once you got a couple miles out.

We stopped for a snack, and heard a groomer coming (thought they only groomed at night...). Anyway, we had to move off the trail to let him by. Got to ride fresh ribbon all the way back.

Be sure to watch for T-poles sticking out. We saw lots of them. The snow is just about deep enough to hide all but the last 2-3 inches.

djp622 · 02-13-2012, 01:58 AM

Went up saturday trails were great. still some decent powder out there as well. Good riding!!! Thanks rgoers for the update.

djp622 · 03-08-2012, 11:52 AM

any updates on conditions at monte. Looks like temps are getting above freezing. how long can the snow take these temps before the trails stop becoming enjoyable? Frist winter out here and planning a trip to yellowstone this weekend then next weekend coming back to monte with a group who wants to rent. Curious on whether or not it will be worth it for them to rent and ride the weekend of the 17th. any feedback would be much appreciated!

rgoers · 03-08-2012, 09:56 PM

I went to Kamas (Mirror Lake Scenic Byway) 2 weeks ago, so I'm not sure what Monte is looking like. Kamas trails were nice!!! They've been grooming 4x a week.

djp622 · 03-30-2012, 09:52 AM

is the seaon done? went to monte two weekends ago. there done grooming but up the trail there was still some pretty deep snow....and this weekend there callin for a little snow. how long do these "closed trail" slush rides last?

djp622 · 11-06-2012, 07:53 PM

Starting up this thread again. Went to monte cristo october 26th. Road was plowed but the woodruff cut off had about three feet of snow. Good powder in the flat areas. Mountains still showed hints of uncovered rocks because no base was built. Wondering how soon the gate will be dropped to close the road to automobiles. I know this weekend there calling for one to three feet. The UDOT commuterlink website is predicting a november 11th closure. They were prediciting a november 3rd closure a few weeks ago and continued to plow from the thirty inches they recieved. Why would they do that if it could have provided a strong base on the trail. Do you think they will plow through this next storm coming through???? What do you normally see happen?

rgoers · 11-06-2012, 08:36 PM

Even if they do plow, you're talking about the "base" on the road sections, which really doesn't matter in the big picture. The base that's needed up there is on the trails OFF the main road. I'm not sure what's "normal" as far as closing the gate. I'm thinking they will plow until it gets too deep to plow, or until they hit the date they scheduled to close it.

Hoping this winter shapes up better than last year! We had snow early last year, but never got any more as the season progressed. Since most "locals" here don't even think about taking their sleds out until after Christmas... we missed the best snow by staying home early in the season.

I only took the sleds out 4x last season.

Highelevation · 12-10-2012, 11:03 PM

They close the gate on november 15th every year even if there is no snow.

If your not first your last!