Utah border to border ride.

Mak10

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I’m leaving on a border to border trip and back tomorrow. Starting on the Idaho border going down the western side of the state to St George. Going through zions, Bryce Canyon, hwy 12 and back to Idaho on either hwy 89 or hwy 10. I’ll post a report when I get back.
 

Mak10

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Made it to Dugway, which is an army testing ground. Missed the turnoff for the dirt road. Pulled up and talked to the guards at the base entrance. They told me where the turn off was. I asked if the road was passable. The said “ we think so” “it might be a bit muddy”. Any snow I ask? “No snow” They will me. So I’m off. It is a good dirt road that looks like it was muddy a while ago.
I came upon this car along the way. Stuck. It should have been a sign.
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Mak10

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I have I’ll hav to finish my he story when I can post some pictures. Currently spotty internet service.
 

Mak10

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After passing the car the road continued on and was dry. Great I thought fun road. I then passed a truck coming the opposite way just covered in mud. Another sign. I continued on and the road had spots that were wet, nothing bad you could go around the edge. I was careful and didn’t want to get the bike too muddy.
DD4C8ABB-AABC-4449-8918-472692EF5C86.jpegFFB6F5AE-E712-4242-9ED9-E0124BDDB9EA.jpeg995861BF-AFA8-4F4E-9404-2DABEDCB1740.jpeg
 

Mak10

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After I came upon that sign, and remembering the Army guard saying “no snow” I continued on. Being optimistic and wanting to think I would only be a few short stretches of mud.

The Kenda Big Block knobbys are working fantastic. They clean out excellent in the mud and were awesome in the snow.

I start encountering more and more mud. Really slick greasy mud. And then Snow.

839437C5-6FEA-4939-B97E-8DB0551522AA.jpeg0B116BAA-38ED-4054-A683-DD727AC5D26E.jpeg
 

Mak10

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After the truck tracks stopped an atv track continued. I kept on following. Not wanting to turn around and go back through what i had came through.
It was actually easier to drive on the snow instead of the greasy mud. After about a mile of this the atv track stopped. Snow mostly on and off the road. I walked up the road about half a mile came to the top of the pass and the road started downhill. It was however in the shade and was drifted over. No way I could get through that.

Defeated I gave up and the thought of having to back track all that I had come through came to mind. I kept thinking if it comes down to it I could always pitch my tent and continue when the ground was frozen in the morning.
 

Mak10

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The way out was easier. It was mostly down hill and I was getting on to how this big girl handles in the mud. It is easy to want to over correct the front end.
At this point of he bike and I are pretty muddy and going out was fun.

I had lost quite a bit of time having to backtrack and go around. I looked forward to doing the twisty stretch of road back towards Tooele. 3DE17611-A051-4658-86A7-3E92F7C5D5A2.jpeg
 

RCinNC

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Your photos of the snow and mud really reminded me of show I just watched about a group of guys riding from London to Beijing on ADV bikes. They crossed the Himalayas near Everest, and the roads looked just like the one in your picture (well, except for the trees). I think I'd have turned back long before you did....
 
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