After a couple of days of perusing Google Earth for the best route to Moriarty Lake (and possibly a back way into some interesting places...), I decided to give it a shot yesterday.
But first, some fishing. I dangled a hook via email and got a nibble: Andy took it hook, line and sinker, and he was enthusiastic about joining me on this ride. This was going to be a long-shot, and I was perfectly fine with trying it myself, but it's always better to have company, particularly as I saw my first big bear of the season last week on a similar ride.
The route was to get to take 155N from the Englishman River main and from their to bear (excuse the pun) left and then right to follow the trail that parallels the creek to the lake.
The road up 155N began fairly easily. And to illustrate the point, a half ton truck, complete with canopy and canoe/boat mounted on top came down on the single track road. Unfortunately, the driver looked rather grumpy at having to stop and let two bikers through, so I didn't stop to pick his brains on the local topography, trails and lake access...This was a decision I regretted later.
As we headed up, there were several nice and easy looking trails off to the right that we passed on the way up. However, when it came to taking the right turn we needed to take, we were greeted by what can only be described as a shambolic creek bed complete with ruts, river-rock pebbles on a bed of sand, and some fair sized boulders. There was no way a four wheeled vehicle of any kind had been up here in years. Last season, when I started-off road riding, I would have tackled this slowly, and a trail like this would have had me off in a trice; in fact, I have come a cropper two or three times on "trails" like this. The trick for me, I have learned, is to use the bike's torque, slip it into second and feather with clutch, keeping my speed up and my weight on the pegs, picking my route but not worrying too much if I don't get the perfect line. The bike's suspension will take care of any mistakes. And so it was that we made good pace up this goat trail until I broke my own rule and slowed down at the sight of a large slab-like boulder in my path. This was a poor decision, as we were now on some serious grade, and all my rear wheel wanted to do was kick some large round river rocks out of the way and dig itself a grave. So that was it. Neither Andy or I could get our bikes to get going again. It was very disappointing, but one-wheel drive is one wheel drive!
What was really galling was that the truck had a boat attached - and the only real lake of any note in the area is Moriarty: so how did he get there? I think I have the answer, but more on that later...
Aborting this trail and heading down, we tried an alternative route, which, despite all evidence being contrary from our GPS's, we thought might get us to the lake. As it turned out, it didn't, because of snow! Also, I don't think the trail actually goes far enough. However, the ridge line views of Mount Moriarty and Mount Arrowsmith were spectacular, and my puny little helmet-cam doesn't do it justice.
Below: ostensibly it was the snow that halted our progress for the second time in as many minutes. I tried to dig a trail through it, but the ever dour Scot-cum-Welsh-nay-saying-hobbit, impersonating Andy on this trip, was the real impediment to progress and took unflattering photos of me while besmirching my ancestors...as I toiled, fruitlessly, alone.
As you can see the road surface here is fabulous and we could have carried on for miles, if it hadn't been for the white stuff...
So turning back for the second time, we decided to head to Marshall Lake, a trip I had done a week or so ago - as every ride must have a reward at the end of it! Below, a panoramic of Marshal from a vid that Andy took. We saw a large bear on the way down, about a click or two nearer the lake than I saw my last (the same) bear last week. He or she was a large healthy specimen with a good sense of self preservation tinged with a hint of curiousity. Very cool!
Below: here is a GE overview of the key trails for the day: "Thwarted" indicates the location of the inclined gulch-goat trail that finally stopped us enroute to Moriarty Lake.
Below: some detail of the aborted Moriarty Lake attempt with a possible work around...Is this the route the truck took (blue question marks; continued original route in yellow)? The alternate turn-off starts at one of those "nice and easy looking" right turns I mentioned earlier...Hmmm? Perhaps more sleuthing is needed, my dear Watson!
Above: Click for larger image...
I believe Andy's vid shows this alternative possibility also:
Why didn't we take it? Your guess is as good as mine - rareified air, perhaps :-)
I'm not quite sure what "Bride Closed No Access" means.
So Moriarty skunked us this time...for now.
So Moriarty skunked us this time...for now.
Paul
I think you might have it figured out with your "?" route. It looks steep in GoogEarth if you look at it in 3D, but the fact remains that miserable truck boy did have a boat attached to his roof! (Was that a four wheel drive)? I think it's worth a try. The other trail that parallels the snow trail, down the mountain a tad, gets quite close if all else fails. It would be an easy hike in from there. I don't know why we didn't try it too.
ReplyDeleteGet your cards done, and we'll give it a go on Sat?
ReplyDelete