Is the gate closed permanently for the season before the matterhorn or have they opened it back up? Thinking of heading up but dont want that much of a pavement ride.
Greenwater
- Thread starter lawsonj5
- Start date
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blk9038
Well-known member
when the snow and ice are as thick as it is this season a few weeks ago they closed lower gate, if the weather changes and snow /ice go away they will once again use uppr lot/snowpark, looking at what is happening right now and snowing there it was a little icy last sat for first few miles due to snowplowing too much on l/h side going up for first mile but still snow on r/h side , hope this helps some.
Meanwhile they use deicer daily in the lowlands with a low of 40. Too bad they refuse to spray this 5 miles of road a couple days a week as necessary and solve all these problems and the expense of putting patrols up there to police parking, opening and closing the gate, making the judgement call, getting the road blocked with jackknifed trailers and numerous fender benders.
I will never figure out why this one stretch of road is the only in the state that does not get deicer. I would love to hear the justification.
I will never figure out why this one stretch of road is the only in the state that does not get deicer. I would love to hear the justification.
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blk9038
Well-known member
Bet it has something to do with usfs and wa. state boundery's and where big gate is located, i thought when they were spending the big bucks taking all the dirt up hill just to rearange gravel pit and make river not take out that section of road why didn't they punch back in the lower road while they were at it.
i think that is the question we should all be asking so as we would not have to deal with the matterhorn, but on the positive side keeps people away.
My favorite:
when they close the gate and so you ride in, and then mid-day they open the gate AND f-ing PLOW!
when they close the gate and so you ride in, and then mid-day they open the gate AND f-ing PLOW!
Lost a set of carbides due to premature wear on my 2012 Pro Rmk last season because of the lower gate being closed and having to ride on bare pavement down to the truck.
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nikeholley
Well-known member
Plowing...
We rode there Last Saturday...
Coming over the Matterhorn about 3pm, we met a plow truck, stuck in the ditch, & a red SUV helping the plow driver put chains on... it was obvious that they had been plowing the road... not down to the pavement, but scraping the loose snow off...
we were shocked to see this, as we all know... we need the snow ON the road for the sleds...
Nike
We rode there Last Saturday...
Coming over the Matterhorn about 3pm, we met a plow truck, stuck in the ditch, & a red SUV helping the plow driver put chains on... it was obvious that they had been plowing the road... not down to the pavement, but scraping the loose snow off...
we were shocked to see this, as we all know... we need the snow ON the road for the sleds...
Nike
Having the gate closed down low doesn't bother me as long as they leave the snow on the road. But switching back and forth and plowing in mid day just doesn't make sense to me.
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cat600x2
Member
This is not a state hiway it is a forest service raod,as in fs 70 rd.,forest servicce does not buy deicer dont know any other way to say it this raod was for acess to the logging that has went on up here forever. it wasnt even paved till the early 1980's used to be 10 miles of gravel.the road ended and the naches trail took off, hope this helps..
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cat600x2
Member
Bet it has something to do with usfs and wa. state boundery's and where big gate is located, i thought when they were spending the big bucks taking all the dirt up hill just to rearange gravel pit and make river not take out that section of road why didn't they punch back in the lower road while they were at it.
i think that is the question we should all be asking so as we would not have to deal with the matterhorn, but on the positive side keeps people away.
They put in the new road to get away from the river as it slid and washed out acouple times in the 80's and nintys u can look on gogle earth and check it out.. and i know this as i hauled logs from up there for about 17 yrs.
Nothing is gonna stop us from watching the HAWKS at WJ'S. Gate no gate, bare pavement, mud, rocks. We are rather hard on sleds tho
When you going over to Whistles to watch the game? I have a cabin right down the road from WJ's and was going to do the same as you.
I will keep this in mind if I ever see one of yours for sale
Nothing is gonna stop us from watching the HAWKS at WJ'S. Gate no gate, bare pavement, mud, rocks. We are rather hard on sleds tho
Yes, I remember the "old" road when it went straight before it washed away. They maintain the road up to the point that it turns right....but it is still the same road (I would assume?). Where do the funds come from to plow? County or state? And both of those use deicer on other roads....I would still like to know WHY they refuse to use a cheaper and more effective alternative to plows getting stuck in the ditch and having to monitor the gate every week. Plow on the front, deicer out the back and no more problems.
I believe it was Weyerhauser that originally put that road in for logging....then the county or state took it over at some point and paved it.
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cat600x2
Member
fund s for plowing are tied in with the groomer that is ron that plows or an enployee as for the road its is federal forrest service it was weyco ,bn railroad now plum creek ,state,and forrest service timber, but still a forrest service road.as far as deicer you would have to keep plowing and applying deicer all day to keep up with conditionslike the state doed on hiways or that stuff will eventually slush up and freeze..just my 2ents
Bueller................ Bueller................... Bueller..............
Saw a lot of trailers coming off of the mountain today - how about an update?
lower gate was closed today
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blk9038
Well-known member
was up there sat and was surprized to see they had plowed looks like more snow off the road (powder) and just left everyone ice so are these groomers aware of what icy conditions do when stopping/starting/drifting or are they trying to overheat the sleds ? anyone know them? i know they like to see the road somewhat bare for the ride up in red jeep to grooming area but that sucker should be fine in at least 1 foot of the stuff it is a 4x4, lots of trailers when we left (about 1 mile of them) and ya our group spoiled lots of powder sat for everyone that was looking for fresh hills. also anyone know why they bermed f.s road 72??? thanks.
. also anyone know why they bermed f.s road 72??? thanks.