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Monte Cristo

Went went snowboiling on Saturday Dec 4 up to Monte through SR39 and it was snow covered and had good snow pile. Played all day with our family.... However, on our way out at about 4:30 pm on our way back to our truck.... we ran into snowplows. According to UDOT, and Utah state parks that road is closed for the season and is to be maintained for snowmobilers. We found out that Associate Pipeline obtained a permit to do a pipleline through the entire winter season because they are not where they should be on there line. We talk to a Brent throught the UDOT Ogden, Ut office and according to him "they are to leave enough on the edge for snowmobliers" however; Dave Smith with Ruby pipeline said he don't care about the snowmobliers and that his permit doesn't say that. He basically said he will go as far and plow as much road as they need. The people that they hired plowed from edged to edged, I have to "brand new" sleds that have burned up highfaxs and scaggs.....If you would like to call and chat with Dave Smith here is number 970-261-0481. He said that the pipeline is not allowing NO ONE ACCESS just construction only. From the woodruff Ut side. They are plowing up to Curtis Creek loop and maybe more. They had NO signs posted even the the state snowcops didnt see signs until Sunday NIGHT after the plowed the road. Also, they blocked the trailed head so you cannot get around the gate, I had to basicaly almost go into the side creek to get out. So basically 2/3 of your access is been blocked until they think they are done. NOthing is posted on none of the the UDOT website either or Utah state parks. Start Calling Dave At ruby pipeline he wants to hear from you because he basically told my husband he doesn't care about the snowmobile access he is putting that pipeline in no matter how far he has to go.
 
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they wont let you ride from ant flats to hardware ranch. Now the are going to go from wooddruff to one mile past the curtis creek turn. so it you come in from ant flats the trail will be blocked about a mile before you get to the woodruff curtis creek turn off cutting access from ant flats to arbs and areas on the east side the complex
 
You're wasting your time talking to the contractor, contact the state (specifically the department who issued the permit) and remind them of their legal responsibility to maintain the recreational access.

They can then contact the contractor and remind them how contracts work.
 
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WTH? That's BS. I never heard anything about this. We need a number to call!
 
Wow! I guess this stuff happens once in a while, I remember a few years back when UDOT closed the mirror lake hwy access in early March till the snow melted....all for a bridge recon....that severely limited spring riding for that area that year. Is the groomer going to even attempt to groom the shoulder?....once the coverage is good down low you should be able to ride the borrow pit but it would be a hassel with all the traffic that place gets.
 
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Brent at the udot office 801-620-1609

Dave Smith at ruby pipeline 970-261-0481

KEEP THE PHONES BUZZING

Brent says when udot did the permit it stated SMOWMOBILE ACCEESS MUST BE MAINTAINED. DAVE SMITH at the pipeline says his permit does not and he is not maintaining access...... PERIOD.

Brent Has been cool to deal with. But Dave Smith is your typical out of stater I dont care about your access attitude.
 
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Saw the plowing on ant flats last week. Just need a couple more feet of snow and it's not really going to be an issue you just ride off the side of the road. There was a lot of snow on the road at the Curtis Creek turn off, they are going to be spending a ton of cash on claering that road to make it available to work on the coldest shortest days of the year. I would've have to think someone os going to be saying WTF were we thinkin come spring.

I hope they change there tone towards riders or it could be a long winter for them. They may have a permit to plow it, but they can't move my sled out of the middle of it when they need to get by.
 
With as much money that they're spending on that pipeline, you're sled replacement isn't even an accounting error to them. The equipment up there is a subcontractor that wants to get done and get out of there just as much as we want them to. So please don't retaliate, it's only going to give us sledders a big black eye. I have done some work on this pipeline at 2 of their compressor stations. There are many different contractors, lots and lots of chiefs and very little indians, extremely difficult to work with.

I'm not standing up for the guy but I can sympathize with him. This project should have started back in March, but because of our spineless BLM and sue happy environuts, it was delayed until the last week of July. Now the parent company (el paso) is holding everyone's feet to the fire to get it done. If not for the delays, it probably would have been done by now (in that area).

I rode the plowed area a week ago, and as stated earlier once there is more snow, we should be fine. That place sees enough traffic, the sleds will create their own road.

Like I said earlier I'm not standing up for them, I sled up there all the time. They'll only be working up there this year, then they'll be gone.

Thanks for posting the phone numbers, I called both of them to express concerns. Keep the phone calls cordial and I'm sure they'll work with us.
 
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Sooooo, do we get a discount on the parking pass???? are they gonna groom the side of the road?? Just another reason to ride elsewhere.... :face-icon-small-coo
 
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Sounds to me like the riding in from the Ogden valley side will not be impacted much. Just alot more traffic taking short cuts to Curtis and getting off the road earlier. Till I got to arbs or ant and saw the plowed area I wouldn't normally know that any of this was going on just because I am off the road more than a mile before the curtis turnoff.

That sucks for the woodruff side guys though. Is there any shortcuts or other access points on that side from the gate in other than the road?
 
Nope as of this afternoon the entire woodruff side will be blocked to all traffic including snowmobile only pipeline traffic is allowed. This section should have been done this is associated pipeline screw up. The section us pipeline did they started at the top and worked down to ant flats toward hardware for minimal impact. Assoiciated started in woodruff and worked up the mountain now ruining access. Had they started at the top and worked back to woodruff they would have been done.

Thanks to U.S pipeline for working smart and minimizing impact if not for them doing that all of sr-39 would have had to be plowed all season
 
totaly blocked out on woodruff side this hasnt been released yet but is on the way
Ann Evans <annevans@utah.gov>

Add to ContactsTo:parkcomment.NRMAIN.NRDOMAIN@utah.gov; sitzerlandwyo@yahoo.com
Dear J. S.--I think we have the problem taken care of that you encountered with the pipeline. The park rangers who are in charge of grooming the Monte Cristo area talked with the pipeline company today and worked out a pretty good compromise with them. The pipeline company will only plow SR39 from Curtis Creek to the Woodruff gate. This portion will be plowed and off-limits to all vehicular and snowmobile traffic. Only pipeline vehicles will be allowed access on that portion of the road. The Curtis Creek loop will be open for snowmobiling. The pipeline is putting up signs and I will be putting out a press release to inform the public and it will be posted on our snowmobile grooming site and on our grooming hotlines. Thank you for keeping us informed and please let us know if we can help in any other way. Please continue to enjoy the snowmobile season, be safe and if you have children under the age of 16 who operate a sled, be sure to have them take our online snowmobile class at www.stateparks.utah.gov. Have a wonderful holiday season.
 
That sucks bad. Even with snow, no other access to Curtis or arbs without the road?
Only other option I guess is to go evanston way for uintas.
If state parks are siding with pipeline then that is pretty hard to fight.
 
No we got the loop to be left alone they are working on grooming the randolph trail so we have access on the east side.sO FROM EVANSTON WE JUST NEED TO DRIVE TO RANDOLPH not woodruff. to access the loop
 
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