 |
| |
FR150 - FR290 Mary's
Nipple(sh)
From I70 over the Meadow Gulch
Divide (also marked as Emigrant Pass on the
Fishlake National Forest map), there are several
dirt roads and trails heading north, that can be
used to head for Skyline Drive, for me one of
Utah's most fascinating, unpaved roads. When two
of these approach roads meet, they form a shoulder
summit, that is quite a workout in itself, and
also very scenic, even if you do not reach Skyline
Drive, which spends most of the year under the
snow anyway
All of the roads in this area, stand under the scenic sign of Mary's Nipple (10984ft) - the mountain. But this loop is the Mary's Nipple Grand Tour, with great views of all sides.
From North. The profile starts in Salina
and heads up I70 to a Ranch exit. The profile
exits the Interstate at the first chance, the jct
with Gooseberry Road, and then follows the dirt
service road. The old railroad grade goes through
two tunnels and it's a nicer ride on the smooth,
hard dirt than on the Interstate, even if it takes
a little longer. At Ranch exit 71, the route exits I70. But rather
than following the Utah coal truck monsters up to
Convultion Mine, the route takes the second dirt
road turnoff to the left, FR009 following up
Salina Creek. These are the first great views of
the southern end of the Wasatch Plateau. After a
while the road begins to climb steeply, using a
few switchbacks and emerges on a low ridge,
directly across from Mary's Nipple. This is the
ideal picnic spot during my ride of this loop.  A small descent leads to the jct with FR001,
coming up from Salina. That would have been a
shorter approach to this point. But it would also
have missed the great views from the picnic spot.
The profile turns right on FR001, which turns into
FR009 at some point, climbing and rolling in bits
and pieces. By the time the highest point is
reached, Mary's Nipple has become just a small
rock outcrop, almost at eye level, while the top
of the Wasatch Plateau still looms thousands of
feet above, separated from the road by vast,
sweeping tundra. 
From South. (described downwards)
Immediately past the highest point the profile
turns left down the much rougher and steeper
FR290. Staying straight at this jct would lead up
to Skyline Drive. FR290 gradually returns Mary's
Nipple to a mountain of huge stature, with a small
rock ledge on top. The upper rock ledges of the
Wasatch Plateau also take on a more imposing
appearance again, as the road winds its torturous
way down to FR022, the Mayfield - Ferron Road.
Descending the latter is a fast finish. This road
has pretty deep gravel in some places. I think
descending on it is much easier than climbing. Dayride PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED: ( <Niotche
- Lost Creek Divide | FR096 White
Pine(sh)> )
back to cycling Utah's summits and passes  |
Approaches|
|
advertisement |
|
|
advertisement |