The north end of the J.E.M. Trail is not nearly as well marked as the south end Just as you enter Virgin as you are driving east on Utah Highway 9, you pass an intersection where Mesa Rd. goes to the left and Sheep Bridge Rd. goes to the right. I turned right there, drove the half mile to cross sheep bridge, then went another 0.1 mile across a cattle guard and immediately turned right on a narrow dirt road. I followed this road for a quarter mile at the breakneck speed of 10 kilometers per hour, braking from the speed provided by idling the engine in order to safely navigate the many rocks on the road. When the road ended at a makeshift parking area, I joined four other parked cars and looked for the trailhead.
There are no signs here. If I hadn't been fortunate enough to see two mountain bikers finishing their ride, I would have looked for awhile to find the trail headed out of the northwest end of the parking area. It then follows the ridge above the Virgin River for a short distance before beginning to follow side canyons. (Please click below to continue reading my description, followed by a map, more pictures, and details of calories consumed and burned today)
At 1.4 miles I encountered my first trail marker confirming I was on the J.E.M. trail, followed by some welcome orange ribbons to show you where to follow the trail when it encounters a random dirt road where it is easier to see where not to go than where to go. At 1.8 miles I reached the junction with the Rim Trail, which heads back to the Virgin River and the follows it west to the Highway 59 trailhead just above Hurricane. I continued on the J.E.M. trail. At 2.4 miles I reached a point where the climbing became more gradual, and I could see Sheep Bridge Road a very short distance across sparse sagebrush that I easily walked between leaving no trace in the dirt and touching no plants. I made it a loop using Sheep Bridge Road to return to my car, thinking (correctly) that I could make better time on the road, and I was starting to lose sunlight. Plus if I did need to use my headlamp in my 22 pound pack (I'm gradually drinking the water and eating the snacks) I thought I would be better off on the familiar surface of the road. The total trip was 4.72 miles with 289 feet climbed in 1:38:13 hours. Clear, calm, 72 degree weather. Tortoise rating on the 2.41 mile uphill section: 4.8. I had enough light to finish my walk without the head lamp, but would have needed it within 5 more minutes.
No 4 mg Chlortrimeton allergy pills and 1 excedrin today along with 3 aspirin. I took my prescribed 10 mg Zetia, 500 mg Metformin, 10 MEQ of Potassium Chloride and my 20 mg crestor but no Nutrilite vitamins today.
Cheerio!
Lots of pictures, would you compare this quality of trail to the one you took becca and I on? And I'm guessing with all the awes pictures this trail will be one of your ebooks in the future?
ReplyDeleteThe trail I took you and Becca on is more scenic and is in better condition. It's also much steeper. This one I'm thinking of doing a 20 mile loop on for my traditional Thanksgiving Walk, and seeing who will join me for portions. So far I have Doug signed up to do 2.5 miles of it with me. I'm trying to do it in little pieces before then so I know it well. I am enjoying it enough that I'm thinking of doing an e-book on it, yes. I'm hoping people will enjoy the pictures and the many mountain bikers that use the trail will like having a more detailed guide available. :-)
ReplyDelete