Canyonlands - Mineral Bottom - Taylor Canyon - Zeus/Moses Access

FYI the Mineral Bottom road is out/gone:

nps.gov/cany/news082410.htm

This outage makes getting to Taylor Canyon for climbs of Zeus/Moses hard unless you want to go the long way around. Also mountain biking the White Rim is now an out and back (that is the bad news, the good news you do not have to ride up the road at the end any more)

hike-a-bike anyone? Saw those a few days back. Bummer but they'll get fixed and prime season is winter anyway, at least for biking. Nice and quiet then.

wow, helluva photo. there is a monster OW that my wife were wanting to put up on the way to moses. we were planning on calling it 'sad to report, became a sport' - a pun on the hong/carruthers classic 'glad to be a trad' that is nearby.

You can always get in there the old fashion way via the rappels that are gotten to via Island in the Sky.

From what I have heard the county is seriously contemplating blasting a whole new road.

AHHHHHHH!!! NOOOO!!!!! How will I reach my towers? That road was always crazy when it was in good conditions. Can't wait until it is repaired.

BTW I read this morning that it will probably take 10-12 weeks to repair the road and that there are no funds available until next year.

"There are currently no estimates for when the Mineral Bottom Road switchbacks will be repaired; however, it will likely be several months. We have temporarily suspended making reservations for the White Rim for calendar year 2011."

larry,

are you talking about the one that is not too far past the outhouse (as you are driving up the little valley towards moses, after turning off the 'main' road). it is up on the hill to the left, in light colored rock. dead splitter and really tall, with sort of an elevator shaft chimney not too far to the side? looks awesome.

too damned many cracks out there, too little time....

Looks like the road is reopening at the end of the month (March 29):

sltrib.com/sltrib/home/5133…

Awesome!! Thanks for the info.

$5 million lost. Interesting how they calculated that figure. Just in time for spring cragging though. I didn't think the road would be opened for much longer.

It was actually pretty easy. The BLM contacted all the outfitters that have permits to guide biking, hiking, rafting, canoeing as well as rental, jet boat and shuttle companies and asked them how much of thier revenue is tied to the use of this road. They also looked at incremental revenue generated by use. Nights spent in hotels, gas and groceries purchased in Moab, all monies that go into the local economy, were added to the total.

The local paper said the road will be fixed March 29th. We'll see...

slim wrote:too damned many cracks out there, too little time....

So damn true! ENDLESS cracks, all 350' tall, for miles and miles.......and miles. No crowds, very dog friendly, boat launch with welcome center(sorta) and there's a dirt airstrip if you have a small plane. Mineral bottom looks endless.

I spoke with the office in canyonlands yesterday and they confirmed that it will be open to public on March 29.